The absence of New Orleans-raised Lil Wayne from the lineup during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show has sparked heated debate among fans and industry insiders. A performance by the hip-hop icon in his hometown would have been the crowning achievement, but there are perhaps a number of reasons that might have kept him off the bill.
Though the NFL has not confirmed the reason behind his absence, speculations have been running amok. Some have mentioned that this could either be due to contractual reasons or even conflicting schedules. Others have said that an unresolved feud was in the way with Jay-Z, the co-producer of the halftime show.
A supposition from Cam’Ron, a fellow rapper and close friend to Lil Wayne, was that it might have something to do with some industry politics. He insinuated that maybe some past beefs or rivalries had something to do with the organizers’ choice. However, these claims are not substantiated.
Mase displayed equal animosity, calling it a “disservice” to hip-hop and New Orleans. What all these figures mean is basically this: Lil’ Wayne’s legacy and contribution to the rap world, especially being one of the pioneers of the New Orleans sound, needed recognition on the world’s biggest stage.
The more interesting parts of the discussion involve Jay-Z, who is a co-producer of the NFL’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. Cam’Ron insinuated that Jay-Z may have had something to do with the reason for Wayne’s exclusion, citing the intense rivalries and tensions between the two that have yet to be resolved. While he did not delve into the details of those past disputes, many speculated that this could be the reason.
Meanwhile, others in the industry have defended Jay-Z for making the relationship mutually beneficial between his Roc Nation organization and the NFL, bringing hip-hop to the Super Bowl stage with artists like Kendrick Lamar performing. Others used Kendrick’s successful halftime show as a counterpoint, saying that Jay-Z’s involvement doesn’t necessarily mean they are excluding rap artists. However, Cam’Ron along with others believes that Lil Wayne did enough for the genre to slot him in this year’s lineup.
Beyond the personal digs, the broader argument is that, even with all his impact on culture, Lil Wayne is somehow not “mainstream” enough to have been booked for a Super Bowl show. The NFL has traditionally picked halftime show performers who are near strictly estimated to appeal comfortably to middle America and other conservative audiences. Critics question how Lil Wayne can apply his unique cadence and sometimes very brash lyrics to something as mainstream as what the NFL aims for a broad demographic.
That’s a trend that has surfaced from past Super Bowl picks, where more mainstream artists-Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, and The Weeknd, for instance-have been picked over others that would be more niche in their following. Lil Wayne’s omission only continues that trend and adds to the question of how the NFL defines “mainstream” and what that says about hip-hop artists.
Throughout all controversies, both fans and fellow artists have greatly supported the movement for Lil Wayne to take that stage at the Super Bowl. A huge disappointment flooded social media as so many fans pointed out how deeply culturally relevant it would be to have Wayne perform in his hometown.
