On Monday (September 9), Juvenile joined Birdman and Master P in expressing frustration over Lil Wayne not being chosen for the NFL Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in New Orleans.
During an Instagram video, Juvenile addressed the NFL in a different way from others. The 49-year-old New Orleans legend made it clear that his disappointment lies with the NFL rather than with Lamar, Jay-Z, or Roc Nation.
“I’m mad at the people who hired the ones booking the halftime show,” Juve The Great said. “You’ve had 11 Super Bowls in New Orleans and still haven’t put a New Orleans hip-hop artist on the stage. Every time y’all come here, you should feature someone from our city.”
Juvenile highlights that while this issue has existed for years, Lil Wayne’s hometown performance hurts more this time. “How do you not have Lil Wayne performing at the halftime show?” he questioned.
Towards the end of the video, Juvenile urged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to do the right thing by bringing Wayne to the show. “Get it right,” he says to Goodell.
Lil Wayne himself has previously expressed a strong desire to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. In an interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks in December, Wayne said he wanted the opportunity “badly” and would fight for it. Despite his absence from this year’s lineup, the rapper’s legacy remains firmly established, but the ongoing debate about representation at the Super Bowl continues.
Master P, New Orleans appointed Entertainment Ambassador for the Super Bowl, issued a statement agreeing with Lil Wayne fans that the “A Milli” rap star should be the Halftime Show performer. “I have to agree with the fans—Lil Wayne should be a part of this celebration,” the No Limit Records founder wrote. “He’s one of the greatest hip-hop artists alive, still relevant, and he’s a New Orleans native. Let’s not miss this cultural moment in the South. Life is too short. We have to give our legends their flowers while they’re here.”
Birdman would lash out at Jay-Z for the announcement and demand respect. Birdman’s rant would be supported by Nicki Minaj’s. In response to the outrage, Funkmaster Flex spoke about the selection and said Jay-Z should not be blamed.
In a tweet, the legendary DJ and radio personality wrote, “We gotta stop blaming Jay-Z for everything. The NFL has never cared about people of color.”
Jay-Z spoke on Monday about Kendrick Lamar performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. It reads:
“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”