Lil Wayne Says He and Kendrick Lamar 'Talked It Out' as Rapper Told Him to 'Kill It' at Super Bowl Halftime Show

Mar. 15, 2025

Lil Wayne in 2023; Kendrick Lamar in 2018.Photo:Frazer Harrison/Getty; John Shearer/Getty

Frazer Harrison/Getty; John Shearer/Getty

Lil WayneandKendrick Lamarhave no hard feelings about the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show.During the Dec. 17 episode ofThe Skip Bayless Show, Wayne, 42, revealed that he spoke with the Pulitzer Prize winner following not being selected for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show in his hometown — and being name-checked in a new song.Bayless, 73, said that he was “baffled and angry” with the NFL’s decision not to have the New Orleans native Wayne perform and ultimately choosing Lamar, 37, for the Caesars Superdome event.“How do you explain their choosing not to ask you?” the podcaster asked. Wayne said that he believes he isn’t “there” yet and that he needs to “get there,” and that there are factors beyond his control at play in making those decisions.The rapper also said that he told his managers that he “wants to get to the point where I’m undeniable” as a halftime show option as a personal goal. “I want them to walk in there and have 10 other choices, and whoever’s in charge says, ‘No. You have to go with him.’ “Lil Wayne in Los Angeles in March 2022.Michael Tullberg/GettyBayless also spoke about the lyrics in Lamar’s song"wacced out murals,“where he mentioned Wayne and the situation.“Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down / Whatever though, call me crazy, everybody questionable / Turn me to an esk—, I drew the line and decimals,” Lamar raps in the song’s second verse.“Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulated me / All these n—-s agitated, I’m just glad they showin' they faces,” he adds.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Wayne interpreted the lyrics that Lamar saw how it meant to him to lose out on being selected for the halftime show. “I think he saw what everyone else saw; he saw how much it meant to me. I think that’s all he means. Obviously, he can’t control that. So, he didn’t let me down.”He also shared that he sent Lamar his support for the upcoming performance. “I’ve spoken to him and I wished him all the best and told him [he] better kill it.““I understand those words. Like I said, I think he just means that he made it there and his hard work is the reason why he made it there, and… letting me down is just me being upset and disappointed about not getting that spot.“As for a last-minute appearance at the halftime show, Wayne said that he will be traveling out of the country during the major football game so a performance from him won’t be possible.Kendrick Lamar in Los Angeles in August 2017.Steve Granitz/WireImageIn September, it was announced that Lamar would be performing at the2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime showon Feb. 9, 2025.Days after the announcement,Wayne posted a video expressing his disappointmentfor not being selected for a hometown show. “It hurt a whole lot,“he said at the time.“I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position.““But I thought there was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city, so it hurt,” Wayne added.

Lil WayneandKendrick Lamarhave no hard feelings about the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show.

During the Dec. 17 episode ofThe Skip Bayless Show, Wayne, 42, revealed that he spoke with the Pulitzer Prize winner following not being selected for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show in his hometown — and being name-checked in a new song.

Bayless, 73, said that he was “baffled and angry” with the NFL’s decision not to have the New Orleans native Wayne perform and ultimately choosing Lamar, 37, for the Caesars Superdome event.

“How do you explain their choosing not to ask you?” the podcaster asked. Wayne said that he believes he isn’t “there” yet and that he needs to “get there,” and that there are factors beyond his control at play in making those decisions.

The rapper also said that he told his managers that he “wants to get to the point where I’m undeniable” as a halftime show option as a personal goal. “I want them to walk in there and have 10 other choices, and whoever’s in charge says, ‘No. You have to go with him.’ "

Lil Wayne in Los Angeles in March 2022.Michael Tullberg/Getty

Michael Tullberg/Getty

Bayless also spoke about the lyrics in Lamar’s song"wacced out murals,“where he mentioned Wayne and the situation.

“Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down / Whatever though, call me crazy, everybody questionable / Turn me to an esk—, I drew the line and decimals,” Lamar raps in the song’s second verse.

“Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulated me / All these n—-s agitated, I’m just glad they showin' they faces,” he adds.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Wayne interpreted the lyrics that Lamar saw how it meant to him to lose out on being selected for the halftime show. “I think he saw what everyone else saw; he saw how much it meant to me. I think that’s all he means. Obviously, he can’t control that. So, he didn’t let me down.”

He also shared that he sent Lamar his support for the upcoming performance. “I’ve spoken to him and I wished him all the best and told him [he] better kill it.”

“I understand those words. Like I said, I think he just means that he made it there and his hard work is the reason why he made it there, and… letting me down is just me being upset and disappointed about not getting that spot.”

As for a last-minute appearance at the halftime show, Wayne said that he will be traveling out of the country during the major football game so a performance from him won’t be possible.

Kendrick Lamar in Los Angeles in August 2017.Steve Granitz/WireImage

Steve Granitz/WireImage

In September, it was announced that Lamar would be performing at the2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime showon Feb. 9, 2025.

Days after the announcement,Wayne posted a video expressing his disappointmentfor not being selected for a hometown show. “It hurt a whole lot,“he said at the time.

“I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position.”

“But I thought there was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city, so it hurt,” Wayne added.

source: people.com