Lil Wayne’s inner circle isn’t holding back their frustration over him not being named the Super Bowl LIX halftime headliner.
Nicki Minaj and Birdman took to X Monday to voice their displeasure with the NFL’s (and presumably Jay-Z’s) decision to have Kendrick Lamar headline Super Bowl LIX in February.
While they both didn’t explicitly mention the Roc Nation founder who’s been involved in producing Super Bowl halftime shows since 2019, it seems obvious what and who they’re talking about.
“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” Minaj wrote in a post on X.
“Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola, what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50 Cent come out,” she continued.
Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego. Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out.…
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
She also posted, “One n*** took a knee The other n*** took the bag. He gon get you ‘n******’ in line every fkng time,” seemingly referencing the popular sentiment that Jay-Z’s partnership with the NFL was in response to San Fransisco’s 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick being exiled from the NFL after taking a knee to protest police brutality.
One nigga took a knee
The other nigga took the bag.
He gon get you “niggers” in line every fkng time. #GagCityDC #DTLR
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
Throughout her posts, Minaj underscored Lil Wayne’s transformative impact on hip-hop, arguing that he deserves the spotlight.
“God forbid if Wayne was to leave this earth right now, the culture would be in mourning,” she wrote. “That’s why so many ppl keep saying to give our legends their flowers while they are still around to smell them.”
And btw, you don’t know the half of what lil Wayne has done for me & others. Wayne had drake & I on his tour w/no papers signed. He was on all of my mixtapes w/no papers signed. This man has literally changed the FACE of hip hop. The hair too. IYKYK. He inspired so many to tat…
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
God forbid if Wayne was to leave this earth right now, the culture would be in mourning. That’s why so many ppl keep saying to give our legends their flowers while they are still around to smell them. Sitting around all day playing games with ppl life & legacy. God ain’t sleep.…
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
Another read, “You can love and respect Kendrick and still love and respect Wayne. Even Kendrick loves and respects Wayne. Every real rapper loves and respects Wayne.”
You can love & respect Kendrick and still love & respect Wayne. Even Kendrick loves & respects Wayne. Every real rapper loves & respects Wayne. #GagCityDC TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!!!!! The whole DMV AREA I’ll see yall soon. We will have a beautiful, magical, successful show. #DTLR ????
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
She continued:
Got everything in the world.
Still spiteful & evil. Disgusting. Be happy Abeg. Go be fkng happy n!gg@!!!!!!!! In rap business. In women business. When you got the Politicians & the police you good tho. Plus dat ugly laughy taffy alien #GagCityDC #DTLR LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOO— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
and
Yup. And I never care by the time they figure it out. LMFAO. It’s good for them. #GagCityDC yall Rdy?!?!! Yall know his next move is going to be to tell yall a “certain someone” is being treated soooooo unfairly so that yall can go back into that trance. ???? #DTLR https://t.co/O96SDuCEB1
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
and
Oh you think speaking up on injustice within your work place should only be done if it’s for a person who would do it for you? Im rlly the realest n!gg@. Wow. #GagCityDC TONIGHT. #DTLR https://t.co/oQX5eVCtIC
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
and
I love watching the whole industry play dumb time after time. lol. The truth is the truth no matter who tells it. Picking & choosing who yall accept truth from then BAM! Pow! ???? might tell you a joke but won’t tell you a lie. Bwahahahaaha. #DTLR
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 9, 2024
Minaj’s posts came alongside Birdman’s own Monday afternoon outburst.
A day after Roc Nation and the NFL’s official announcement, the Cash Money Records CEO posted, “Smfh,” followed by, “These niggaz Pussi @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @ilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these niggaz respek us on Gladys.”
He followed up with a rant about “Hatin shit 4real.”
Given that these are Birdman’s first X posts in five months, the timing is hard to ignore, especially since they came just a day after his longtime protege was passed over for the gig.
Minaj and Birdman seem to strongly agree with Master P, Cam’ron, and Mase, all of whom believe Lil Wayne should have been named the headliner for the February 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
“#LilWayne should be a part of this celebration as well. He’s one of the greatest Hip Hop artists alive, still relevant, and he’s a New Orleans native,” Master P wrote in an Instagram post yesterday (September 9th).
Let’s not miss this cultural moment in the South.”
Later in the day, rapper Cam’ron shared his thoughts on the selection during his web series It Is What It Is, asserting:
“There’s no reason why Lil Wayne shouldn’t be performing at the Super Bowl. It’s not really a secret. Lil Wayne had a problem with somebody before who’s kind of part of the organization running it. This is payback.”
“Who’s Lil Wayne’s artist? Drake … Lil Wayne not to be performing in New Orleans for the Super Bowl is egregious, and it’s gotta stop,” he continued.
According to Rolling Stone, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z’s “beef” dates back to the late 2000s.
As Wayne rose to prominence as a rap superstar, Jay-Z transitioned into a powerful music industry executive, leading to a charged interplay between the two playas.
In December 2006, following the release of Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come album, Wa yne told Complex:
“I’m better than [Jay-Z]. I’m 24 years old…I’m 13 years deep with five albums and 10 million records sold.”
“I don’t like what he’s saying about how he had to come back because hip-hop’s dead, and we need him. What the f— do you mean? If anything, it’s reborn, so he’s probably having a problem with that,” he continued.
“You left on a good note, and all of the artists were saying, ‘Yo, this is Jay’s house. He’s the best.’ Now he comes back and still thinks it’s his house… It’s not your house anymore, and I’m better than you.”
The two traded numerous jabs on record over the years, but by 2018, any lingering competitive tension seemed to have faded.
The A Milli rapper addressed a Chicago crowd back then saying,“[Jay-Z] helped me when I was really, really, really down…That man helped me with my taxes. He’s a real friend, y’all.”
