Lil Wayne says Super Bowl 59 halftime show snub 'broke' him after Kendrick Lamar got gig

Lil Wayne is New Orleans born and raised, but the hometown rapper isn't performing at next year's Super Bowl in the city.

Instead, the NFL announced last week that California rapper Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show as New Orleans is set to host Super Bowl 59 this upcoming February. And the news didn't sit well with Lil Wayne, who said "it hurt a lot," according to an Instagram Live posted this week.

"I thought there was nothing better than that spot, that stage, that platform, in my city. So it hurt, it hurt a whole lot," he said in the Instagram Live video.

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Lil Wayne also told fans he's "nothing without y'all and that's an amazing reality."

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"So, like I said, it broke me and I'm just trying to put me back together but my God have you guys helped me," the "Lollipop" rapper said during the Instagram Live video, adding that "I feel like I let all of you down by not getting that opportunity."

The NFL's decision to choose the "Not Like Us" rapper, 37, over Lil Wayne comes amid a career-defining year for Lamar. While the "Humble" hitmaker has been at the forefront of the rap genre over the last decade, he received arguably more recognition than ever for his work during a highly publicized feud with fellow rapper Drake earlier this year.

Last week, Lamar shared the news in a YouTube video that showed the Compton rapper on a football field in front of a giant American flag.

"My name is Kendrick Lamar, and I'll be performing at Super Bowl LIX," he says in the clip. "Will you be pulling up? I hope so."

Roc Nation, Apple Music and the NFL confirmed the performance in a news release, and the NFL shared a promotional poster on social media that showed Lamar sitting on a football field.

Seth Dudowsky, NFL's head of music, noted that, "Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar," adding, "Time and time again, Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop."

The last five years have featured a slew of music superstars. Usher performed the most-watched halftime show in history this year while Rihanna made moves in 2023. Lamar joined Eminem, Dr. Dre., Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige featuring 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak in 2022 and The Weeknd hit the stage in 2021. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez along with Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Emme Muniz brought a medley of Latin music to the Super Bowl stage in 2020.

Contributing: Brendan Morrow