When the Super Bowl hits New Orleans, the drama isn’t just on-field—it’s playing out in the music world too. NBA star Gilbert Arenas just stirred the pot with his hot take on the Kendrick Lamar vs. Lil Wayne Super Bowl LIX debate.

Arenas ain’t mincing words. “Is Kendrick Lamar the right pick for the Super Bowl? Let me tell you why there’s no other choice,” he tweeted. According to Arenas, the NFL’s main concern is the big bucks, not necessarily local loyalties. He added, “When you think about the Super Bowl, we’re talking about performance. There’s a few people who pop in your head immediately. The Super Bowl was in New Orleans before and when Beyoncé performed, nobody said ‘why didn’t Lil Wayne go out there with her?’ But now, we’re saying was he way hotter then or is he hotter now? Bro, imma tell you. The NFL they don’t care about none of that. People gotta remember the NFL is about making money.”

The American rapper’s selection for the halftime show in February has ignited debate. Kendrick Lamar’s got mad talent, no doubt. But a lot of folks are saying Lil Wayne—New Orleans’ legend—should’ve snagged the Super Bowl gig. The online chatter’s buzzing with accusations that Jay-Z, who co-produced the halftime show, might’ve had a say in this because of his rap beef.

Nicki Minaj and others have pointed fingers at Jay-Z. DJ Akademiks even called out Jay-Z, claiming, “The Super Bowl in New Orleans, and they let Lamar perform over Lil Wayne…. Jay-Z a legendary hater for that.” Rapper Cam’ron hinted that Jay-Z’s beef with Lil Wayne’s artist, Drake, could be behind the choice. Cam’ron suggested, “Lil Wayne had a problem with somebody before who’s kind of part of the organization running [the Super Bowl]—this is payback.”

Adding to the drama, Jay-Z’s long-standing beef with Lil Wayne’s mentor, Birdman, could be fueling the fire. Nicki Minaj also hints that Jay-Z’s old grudge might be influencing the decision, pointing to their history since Birdman dubbed Lil Wayne the superior rapper in 2009. Meanwhile, Jay-Z defends the choice, calling Kendrick Lamar a “once-in-a-generation artist” with undeniable cultural impact. 

But don’t hold your breath for this drama to fizzle—Lil Wayne’s manager is clearly fuming about Kendrick headlining Super Bowl LIX.

Kendrick Lamar takes the stage, and Lil Wayne’s manager throws shade

The American rapper’s about to wow at Super Bowl 2025’s halftime show, but not everyone’s on board. Lil Wayne’s manager, Fabian Marasciullo, is throwing major shade. On IG, Marasciullo slammed Kendrick, addressing Wayne as GOAT, and wrote, “They’ll never be in a spot where they’re at the mercy of other people’s decisions again.”

Lil Wayne’s a New Orleans legend and hip-hop GOAT, influencing stars like Drake and Nicki Minaj. So it’s no surprise his fans and manager are miffed that Kendrick Lamar’s getting the spotlight. But wait, Kendrick ain’t no wimp! His 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music was a first for the hip-hop genre. Plus, his Super Bowl 56 cameo was a hit! This solo performance is a big deal for him.

But here’s the twist—while Kendrick’s solo act’s a big win for him, the drama over Lil Wayne’s snub ain’t cooling off. Looks like this Super Bowl halftime show’s going to keep people talking!