Master P is happy that Kendrick Lamar has been chosen to perform at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show – but he’s hoping the Los Angeles native at least brings out Lil Wayne to grace the big stage in his New Orleans hometown.
The No Limit mogul was given the title of official “entertainment ambassador” for the 2025 Super Bowl by NOLA’s mayor earlier this month. And after K.Dot was announced as the performer on Sunday (September 8), P mentioned his title as he voiced his agreement with other fans and peers who are upset that Weezy isn’t headlining.
“Salute to @kendricklamar for performing at the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX.. well deserved, he’s one of the hottest music artists in the world and has one of the biggest songs right now,” he began. “As Ambassador of Entertainment in the City of New Orleans I have to agree with the fans that @liltunechi #LilWayne should be a part of this celebration as well.
“He’s one of the greatest Hop 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 are here. @masterpmasterclass #Godisgood Change starts with us. @nfl @jayz @mayorcantrell”
Master P isn’t the only one speaking out about the decision to put Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne.
Hours after Dot was announced, renowned mixing engineer Fabian Marasciullo — whose credits include a number of Wayne’s projects and singles, including “Go D.J.,” Tha Carter III and “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy” — took to his Instagram Stories to voice his disappointment.
“Confused. Disappointed. Angry. But most of all. Inspired,” Marasciullo wrote. “Will never again be in a position or have the [goat emoji] in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”
It’s unclear what formal discussions may have occurred between Lil Wayne and the NFL, or what role his longtime engineer might have played in them. However, the Young Money founder has been pretty vocal about his desire to be a part of the entertainment when the football championship game hits his city next year.
During an interview with Taylor Rooks for Bleacher Report last December, Weezy talked about his desire to perform at Super Bowl LIX, which is being held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025.
“Just as bad as I wanted to see my name at the top of that list when I was whatever age it was and I would bust into the office and get that Billboard magazine,” he said about wanting to perform.
“Just as an artist, you know, ’cause this has nothing to do with the sport. As an artist, this is an achievement. This has nothing to do with the sport — that’s so crazy. I don’t care what teams are playing, what city it’s in. ‘You performed for the what?!’ Like, what? Oh man, so that right there is an achievement.”
As part of the NFL’s official announcement, JAY-Z called Kendrick Lamar “once-in-a-generation,” adding, “His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision,” Jay-Z said. “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.”