Juvenile Speaks Out on the Super Bowl Halftime Show Controversy Involving Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar

Juvenile recently cleared up his comments about Kendrick Lamar headlining this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show, particularly amid controversy surrounding the exclusion of Lil Wayne from the main roster. The New Orleans rapper stopped by Power 106's Brown Bag Morning Show with Mannie Fresh to discuss Kendrick's role and their support for Wayne.

When asked if they would perform if Kendrick invited them on stage, Juvenile quickly responded, "Oh, we there." He continued by complimenting Kendrick as "one of the best performers we've ever seen," noting that "in the hip-hop world, he raises the bar." He added, "It's something that everybody wants to see, and if he calls, I'm there. No problem."

Mannie Fresh then addressed how the internet can distort narratives. "The thing is, the internet always makes something that it's not," he explained. Their comments about wanting Wayne to be part of the lineup were misconstrued as favoritism. "Because people felt like we took a side 'cause we said it would be cool if Wayne was in it. Of course, we're going to say that — that's our team, but respectfully, Kendrick is that dude. He's a good dude."

Juvenile reiterated his stance, clarifying that he never intended to throw shade at Kendrick, emphasizing a philosophy of supporting rather than tearing down fellow artists. "Never throwing shade on Kendrick, not once, because I don't live my life like that anyway. I don't like to tear somebody else down to put somebody else in a position," he stated. He did express disappointment that Lil Wayne wasn't considered, explaining that Wayne "had told everybody he wanted to perform." Juvenile remarked, "I felt like Wayne was campaigning for that spot; he came out months ahead of time, and I'm like, well, if he's asking for it, at least consider him -- give him a call or something."

Juvenile clarified that his frustration was with the NFL, not Kendrick or Jay-Z, who had the final say on the headliner. "My quarrel was never with Jay-Z or Kendrick or anything like that," he explained, "my quarrel was with the NFL and the other 11 Super Bowls they had in my city and they never gave us a chance to put anybody from the city on. They come to our city, throw this big event, rent all the buildings, and we don't see those benefits. My cause is totally different."

This conversation responded to comments Juvenile posted on social media after Kendrick's announcement as the Super Bowl 59 headliner in New Orleans. In an emotional video, he said, "Look, I'm mad about the situation just like y'all, but my hatred is toward the NFL—not really the people that booked the halftime show." He expressed regret about the lack of representation of New Orleans hip-hop artists and, specifically, Lil Wayne's exclusion. "Every time y'all come here, y'all should have somebody from our city on the sh—t. But this time it really hits hard when you don't have Lil Wayne on the show."

Directing his frustration at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Juvenile urged the league to recognize the cultural contributions of New Orleans artists. "So this goes to you, Roger Goodell, you need to get it right, man. You coming to our city, sucking up our culture, making all this money, putting all this bread in your pocket and other people's pockets and leaving us dry. It gotta stop."

Juvenile wasn’t alone in his sentiments; fellow artists like Nicki Minaj, Cam'ron, Mase, Master P, and Boosie shared similar feelings regarding Wayne's exclusion, with Wayne himself stating that he was heartbroken by the decision. Juvenile’s comments highlight a broader conversation about the recognition artists seek at major events like the Super Bowl, particularly in historically rich cities like New Orleans.