4 weeks ago
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Rihanna is showing love to Kendrick Lamar.
During a recent launch event for the Fenty x Puma Avanti shoe, the singer-songwriter was asked to weigh in on K. Dot’s much-anticipated Super Bowl halftime show performance.
“What do you think of Kendrick Lamar doing the Super Bowl?” reporter Kevin Frazier asked.
“Go. Let’s go,” Rihanna said before giving a confused look. “What is there to doubt on that?”
Frazier insisted he had high hopes for Kendrick’s set but wanted to know if RiRi had any unique insights as a previous halftime show headliner.
“It’s a diamond on a ring finger, honey,” she continued. “It’s meant to be. It’s Kendrick Lamar. He deserves it. I can’t wait to see it. Kendrick, thank you.”
Kendrick, who linked up with Rihanna on 2017’s “Loyalty,” announced his halftime show gig in early September, more than two years after he performed at the Super Bowl LVI show along with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, and more.
“My name is Kendrick Lamar and I’ll be performing at Super Bowl 59,” he said in a teaser video. “Will you be pulling up? I hope so. You know there’s only one opportunity to win a championship. No round twos. Let’s get it… I won’t want you to miss it.”
Super Bowl LIX will go down on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Although the Kendrick-Super Bowl news was generally well-received, several hip-hop figures questioned why New Orleans icon Lil Wayne wasn’t tapped for the gig. Everyone from Birdman and Juvenile to Cam’ron and Nicki Minaj took issue with the perceived snub. The latter even went so far as to point fingers at Roc Nation and Jay Z, who have spearheaded the halftime show over the past several years.
“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” Nicki wrote 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. A white man. Shit sad. House n****r tingz. But it’s GOOD FI DEM!!!!!! No loyalty? Well Then n****z will keep son’ing you!!!!”
Nicki later clarified she had nothing against Kendrick.
“You can love & respect Kendrick and still love & respect Wayne,” Nicki wrote on X. “Even Kendrick loves & respects Wayne. Every real rapper loves & respects Wayne.”
English (US) ·