On the topic of Jay-Z‘s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, Fat Joe has sided with his old rival.
As part of the 105th season kickoff, Kendrick Lamar was announced as the headlining performer for Super Bowl 59. Lil Wayne fans flooded social media in disappointment that the “Lollipop” hitmaker would not be headlining the show in his hometown. Roc Nation’s decision to overlook Wayne has been criticized by a number of celebrities and fans alike.
Joey Crack took to Instagram Live on September 10 to offer a different perspective. Rather than focusing on the criticism, he praised JAY-Z and Roc Nation for their contributions to increasing hip hop’s presence at the Halftime Show since 2019.
Fat Joe urged fans to remember how limited hip-hop representation was before Roc Nation took over curating the event. “They brought out Dr. Dre, Eminem, everybody—number one ratings,” Fat Joe pointed out, referencing the 2022 performance featuring Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, and Kendrick Lamar.
Fat Joe’s defense highlights the broader shift that has occurred under JAY-Z’s influence. Before Roc Nation’s involvement, the Super Bowl Halftime Show was dominated by rock and pop artists.
Since 2019, the event has featured prominent hip-hop and R&B performers like Usher, The Weeknd, and the Dr. Dre-led ensemble. Joe emphasized that JAY-Z’s role in making hip-hop a regular feature on one of the world’s biggest stages deserves recognition.
He also noted that the hip-hop community tends to be its own harshest critic, saying, “Of course, the hip-hop community likes to attack hip-hop.”
“If he wasn’t doing shows, there’d be no hip-hop,” Joe asserted.
Other celebrities didn’t share Fat Joe’s perspective and praised Lil Wayne as New Orleans favorite son. Among those who have criticized Jay-Z for not picking Lil Wayne are Master P, Boosie Badazz, Juvenile, Nicki Minaj, Birdman, and many others. Jay-Z issued an official statement about selecting Kendrick Lamar on Monday. It reads:
“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. 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.”