LL Cool J had some supportive words for Lil Wayne after the New Orleans rapper admitted he felt deeply hurt following Kendrick Lamar’s selection as the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show performer. In a candid conversation with Fat Joe on his Fat Joe Talks interview series on Starz, LL Cool J offered perspective and encouragement, reminding Lil Wayne that his moment in the spotlight would eventually come.
“Lil Wayne is one of the most talented dudes on the planet. Period. He’s one of our great artists. He’s an unbelievable writer,” LL Cool J emphasized, praising Wayne’s artistry. “He’ll have his day. Let Kendrick get that. Let’s keep it moving.”
LL Cool J, the legendary rapper behind hits like “Mama Said Knock You Out,” also acknowledged why Wayne’s disappointment might have hit so hard. “First of all, the people of New Orleans are amazing, and Wayne comes from a very proud state, Louisiana, and a very proud city, New Orleans, so we’ve got to put some respect on that,” he said. He recognized that the Super Bowl being held in New Orleans made Wayne’s exclusion from the halftime show particularly painful for the rapper, whose deep connection to the city runs through both his music and his personal identity.
LL Cool J, reflecting on Wayne’s emotions, shared some wisdom about patience and persistence. “Your time will come. You’ll have your day. You will,” LL Cool J assured. “You were a little kid — 14 years old — you became one of the great rappers in the culture…you put things in the dictionary. You’ll have your time. You can’t let that break you.” The veteran rapper, now 56, added that Wayne’s hurt made him smile, not out of dismissal, but because he understands how blessed Wayne truly is in his career and how much more he has ahead of him.
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To drive his point home, LL Cool J compared Wayne’s experience to his own long journey to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. “To put it in perspective, I’m in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” he explained. “They voted on me, it felt like 999,000 times before I got in. It didn’t break me, bro. I didn’t even make a comment. As a matter of fact, I laughed just like I just laughed just now.” LL Cool J’s message was clear: setbacks are part of the process, and they don’t define the legacy an artist builds.
He also acknowledged that, as successful artists, “sometimes unintentionally, we get a little bit spoiled.” The idea being that the more accolades and milestones artists achieve, the more they may expect to continue receiving them.
Lil Wayne, 41, expressed his disappointment publicly in a heartfelt Instagram video following the announcement that Lamar, 37, would headline the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at the Caesars Superdome.
In the video, Wayne shared his emotional struggle, saying, “I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking.” He continued, “I’mma say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love, and the support out there. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”
Wayne admitted that the decision stung more than he expected, explaining, “It hurt a whole lot. I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position.” Wayne had hoped to perform on the Super Bowl stage in his hometown of New Orleans, which made the disappointment feel even more personal. “I thought there was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city, so it hurt,” he said.
Despite Wayne’s disappointment, the selection of Kendrick Lamar has been widely celebrated. In a statement Lamar said, “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date, and I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.” Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation helps curate the Super Bowl Halftime performances, also weighed in, saying, “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision.”
While Lil Wayne’s disappointment is understandable, LL Cool J’s message is one of patience, resilience, and confidence that Wayne’s own time to shine on such a prestigious stage will come soon enough.
The Super Bowl may have chosen Lamar for 2025, but Wayne’s influence on hip-hop remains undeniable, and his moment under the halftime show lights may be closer than he thinks.
