“Big as the what?” questioned Drake in “First Person Shooter,” the J. Cole collaboration that catalyzed his most recent rap feud with Kendrick Lamar. Later in the repetitive hook, he confirms, “Big as the Super Bowl,” and now fans may have proof that the Canadian musician was called for game time.
Elliott Wilson added a new layer to the Super Bowl LIX controversy as narratives surrounding the upcoming championship game continue to spin. News of Kendrick Lamar’s headlining the New Orlean-based sporting event has resulted in criticism against JAY-Z and Roc Nation, as well theories that the decision stems from the Compton rapper’s recent beef with Drake.
While some have suggested the move was a display of the Brooklyn rapper’s alignment with Kung Fu Kenny against Drizzy, Wilson says the self-proclaimed “6 God” has been offered the spot in the recent past.
According to the veteran journalist and media personality, Drake has declined to headline the Super Bowl halftime show twice in recent years. This claim was first made publicly on the New Rory & Mal podcast by co-host Jamil “Mal” Clay. Wilson confirmed through sources that the Canadian rapper was offered the coveted spot.
“I have some intel. I thought Mal was capping, I thought he was lying about Drake turning down the Super Bowl. That sounded wild. It was like, ‘Four times? Who turns down the Super Bowl that many times?’” Wilson detailed in an episode of The Bigger Picture, a digital Hip-Hop show cohosted by DJ Hed and Jeremy Hecht.
“I have it on authority, multiple sources have told me that Drake has indeed turned down the Super Bowl. He actually turned down the first two [since JAY-Z’s and Roc Nation partnered wit the NFL] — the one in Miami and The Weeknd one.”
He continued to elaborate, “These guys are rivals with each other, they’ve had their good times and bad times with each other. But business-wise, JAY-Z wanted Drake on that Super Bowl stage, and he turned it down twice.”
The conversations regarding the 2025 NFL championship not only brought the Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef to the table, but other discussions questioned why Lil Wayne, arguably the biggest musician from New Orleans, was not asked to perform.
“That hurt. It hurt a lot. You know what I’m talking about. 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. So I blame myself for that,” expressed the “Fireman” rapper of not getting offered the gig.
JAY-Z and Roc Nation have co-produced the Super Bowl halftime show with the NFL since 2019. Reports claimed that the host city is the deciding factor in finalizing the performer. However, amid the recent back-and-forths, Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and a Super Bowl LIX Host Committee member explained, “It is the NFL’s decision alone for all entertainment for the Super Bowl. We found out about it at the same time everyone else did this past weekend.”
VIBE has reached out to the NFL for clarity on the process and has not yet received a statement.
