Drake Super Bowl Halftime Show: Conflicting Claims About Rapper Turning Down Gig Surface
There have been conflicting reports about whether Drake has ever turned down a chance to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
The music world is on fire once again after rumors spread that Drake was offered to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show and declined both times. But a new report says no such thing happened.
It's been a busy week for hip-hop fans as the drama has yet to die down in the aftermath of Kendrick Lamar announcing he would be headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans, Louisiana, next year. Since the announcement, Lil Wayne, who some believe should be playing the gig since he's from the city, has spoken out, saying that it "hurt a whole lot" not to be selected for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show.
The drama surrounding the Super Bowl Halftime Show selection intensified for several reasons. One point that's been brought up is Drake’s association with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment and his relationships with individuals who have complicated feelings about Jay-Z—whom the NFL tapped to help select halftime acts—and Kendrick. These connections, among others, led to increased discussion about the selection, especially after Kendrick and Drake’s tumultuous period in late April to early May, which included a heated feud culminating in the track "Not Like Us." With Drizzy's name now involved, the situation has generated even more buzz.
So, was Drake really offered the Super Bowl Halftime Show gig in the past, and did he turn it down? Here’s what we know so far.
Kendrick's Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show Announcement
Earlier this week, K. Dot announced that he would perform at the Super Bowl in a video of him firing off footballs with a jugs machine in front of a giant American flag. The announcement was the latest development following Kendrick's release of the "Not Like Us" music video, sparking excitement among fans who are watching closely for any evidence of Drake shade from the Compton rapper.
The Compton rapper had a wild six months as a result of his feud with Drake, which was capped off with the scathing diss track "Not Like Us." Some believe that Kendrick only received the opportunity due to his success and the series of diss tracks related to the Drake feud. But Jay-Z, who has been serving as the NFL's music strategist, released a statement explaining why Kendrick was chosen.
"Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer," said Jay. "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."
Lil Wayne Responds to the Super Bowl Halftime Show Snub
Lil Wayne, a NOLA rap stalwart, has made it clear that he wants to take the stage in his hometown for the Big Game. After it was announced that Wayne would not be performing next year, members of the hip-hop community weighed in. Some pointed to Jay and Wayne's rivalry as a reason why the New Orleans rapper was snubbed, while others claimed the Brooklyn rap legend could be siding with Kendrick in the feud. Several of Wayne's fellow YMCMB members, including Birdman, Nicki Minaj, and Juvenile, came to his defense.
After a few days of no response, Weezy shared a video in which he expressed how "hurt" he was by the omission and how broken he was because of it.
"I wanna say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love and the support out there," said Wayne in the clip. "Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back. That hurt. Hurt a lot. You know what I'm talking about. It hurt a whole lot."
Jamil "Mal" Clay Says Drake Turned Down the Super Bowl Halftime Show More Than Once
On an episode of the New Rory & MAL podcast, co-host Jamil "Mal" Clay claimed that Drake had turned down performing at the Super Bowl several times. According to Mal, the Toronto artist was asked to do it four different times.
"Drake has been offered this Super Bowl show for some years now and has turned it down," said Clay. "Probably four years, he's been offered to perform at the Super Bowl, said no for whatever reason."
Bloomberg Report Claims NFL Sources Said Drake Was Never Offered to Perform at the Super Bowl
Things took another twist when a Bloomberg report claimed that NFL insiders refuted Drake being offered the Super Bowl gig, calling it a "blatant lie."
"There's a rumor that Drake has turned down the opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl multiple times. League sources tell me that isn't true," wrote the reporter. "In fact, one of them said 'it's a blatant lie.' I was told in the five years the NFL has been partnered with Jay-Z's Roc Nation, the two parties have never offered the Toronto native the Super Bowl Halftime Show."
The reporter continued, "Sure, there have also been occasions where an artist has been considered and there were scheduling conflicts. Drake does not fit in the declined or schedule conflicts categories."
Elliott Wilson Says Drake Passed on the Super Bowl Halftime Show Twice
Soon after Mal made those claims, Elliott Wilson confirmed that the rumors were true on an episode of The Bigger Picture. Wilson said Drizzy dismissed the offer twice—in 2020 and 2021—which led to Jennifer Lopez teaming up with Shakira for a joint performance in Miami, while The Weeknd handled it in Tampa the year after.
"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 said. "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 NFL partnership] — the one in Miami and The Weeknd one."
According to Wilson, Jay wanted Drizzy to do it as it would've been a smart business move, but the 6 God wasn't rocking with it for an unknown reason.
"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," he said. "So now, years later, when the opportunity's asked of Kendrick and Kendrick says, 'Yes,' is Jay not playing fair there? Should Drake feel a way about it when he knows himself he's had the opportunity to do it but he's turned it down twice?"
Whether it's true or not, Drake has yet to publicly confirm or deny it. As far as his stance on a preferred Super Bowl halftime act, he shared a few photos of Wayne on his Instagram Story following Kendrick's announcement.
