Lil Wayne was considered for the Super Bowl but says Kendrick Lamar was the “right person” for the job regardless of his Compton roots.
Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez says “there was consideration” for Lil Wayne before Kendrick Lamar was chosen for Super Bowl halftime show
The Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez has explained why Kendrick Lamar was the best choice over Lil Wayne at the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in New Orleans for next Sunday.
In an interview released by NOLA.com on Thursday, (January 30), the CEO of Roc Nation revealed several details about the halftime show, including that Lil Wayne was considered as the headlining act and that adding SZA as a special guest was Lamar’s idea.
"Kendrick is the right person for the show at this moment," Perez said, adding that the decision was made after considering a number of factors centered on "when," "who," and "why." Perez also noted that Lamar, a native of Compton, California, is well-suited for a Super Bowl in New Orleans because of the major year he had.
“He’s had an incredible year, very deserving of the attention,” Perez said of Lamar. “The Grammys also acknowledged that. That’s part of the consideration for the halftime show. Kendrick's richness and culture is really a nod to New Orleans."
Asked about Weezy not being chosen to perform in his home city, so where does that leave someone like Lil Wayne? She replied. "I didn't choose the artist, but I do believe that definitely there was consideration," Perez said of the New Orleans native. She added that "Kendrick is the right person for the show at this moment.”
Perez was also asked about Wayne’s disappointment at not being chosen for the halftime show — a gig he had openly coveted — and saying that he wanted his mother to see him perform at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
“Aww. I actually didn’t know he had said that,” Perrez said. “We love that everybody wants to be on the stage, that we’ve completely changed the conversation to fighting for it versus boycotting. We’ve come a long way.”
Perez also confirmed that JAY-Z is hands on in helping choose who performs at the Super Bowl: He presents a shortlist of possible halftime show performers. "He comes back with ideas. It really starts with his thinking," she said. "It's easier for him. It's almost like a chef picking the specials for the evening. He comes up with the shortlist, and we work our way through that."
Perez recalled Jay being especially involved with the selection of the artists for the pregame performances where Louisiana is represented through and through.
In addition to Kendrick Lamar performing at this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show, “The Grammys also acknowledged that. That’s part of the consideration for the halftime show. Kendrick’s richness and culture is really a nod to New Orleans.”
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