Although Lil Wayne hails from New Orleans, the iconic rapper will not be taking the stage at Super Bowl 59, which is set to take place in his hometown.

Recently, the NFL revealed that Kendrick Lamar from California will lead the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show in 2025, a decision that did not resonate well with Lil Wayne. During an Instagram Live session this week, he mentioned that the announcement “hurt a lot.”

“I believed there was nothing greater than getting that chance, that stage, in my city. So yes, it hurt a whole lot,” he shared in the video.

Lil Wayne also emphasized to his supporters that he owes everything to them. “I am nothing without you, and that’s an incredible truth,” he stated.

“As I said, it broke me, and I’m working on piecing myself back together, but my goodness, you all have been my support,” he added during the Instagram Live, expressing his feelings of disappointment for not securing that opportunity.

The NFL’s choice to select Lamar, who is 37 years old, over Lil Wayne coincides with a pivotal year in Lamar’s career. Known for his significant impact on the rap world, Lamar garnered even more attention recently due to a widely publicized clash with fellow rapper Drake earlier this year.

Last week, Lamar announced the news through a video on YouTube, where he was seen on a football field in front of a large American flag.

“I’m Kendrick Lamar, and I’ll be performing at Super Bowl LIX,” he said in the video. “Will you be there? I hope so.”

The performance was confirmed in a news release from Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the NFL, with the NFL sharing a promotional image of Lamar on a football field.

Seth Dudowsky, the NFL’s head of music, remarked that “Few artists have made such a significant impact on music and culture as Kendrick Lamar,” noting, “Time and again, Kendrick has demonstrated his extraordinary ability to create moments that resonate and redefine the essence of hip-hop.”

The past five years have seen numerous music legends perform. Usher had the most-watched halftime show this year, while Rihanna made a splash in 2023. Lamar was featured alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Anderson .Paak in 2022, and The Weeknd took to the stage in 2021. The 2020 Super Bowl showcased Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Emme Muniz with a lively Latin performance.

Contributing: Brendan Morrow