Snoop Dogg says Hip Hop artists should be happy that Hip Hop is being represented at the Super Bowl rather than complain about not being selected to perform.
There was a lot of controversy after it was announced on September 8th, that Kendrick Lamar will be taking the stage at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in 2025 in New Orleans. Many people were expecting Lil Wayne to headline the event since it was in his hometown. The rapper even voiced out his disappointment at not being selected to perform at the event saying he had dreamed of doing the Super Bowl halftime show and that this year “it was ripped away from me.”
Snoop Dogg is one of the few rappers who has had the privilege to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show. He headlined the 2022 Super Bowl LVI halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar
Guest on Drink Champs, Snoop Dogg was asked by N.O.R.E to clear the air about people having the idea that everywhere the Super Bowl takes place, the rapper from that area is supposed to perform.
“What we need to think about is that before Jay Z, got control of the Super Bowl, no n***s were performing.”
Said Snoop Dogg.
He continued to explain that rather than asking questions, rappers should be grateful that Jay Z is creating a platform for hip-hop to be represented at the Super Bowl,
“He’s creating a way for artists to have an opportunity to perform. If you’re a good artist or a great artist, your time will come.”
Snoop also expressed the fact that before he was selected by Dr. Dre to perform at the show, he never cried about it or requested it but the opportunity still came knocking.
“I was never crying about it or mad about it when Dr Dre called me and asked me to get his back and I was there for him. But I didn’t feel like I was supposed to be there and demand to be there. This is a big event. They look at everything when they pick the person to perform. You should just be honored that Hip Hop is being able to be seen on that platform for all of us and not hate.”
Said Snoop Dogg.
Jay-Z was named the co-producer of the Super Bowl halftime show in 2019 after he partnered with the NFL to advise the league on entertainment and music. The first Super Bowl halftime show to feature hip-hop artists as the main performers was Super Bowl LVI in 2022 when the show was headlined by: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. Before then no Super Bowl Halftime show had ever been headlined by a Hip Hop artist.
Jay-Z famously turned down the Super Bowl halftime performance back in 2017. He later revealed that the decision was based on “principle” when the NFL requested he bring out Kayne West and Rihanna. Jay-Z also took notice when pop band Maroon 5 was booked to perform at the 2019 halftime show in Atlanta, Georgia, a hub for hip-hop music. This eventually led to the partnership between Roc Nation and the NFL giving the rapper a say in who performs at important NFL events.
