Amid Super Bowl Halftime Debate, Kendrick Lamar’s Respect for Lil Wayne Is Well-Documented

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl announcement has pitted Lil Wayne fans against K. Dot supporters, though the two rappers have long been united. 

Lamar’s headlining duties will take place in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9th, 2025, a gig that many believe rightfully belonged to Weezy.  Others on the opposing side believe that given the Compton’s native monumental year, thanks to his hit, “Not Like Us,” Lamar was the only fair choice.  Social media timelines and podcasts everywhere have been set ablaze with think pieces, dividing hip-hop heads. 

Unlike his feud with Drake, which helped spawn “Not Like Us,” Lamar has long honored Weezy since entering the industry.  In fact, Wayne’s influence was felt on Lamar’s 2009 mixtape, “C4,” which was released months after “Tha Carter III.” The cover art featured the words “Fear K. Dot” on Lamar’s eyelids, an homage to Wayne’s similar face tattoo that reads “Fear God.” Additionally, the pair have collaborated on several songs, including “Mona Lisa” and “Buy the World.”

Even after breaking into the mainstream, Lamar expressed his appreciation for the former Hot Boys frontman.  

Whether Wayne will be included in Lamar’s Super Bowl performance remains to be seen.  However, given their high regard for one another, there is a chance this could happen.  Let’s take a look at just a few times when Lamar has voiced his gratitude for Wayne’s contributions to the game.

Lamar brings out Wayne to perform with him in 2012 at Cali Christmas

Lamar called Wayne a “legend” in 2014

During an interview with “The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show,” Lamar didn’t mince words when discussing the Cash Money star.

“Lil Wayne is a legend. People forget a lot of the work he’s put in and what he’s done for Hip Hop culture. It’s phenomenal,” Lamar explained. 

Lamar called Wayne “the most influential” in 2015

Taking to Twitter in 2015, Lamar took a moment to shoutout both Wayne and rapper Lil B for having a huge impact on the culture. 

“Thank you BasedGod. Teaching us all how to swagg in videos. You and Wayne most influential. Thank you BasedGod,” he wrote.

Thank you BasedGod. Teaching us all how to swagg in videos. You and Wayne most influential. Thank you BasedGod.

— Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) June 20, 2015

Lamar called Wayne “The Greatest” in 2016

During an interview with The Coveteur in 2016, Lamar praised Lil Wayne, acknowledging him as rap royalty and how he inspired his style.

“Lil Wayne is the greatest. Not only because of his music but also because of the culture he put behind it. It was a big part of what he was talking about, so we always hold Lil Wayne in high regards. Juvenile as well. And yeah, it’s the impact of them man. To be a part of it the same way he was a part of it years later is just a great feeling,” he told the outlet.

This caught the attention of Wayne, who replied with a tweet that read “Kendrick Lamar a real one #Respek.”

Kendrick Lamar a real one #Respek

— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) March 16, 2016

Lamar praised Wayne’s work ethic in 2018

In a 2018 episode of Jay Rock’s “Road To Redemption” series, Lamar makes an appearance to speak on the creation of Rock and Wayne’s track, “All My Life.” The video included footage of all three men in the studio, an experience that changed Lamar’s approach to recording. 

“That moment in the studio with Wayne, I never told Wayne this, that changed my perspective about work ethic. Knocked out about 12 verses, and this is ‘Feature Wayne’ at the moment.  And these not no motherf**kin’ fly by night verses. This is set right there and thought out right in front of your face. And smashin’ ’em, and he’s excited about it, and he’s loving music, and he loves what he’s doing. That gave me a whole other appreciation, and we took that same intensity and that work ethic and applied it moving forward,” Lamar told the camera.