Super Bowl: Jay-Z reacts to claims he used Kendrick against Drake 

By Tolulope Oke

US rap icon Jay-Z has dismissed claims that he selected Kendrick Lamar for the Super Bowl halftime show to undermine Drake.

The billionaire music mogul, whose company Roc Nation has co-produced the Super Bowl halftime show since 2019, addressed the controversy in an interview with GQ, insisting the decision had nothing to do with the long-running feud between the two rap stars.

Speculation had trailed Lamar’s selection, especially at the peak of his dominance in 2024, when tracks like Not Like Us and Meet the Grahams intensified his rivalry with Drake and earned him widespread acclaim.

But Jay-Z was blunt in his response, saying the choice was purely based on performance and relevance at the time.

“What do I have to do with that? I chose the guy who was having a monster year. I think it was the right choice,” he said.

He rejected suggestions of bias or hidden alliances, stressing that he had no interest in being dragged into the feud.

“It was not in some alliance with a battle. Would I care about those two guys battling? It has nothing to do with me,” he added.

The music executive also pushed back against conspiracy theories suggesting a coordinated effort within the industry to sideline Drake.

“They dragged everybody into it, like everyone was part of this conspiracy to undermine Drake… I am f*****g Jay-Z. Respectfully, for what? To what end?” he said.

Reflecting on rap rivalries, Jay-Z compared the situation to his past feud with Nas, noting that such conflicts often build over time. He, however, admitted regrets over how that clash unfolded despite his respect for Nas.

“I actually regret that because I really like Nas. He is a really nice guy,” he said.