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Amid the current Super Bowl controversy about choosing Kendick Lamar as the performer, Jay-Z, aka Shawn Corey Carter, has been facing scrutiny. Many believed that New Orleans native Lil Wayne was more deserving than Lamar in this role. Several celebrities also had voiced their opinions on the decision.
Meanwhile, it is worth knowing the complicated history that Carter and Lil Wayne share. The duo reportedly has had an up-and-down relationship all these years. HotNewHipHop reported that the duo first came in contact sometime in the early 2000s, when Wayne called Carter.
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Lil Wayne later recalled the interaction and said:
"Other people may say you've done a bunch of other stuff that should have made you feel solidified, but that phone call right there was serious to me."
Over the next few years, dynamics between the two artists changed, in which they had also exchanged diss tracks aimed at each other. In April 2016, Wayne explained that Jay-Z was still like a mentor to him. Meanwhile, Carter spoke about Kendrick Lamar in relation to the current controversy, and said:
"Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer..."
For the unversed, people speculated that Jay-Z was involved in choosing Lamar for the event. However, it was host city New Orleans who chose Lamar and not Jay, despite the fact that he is a co-producer in the event.
Exploring Jay-Z and Lil Wayne's complex history
Early 2000s: Phone call between Jay and Wayne
As mentioned above, the ever-changing dynamic between Jay-Z and Lil Wayne started with a phone call. Recalling the moment later, Wayne described it as a "huge moment" in his life. In an interview with MTV, Lil Wayne revealed that the call was more significant to him than any feature.
2005-06: Deal offered to Lil Wayne and further controversial statements by him
In 2005, Lil Wayne revealed that Jay-Z had offered him a deal before. Wayne ultimately signed with Universal. The next year, Lil Wayne talked to Complex for a cover story where he made a statement claiming that he was a better rapper than Jay. He then added:
"I’m better than [Jay-Z]. I don’t like what he’s saying about how he had to come back because hip-hop’s dead and we need him..."
2007: Lil Wayne's apology to Jay-Z
Next year, however, Wayne spoke about these statements while talking for an XXL cover story. During the conversation he apologized to Jay and his family. He said:
"I’d like to throw that apology out there ’cause of whatever trouble I caused, I ain’t want that to happen."
Then in 2007, the duo collaborated on Hello Brooklyn 2.0.
2008: Jay-Z's appearance on Mr. Carter
A year later, in 2008, Carter appeared on Lil Wayne's Mr. Carter, which became a huge deal. By the end of the year, the duo had become two top artists in the hip-hop industry.
2009: Birdman's controversial statement
In October 2009, Birdman made a comment claiming that Lil Wayne was richer than Carter. In January 2010, Carter responded to Birdman's comments, especially to those which were money related. He said:
"Being lyrical is just a matter of opinion. It's who you like. As far as money, that's a little more factual."
2011: Jay-Z's dig at Birdman and Lil Wayne's record label, and Wayne's response track
Two years later, in January 2011, Jay released the track H.A.M, in which he addressed Birdman's comments made in 2009 and also mentioned Lil Wayne’s record label, Young Money. In the track, Jay mentioned:
"Really, half a billi,' n*gga, really? You got baby money/Keep it real with n*ggas, n*ggas ain't got my lady money."
This made Lil Wayne respond through another diss track It's Good in August 2011. Wayne rapped:
"Talkin' 'bout baby money, I got your baby money / Kidnap your b*tch, Get that ‘how much you love your lady?' money/I know you fake n*gga/Press your brakes n*gga."
2013: Jay-Z's response track and confirmation that he attempted to sign Lil Wayne
Two years later in 2013, Jay Z reportedly responded to It's Good through La Familia. The same year, in an interview with The Breakfast Club, Carter confirmed that he had attempted to sign Wayne back in the day.
The two artists would continue their complicated dynamics throughout the next several years - sometimes giving props to the other, sometimes exchanging barbs.
2016: Lil Wayne says Jay-Z's offer was very low
Lil Wayne later spoke about the signing incident in 2016 in an XXL interview, saying:
"That man offered me 175 [thousand]. I said, 'Believe that…' I was looking like, two teeth in my mouth is 175, like two of them. My bottom teeth. So we laugh about that all the time. We joke about it all the time."
Finally in 2018, Lil Wayne claimed that he got assistance from Jay-Z when he was under a tax debt of $14 million. A year after that, he ended up explaining that Jay was "the greatest rapper of all time." This statement was made at the time Wayne was doing a promo for Bumbu Rum in 2019.
The duo has experienced a history that had been filled with ups and downs, which eventually made many people question Jay-Z when Kendrick Lamar was recently chosen as the performer for the Super Bowl halftime show. Lamar's fans are, however, excited to witness him perform at the halftime show next year.
