American hip-hop icon Jay-Z has dismissed claims that he sided with either Drake or Kendrick Lamar in their ongoing rivalry.
Speaking in a recent interview with GQ, the Roc Nation boss clarified that his decision to select Kendrick Lamar as the headliner for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show was based purely on merit.
“I chose the guy that was having a monster year, it wasn’t in some sort of alliance to a battle,” he stated.
Jay-Z emphasized that the choice had nothing to do with aligning himself in any rap feud, but rather reflected the artist’s impact and success over the past year.
He also questioned the relevance of rap beefs in today’s music industry, suggesting they often create unnecessary division and escalate into personal attacks.
The rapper expressed concern about how rival fanbases sometimes cross the line, dragging artists’ personal lives and even their families into conflicts.
According to him, the hip-hop industry stands to benefit more from unity and creativity than from ongoing rivalries and battles.
