50 Cent Says Kendrick Lamar ‘Deserves’ Super Bowl Halftime Show Slot: ‘Right Now, He’s the Guy’

Much has been made about Kendrick Lamar’s selection as the headlining performer at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, but 50 Cent thinks it’s K. Dot’s time to shine.

50 stopped by The Talk on Friday (Sept. 13), where he defended K. Dot being the right pick to take the Super Bowl LIX stage in New Orleans next year.

“I mean, it was a choice. I think Kendrick deserves [it]. As a solo artist right now, he’s the guy,” said 50 Cent, who made a cameo at the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show performance in Los Angeles alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige. “Having the game be in New Orleans, I could see why they got the Wayne [idea].”

The Queens rapper thinks Lamar should bring out the artists he has “featured on big records” in his decorated discography. ( Billboard compiled a list of possible special guests filled with he likes of SZA, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Travis Scott and more.)

The Super Bowl discussion led into the Drake versus Kendrick feud, which 50 thought was “good for the culture” since it pushed two of the best to elevate their artistry and output.

“Both Drake and Kendrick produced quality music faster because they had to compete with each other,” he added. “That competitive nature made them go work and have responses. Hip-hop is still … it’s not just a genre where you can just make a song and sit back. You have to make a song and be ready to make a song again right away with other artists.”

Other artists have had plenty to say about Kendrick’s Halftime Show selection. Nicki Minaj, Master P, Cam’ron and more have spoken out about the NFL’s decision to overlook Lil Wayne as a headliner in his hometown.

Watch a clip from the interview with 50 Cent below.

This article was originally published by Billboard U.S.