American hip-hop icon and billionaire Jay-Z has officially denied taking sides in the historic beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, providing an in-depth explanation that has finally addressed months of industry speculation.
He debunked persistent rumors that his choice of Kendrick Lamar for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show was a calculated attempt to “pick a winner” in their lyrical war in a comprehensive interview with GQ that was released on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
Rather, Jay-Z clarified that the choice was made only on the basis of musical domination and that he only picked the performer who was having a “monster year” on a worldwide scale. In his words, “I chose the guy that was having a monster year, it wasn’t in some sort of alliance to a battle.”
