Stephen A. Smith Questions Nicki Minaj’s History of Beefs While Defending Jay-Z

Stephen A. Smith weighed in on Nicki Minaj’s recent rant criticizing Jay-Z for allegedly influencing the NFL’s decision to have Kendrick Lamar headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show over Lil Wayne. On the September 11 episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the broadcaster questioned Minaj’s frequent public feuds, asking why she feels the need to attack Jay-Z, especially given his contributions to Black culture through his work with the NFL. He defended Jay-Z’s role, highlighting how hard it is for a Black man to achieve what Jay has in mainstream events like the Super Bowl.

Smith also pushed back on Minaj’s suggestion that Jay-Z is a sellout, emphasizing the impact Jay has made in securing opportunities for hip-hop and R&B artists on such major platforms. “How unappreciative can you be?” Smith exclaimed, noting the importance of supporting each other within the Black community. He stressed that Jay-Z doesn’t deserve such harsh criticism, especially for a decision that ultimately benefits the culture at large.

Minaj had previously vented her frustration on social media after Kendrick Lamar was named as the headliner, implying that personal beefs between Jay-Z, Birdman, Drake, and herself influenced the choice. She later clarified that while she respects Kendrick, she still believes Lil Wayne should have been chosen.

At the time, Lil Wayne has not made any public comments regarding the matter.