Kendrick Lamar is about to find out if his smash hit “Not Like Us” is as popular with NFL and network lawyers and execs as it is with the public — and his Super Bowl Halftime Show hangs in the balance.

This is a big day down in the Big Easy, as Kendrick’s set list is expected to be handed off to the NFL and FOX honchos gathered in New Orleans for the game. Wednesday is typically the day Halftime Show performers pull back the curtain for the league, and reveal the songs they’re going to perform.

But, this year there’s extra attention on Kendrick’s plans, because of “Not Like Us,” and the defamation lawsuit Drake filed against Universal Music Group over the diss track … which, as we all know, flat-out calls Drake a “certified pedophile.”

Worth noting is what happened Sunday night when K Dot won Record of the Year at the Grammys. CBS opted to play the “pedophile” portion of the song as he walked onstage, and the whole crowd at Crypto.com Arena loudly sang the iconic “A minor” line. Imagine that now with more than 80,000 people Sunday in the Superdome.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is ripping Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency … she says he needs a lesson in how the federal government is supposed to run.

The Congresswoman from Texas joined us on “TMZ Live” Wednesday and we asked her about Elon’s seemingly endless influence over the Trump administration.

Jasmine says Elon is wielding way too much power for an unelected immigrant … and she thinks it’s rich the GOP is letting him have his way just because President Trump gave him the green light. She says Republicans would have him deported if he didn’t bankroll Trump’s campaign.

Vice President J.D. Vance is defending Elon against folks who say no one voted for Musk … but Jasmine says Elon is doing way too much and is way too involved.

We challenged Jasmine about examples of non-elected advisors and First Lady’s wielding power and influence in Washington … but Crockett says none compare to what’s going on with Elon and DOGE.

Music mega producer Irv Gotti — who worked with big acts like DMX, Ja Rule and Ashanti — is dead … TMZ has confirmed.

Multiple sources close to his family tell us he died Wednesday in New York City. It’s currently unclear exactly how he died.

Irv’s battled health problems recently since suffering a stroke last year, and has had to walk with the aid of a cane.

Gotti had a legendary career in hip hop, producing “Can I Live” on Jay-Z‘s debut album “Reasonable Doubt.”

When Irv was at Def Jam, he signed DMX and served as executive producer on DMX’s first studio album, “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot.” He eventually launched his label, Murder Inc., under the Def Jam umbrella … and its first release was Ja Rule’s debut album, “Venni Vetti Vecci.”

Gotti also signed Vanessa Carlton to a record deal and produced her 2007 album “Heroes & Thieves.”

Irv and his former artist Ashanti had a war of words a couple years ago, when he opened up — on a now legendary “Drink Champs” episode — about what he described as their “relationship.” She fired back, saying it was never that serious to her, and accused Gotti of being salty he no longer had control of her career.

The rise of Irv’s label was the subject of the 2022 BET documentary, “The Murder Inc Story” … and Ashanti felt that was also part of why they beefed, because she chose not to participate in the 3-part series.

Gotti was 54.