When you’re given the chance to see living rap legend Lil Wayne perform live at Stubb’s, one of Austin, Texas’ famed BBQ restaurants, you take it. Nothing goes better with a brisket sandwich like a side of Weezy!
The name of the show was Lil Wayne & Friends, and those friends—DJ Mustard, Dave East, MadeinTYO, Denzel Curry, A Boogie With a Hoodie, G Herbo, Aminé, Rapsody, Trill Sammy, SD, Saint JHN, LG and Omen—all warmed the stage for Weezy, who came out with very little fanfare. Dressed in a hoodie, shorts and bright-yellow cap, Mr. Carter smiled at the roaring crowd, flashing his solid-gold grill.
“If you came to have a hell of a fuckin’ good time, ladies and gentleman, say ‘Hell, yeah,’” Weezy said, and of course the crowd obliged. He started with “I’m Goin’ In,” and the crowd recited every word with him. He continued through every chart topper he’s ever had.
For a second there, I almost forgot that it wasn’t too long ago that Weezy said he never experienced racism.
“Y’all know I’ve been going through some bullshit in my career,” he admitted to the audience, who were in full praise mode. They chanted: “Weezy!” as he explained that he’s still making music and even now making careers. Between delivering his biggest hits, like “A Milli,” “HYFR,” “The Motto” and more, Weezy introduced us to his new artists, Gudda Gudda, Hoody Baby and others. It was clear that Weezy has big musical plans. Not only does he have a roster of new artists, but he’s also launched a new radio channel, Young Money Radio, distributed by Dash Radio.
During his set, Weezy addressed the audience by section, to which they replied in screams and cheers. And at one point he looked over to the concession stands and told the people who were buying libations and BBQ sandwiches that instead of focusing on buying snacks, they should be focused on the greatest rapper alive onstage. I was stuck at the front of the crowd, but I’m sure those people quickly put away their wallets and shamefully walked back toward the stage to heed Wayne’s hilarious warning.
The day after Wayne’s show, I was telling a friend about the performance and I used the words “happy” and “healthy,” to which my friend replied, “What is he, a newborn?”
You know what? Yes. Yes, he is. Lil Wayne allegedly loves to sip on sizzurp, or purp, the intoxicating cocktail that leaves most in a zombielike state (at best); we’re all aware that the “Dirty Sprite” is not a drink worth dying for.
It was just last year when Wayne’s name was spread all over the media with headlines about seizures, comas and purp. And to see him onstage now, smiling, cracking jokes, jumping around as a hype man for his new artist Hoody Baby, it’s refreshing. It’s like you’re watching a whole new happy and healthy Weezy, and I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us.
Relive the performance on our Instastories before it’s gone!