If rap were more like one of Lil Wayne’s favorite sports, football, the iconic MC would be similar to Tom Brady when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the age of 43. At this point in the 42-year-old rapper’s career, Wayne, like Brady, has soared high enough in his profession to be considered one of the greatest of all-time. Still, he’s not satisfied and wants — or needs — to compete.
The Epic Lil WeezyAna Festival Reunion
On Saturday night, Wayne gave his hometown of New Orleans the latest installment of his annual extravaganza, the Lil WeezyAna Festival (it started in 2015), with not one but two major reunions: Birdman and Mannie Fresh reprising the Big Tymers — and one of the greatest rap groups of all time, Wayne’s teenage outfit the Hot Boys.
Decades in the Making
It would be the first time in over two decades the popular collective comprised of Wayne, Juvenile, Turk and B.G. would perform live together, after many rumored and officially advertised attempts — the four could never get together, due to conflicting schedules, dissension in the ranks or major prison bids by B.G. and Turk between 2012 and 2023.
The Anticipation
“It’s like Christmas Eve,” Juvenile told Variety on Friday about the reunion. “The wait, the wanting — wondering what it will be like. I’m excited for the moment. I’m at almost at a loss for words because it’s something I envisioned, and I’m happy it’s happening. People are gonna remember the trends we set, with the T-shirts and Gibaud jeans, our whole dress code, our talk, our style. When we first came out, we took the world by storm.”
Unified for the Reunion
B.G. added, “The time for this is now and everybody is on board: It was unified ‘let’s make it happen.’”
Timing is Everything
For his part, Mannie Fresh, who’s on tour with Juvenile, said of his reunion with Birdman, “We always felt like we was gonna come back, but the timing now was right because the fans stood up and was like, ‘Stop bullshittin’! They would tell us just like that. They pretty much said, ‘Stop with y’all stupid asses and get it together,’” he laughed. “We may have had our little beefs here and there, but we all stayed in touch. The reality of it was, the world ain’t gonna wait for this forever.”
Rehearsals and Preparation
Wayne began making calls to his musical brethren in January of this year to bring it back together for the fest.
Emotional Reunion
“I was shocked and excited to see that Lil Wayne — [considering] the caliber of artist he is and where he’s at — wanted to share that stage with us, because he didn’t have to,” Turk marveled. “I remember doing a prior Weezyana Fest and how it felt not having Birdman there, not having B.G. there. It wasn’t complete. So to put everybody on that stage, it ain’t nothin but God — I’m grateful.”
Onstage Chemistry
The Hot Boys, Birdman and Mannie Fresh all got together for the first time to rehearse on Halloween and practiced the show Friday and early Saturday as well. However, Wayne knew it wouldn’t take long for the magic to take place.
Exciting Performance
“He was like, ‘Just give us some mics and a stage, and everything else is going to work itself out,’” B.G. said. “The chemistry has always been there and we will never lose that because we pretty much all grew up together. Wayne is a perfectionist, but he’s always ready to get onstage and make it do what it do.”
Unforgettable Reunion Concert
As the group tore through a myriad of records from their catalog, the joy of the reunion was obvious as they interacted with one another and ad-libbed raps for each other, on songs that came out nearly 30 years ago. There were smiles all around and Wayne even let out a triumphant laugh listening to his brothers’ rhymes. The whole crew came together when Birdman and Fresh joined in with the Hot Boys on “Hot Girl.”
Celebrating 30 Years
It was a full-circle moment for the extended family as well: Cash Money Records, the foundational label for all of these artists, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. The reunion set concluded with Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up,” which was a hit when it came out in the late ‘90s and has had a major resurgence thanks to TikTok.
Awards and Recognition
Wayne was honored by the city of New Orleans and presented with a key to the city, recognizing his contributions to music and the community. Master P announced Lil Wayne Day in the city and his induction into the NOLA Walk of Fame.
Emotional Moment
“I’m usually real, real good with words,” he told the crowd. “I think y’all know that sometime coming, there will be a Super Bowl in this city. When the first Super Bowl was here, I made sure I bought tickets at the beginning of the season. And I did the same when I moved to Miami. I was hoping my team made it and guess who made it? The muthafuckin Saints.”
Looking to the Future
The talk from all involved is that there will be more Hot Boys and Big Tymers concerts, as well as a new Hot Boys album, promising continued success and collaborations in the future.
Conclusion
The Lil WeezyAna Festival reunion was a momentous occasion that brought together legendary artists and celebrated decades of music and friendship. The impact of this event will be felt for years to come, with fans eagerly anticipating more from these iconic groups.
FAQs
Q: Will there be more reunions in the future?
A: The artists have expressed their desire to continue collaborating and performing together, hinting at more reunions and new music in the works.
Q: What was the highlight of the reunion concert?
A: The emotional moments, electrifying performances, and special recognitions made the reunion concert a truly unforgettable experience for both the artists and their fans.
Credit: variety.com
