Lil Wayne pays tribute to JAY-Z the rap god who has been the mentor for several young artists and created his own legacy in the field of hip-hop. On the 4HUNNID Podcast by YG, the newest episode saw Weezy engaged in a game, “Keep it 4HUNNID,” where he gave interesting answers to a few questions. Among them: his favorite female rappers, the optimal time for a studio session, and even his dream job if he weren’t a rapper.
But the moment that truly captivated fans was when Lil Wayne was asked to choose between JAY-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. Without hesitation, he delivered a succinct verdict: “Hov still here.” The nod to JAY-Z’s enduring influence was clear.
Lil Wayne’s brave dilemma: Jay-Z or Biggie Smalls?
As the podcast host, YG, probed him about his all-time favorite, Lil Wayne hesitated. His eyes narrowed, and the studio air grew thick. Then, with a sly grin, Weezy leaned into the mic and said,
“Jay-Z or Biggie? Man, that’s like asking me to pick between air and water”
Jay-Z: The Blueprint
Weezy’s admiration for Jay-Z is no secret. The Brooklyn-born mogul has been a guiding light in hip-hop for decades. His lyrical prowess, business acumen, and cultural impact are undeniable. Wayne acknowledged this, nodding to Jay’s iconic albums like The Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt. “Jay-Z,” he mused, “he’s the blueprint for us all.”
Biggie Smalls: The Brooklyn legend
But then, Weezy’s eyes softened. He reminisced about late nights in New Orleans, bumping to Biggie’s gritty tales of street life. “Biggie,” he said, “he’s the heartbeat of East Coast rap. His flow? Unmatched. His storytelling? Legendary.”
The verse that echoes through time
And then came the golden revelation. When pressed about his favorite Hov verse, Lil Wayne didn’t miss a beat. His eyes sparkled with reverence as he recalled the lines that have resonated with him for years. “My favorite verse from Hov is from a song called ‘Lucky Me.’ It was from In My Lifetime, Vol. 1,” Wayne declared. The simplicity of his response belied the weight of those words.
For the audience who do not know this, “Lucky Me” is a song from JAY-Z’s 1997 album. It is a wonderful lyric which touches on life’s multiple aspects, adversities, joys, success, and steadfastness in pursuing greatness. As the song was took away slowly in pieces covered, the lyrics based upon Wayne’s beloved line from “Lucky Me” became the rhymes for a collaboration of JAYZ and Wayne with the track “Mr. The song “ Carter, ” featured in Tha Carter III album of 2008.
” And I swear to everything, when I leave this Earth,
It’s gonna be on both feet, never knees in the dirt.
And you can try me, [expletive], but when I squeeze, it hurt.
Fine, we’ll lose two lives; yours and mine.
Give me any amount of time, don’t let Ms. Carter grieve. At the funeral parlor, drippin’ tears down my sleeve.
Give me any amount of time, don’t let Ms. Carter grieve.
“
These lines pay homage to both JAY-Z and Wayne’s own legacy. They encapsulate resilience, defiance, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence.
A tattooed testament
Wayne’s love for JAY-Z’s work extends beyond mere admiration. In a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, he revealed that he has lyrics from JAY-Z’s 1997 album tattooed on his skin.
““It was the first album where I actually had the car that the rapper was talking about,” Wayne shared. “And also, Jay was talking so crazy on there, he went bananas on that album. I got lyrics from that album tattooed on me. That album stuck with me for real, for real.””
Hot Boys reunion tour: The missing piece
During the same podcast interview, Lil Wayne dropped hints about a potential Hot Boys reunion tour. Fans have long yearned for a revival of the iconic group, and Wayne addressed the possibility. While fellow members Juvenile and Turk are ready, the missing link remains Geezy. Wayne explained, “Yeah, everybody got their own thing.
“Everybody got their own record label, their own situation. Nobody ain’t tied down to nothing. So when we asked everybody, they were like, ‘Yeah, we can jump on whenever.’ We just gotta get Geezy right.”
The Hot Boys, known for their fiery energy and Southern rap dominance, could once again set stages ablaze if all the pieces fall into place. As fans eagerly await this potential reunion, Lil Wayne’s reverence for JAY-Z’s verse serves as a reminder that hip-hop’s legacy is etched in timeless rhymes.