Sunday evening (April 16) wasn’t the primary time Lil Wayne touched the famed Apollo Theater stage, however Weezy’s Welcome to Tha Carter Tour rumbled by Harlem to shut out the seasonably heat weekend within the Massive Apple in model.
The curtain dropped round 9:15 p.m. ET on the intimate venue and the thick smoke clouds started to kind because the New Orleans rap deity emerged with a Jesus piece chain dangling round his neck. Weezy opened with the JAY-Z-assisted “Mr. Carter,” which took followers again to when Wayne and Hov have been jockeying for one of the best rapper alive title within the late 2000s.
Wayne went by his humbling live performance routine letting the folks know “I ain’t s–t with out you” earlier than reflecting on the primary time he hit the Apollo stage.
“I don’t know if it was the final time, however I do know the primary time I stepped on this particular stage, [Showtime at] The Apollo was nonetheless an precise present that got here on tv and I used to be on that motherf—er,” he recalled. “I believe Shemar Moore was internet hosting it, however I used to be there although.”
Flanked by DJ T. Lewis and a drummer, Weezy breezed by an array of tracks from his embellished Tha Carter sequence whereas jogging the reminiscence of the 1,500-person capability crowd with songs together with “Fireman,” “Blunt Blowin,’” “Hustler Musik,” and the Kanye West-produced “Let the Beat Construct” booming by the venue audio system.
The 40-year-old discovered a groove inside his colossal Tha Carter III album with a medley of the triumphant “3 Peat,” “Snug,” “Lollipop,” and “Mrs. Officer” as attendees have been hit with a laser beam gentle present and a heavy dose of 2008 nostalgia, at time when Weezy sat atop the rap meals chain on the peak of his powers.
Wayne pressed pause 45 minutes into his set and teased a number of particular friends, however as an alternative of reuniting with Drake or Nicki Minaj, followers have been greeted by Younger Cash rappers Drizzy P, Euro, Lil Twist, and Mellow Rackz.
The jubilant power gave the impression to be drained through the 15-minute intermission, however in equity to the YM artist cameos, it’s almost inconceivable to be thrown into the hearth within the midst of a set from one of many biggest catalogs in rap and hold the occasion rolling. However when Wayne returned round 10:15 the gang perked up like they’d simply collectively downed a Pink Bull to get amped for the stretch run.
Mixtape Weezy took centerstage as Dedication 2‘s lyrical masterclass “Cannon,” DJ Capcom’s “I’m Going In” that includes a then-neophyte Drake, The Leak EP’s “I’m Me,” and No Ceilings minimize “Sneakers” have been added as setlist surprises. All that was lacking have been the fan-favorites “One thing You Forgot” and “The Sky is the Restrict.”
With the entire Verzuz chatter surrounding the Younger Cash honcho battling 50 Cent, Weezy’s tour set served as a stark reminder that he can go 40-deep into completely different baggage and eras of his hall-of-fame profession to compete with anybody, whether or not it’s business hits, syrupy mixtape anthems that went diamond within the streets, or prolific options.
Wayne is likely one of the solely artists that may have a aggressive Verzuz battle with himself, having “Mixtape Weezy” and different memorable loosies that exist on the web face-off in opposition to his personal albums and first streaming service catalog.
Cam’ron stunned his hometown Harlem crowd when the Dipset rapper made an sudden cameo in a silver tracksuit to crew up with Weezy to carry out their 2006 “Contact It Or Not” collaboration for the primary time ever. Much more spectacular, Wayne remembered his verse from the raunchy tune like he’d rehearsed it for weeks.
“Weezy, I really like you! It’s the primary time we ever carried out this, n—a,” Killa Cam said to Wayne earlier than exiting.
The end line was in sight for Wayne heading into the ultimate flip leaping from Younger Cash’s “Each Woman” to his characteristic on French Montana’s “Pop That” in addition to “HYFR” and “The Motto,” sans Drake.
Weezy fittingly capped off the marathon 40-track set with the 8x-platinum “A Milli” and even took off his long-sleeve shirt to match the fervor of his wall-to-wall Tha Carter III anthem’s rhymes.
“F–king thanks, man! Each single one in all y’all, man,” he stated to the gang earlier than recognizing the droves of followers sporting his mug on their our bodies. “I see folks with my face on they shirts and s–t. I recognize you!”
Wayne wrapped up round 10:45 p.m. ET with Whitney Houston’s “I Will All the time Love You” serving because the outro music, however he couldn’t go away earlier than going over his three guidelines one final time.
“I need to let you realize three vital issues about myself. No. 1 is I do know that all of us ain’t s–t with out the love from above. No. 2 is I ain’t s–t with out you. Girls and gents, what’s No. 3,” Wayne requested the viewers who wasted no time shouting rule No. 2 proper again at him within the midst of a standing ovation.
The Welcome to Tha Carter Tour continues Monday evening (April 17) with a present in Philadelphia adopted by stops in Silver Spring, Maryland and Charlotte.
