By Ankita Tripathy
The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards witnessed a spectacular performance by the iconic New Orleans rapper, Lil Wayne, who left the audience in awe and reminded them why he’s regarded as one of the greatest in the game. At 40 years old, Lil Wayne graced the annual award show not only to celebrate the VMAs but also to mark the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Taking the main stage in New Jersey, Lil Wayne delivered a memorable opening performance, featuring some of his biggest hits, including “Uproar” from Tha Carter V and his latest single, “Kat Food.”
Wayne commenced his electrifying two-song medley set with the 2018 hit “Uproar,” donning a black hoodie and sunglasses as he energetically maneuvered around the red-tinted stage. Transitioning seamlessly to his new track, “Kat Food,” Weezy ventured into the crowd, injecting even more excitement into the show, while his dancers showcased their talents on stage. As he concluded his performance, Wayne made sure to embrace each of his dancers before exiting the stage.
Following this remarkable performance, Lil Wayne’s close friend and fellow Young Money luminary, Nicki Minaj, hailed him as the “greatest rapper of all time.”
The VMAs’ homage to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary continued with other rap heavyweights set to perform on Tuesday night, including icons like DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash, the Furious Five, and LL Cool J.
This celebration of hip-hop at the VMAs comes over a month after the music world commemorated 50 years of this genre. The festivities began exactly five decades after DJ Kool Herc pioneered hip-hop by spinning records at a Bronx apartment building. Many of the genre’s biggest names have shared their sentiments about this milestone, with over 30 artists opening up about the significance of hip-hop’s 50-year legacy.
Reflecting on the early days of hip-hop, VMA performer DMC of the legendary rap group Run-DMC stated, “At first, the feeling was like, ‘This is me.’ It wasn’t like, ‘Here’s this thing called hip-hop and they rap.’ It wasn’t that. You heard it and immediately every cell and atom in your body said, ‘This is me.’ It’s scary. It’s New York. It’s crime and heroin and gangs, but that sound is how I really feel inside. Everything else is just a front to cope and make it through.’ So I was a little Catholic school kid. I was nerdy and geeky. But to sum it up, it made me feel powerful.”
Throughout the year, Lil Wayne has actively participated in various hip-hop celebrations, including a monumental show at Yankee Stadium alongside Nas and Run-DMC. Just two weeks ago, he dropped a new single titled “Kat Food,” following his 18-track career-retrospective compilation LP, “I Am Music.”
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