After Jay Z and Beyoncé did not attend Kanye West's wedding to Kim Kardashian, rap fans put forward a theory that Yeezus is articulating his indignation by censoring Jay Z's name from his recent live performances. But weep not; they weren't even the biggest bromance in rap. That title surely belongs to Lil Wayne and Drake. These two are the Pitt and Clooney of the rap world.
Moreover, Drake and Lil Wayne are bringing their heavyweight hip-hop hugfest to West Palm Beach's Cruzan Amphitheatre on Wednesday as part of their 31-date jaunt across the United States. This is no surprise for fans of the rap giants, who have openly and often expressed an admiration for each other. Drake waxes lyrical about Weezy every chance he gets, while you can guarantee that Lil Wayne has every season of Degrassi on box set. On their current tour together, according to a review this week on rollingstone.com, it seems the two get into a staged insult battle onstage. The crowd votes for the triumphant on a Drake-versus-Lil Wayne app. But the show, of course, ends in mutual bromantic accolades.
Here are a few moments from the wonder that is the Lil Wayne-Drake friendship.
When it all began, "November 18th"
Ever since Drake burst onto the scene, he's told of his debt to Lil Wayne. Speaking to MTV before the release of his debut EP, So Far Gone, Drake said he was "blessed" to have Weezy's wise words in his ear.
"To be under his wing, to be able to interact with him on a daily basis and talk to him and get information from him, I'm in a blessed position," Drizzy said. "I have the greatest mentors, the greatest teachers in the world. They all have gradually started to embrace me more and more, so it's a great feeling." Didn't Alexander the Great say the same thing about Aristotle?
The Feeling Is Mutual
Pretty quickly, it became clear that the love was mutual. Riding high in every sense of the word after the colossal success of The Carter III, Weezy spat a few bars of Drake's "Money to Blow" during a performance of his own track "Misunderstood" at the 2008 MTV VMAs. At the end of the verse, he exclaimed, "Drizzy Drake, I love you, boy." Most in the crowd didn't know who on Earth Wayne was referring to back then — 17th-century explorer Sir Francis Drake, Drake Hogestyn from Days of Our Lives? But now we all get this true bromance.
Visits in the Clink
Before Lil Wayne began his eight-month stint in Rikers for attempted gun possession, he declared, "Damn, I'll be gone till November/Fuck it I ain't tripping, I know Drizzy gon' kill 'em" on "Miss Me." Drake made sure to visit his hero, mentor, and pal while he was on the inside. During the visits, the much-inked Weezy told Drake to never get a tattoo. This is one piece of advice Drake certainly hasn't heeded, with massive portraits of family members adorning his back and his father's mug shot on his arm.
Drake's "Hilarious" Weezy Impression
They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. Drake did exactly that when he accepted an award for Lil Wayne's No Ceilings on his behalf in 2010 wearing a dreadlock wig and attempting what seems like a Weezy impression. Drizzy has done it at least every ten minutes since — and it never gets old! His Jimmy Cagney is also supposed to be dynamite.
Surprise Calls
Lil Wayne surprise-called Drake from the slammer when the rapper appeared on MTV in 2010. The look of joy on his face was palpable, if only because it provided relief from answering questions about the talentless Nicki Minaj. They truly do have each other's back.
