Lil Wayne stepped onto the stage at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, September 12th, kicking off his tour named after his latest album, "Tha Carter VI." This marks the sixth installment in a collection of albums that showcases Weezy’s surname, Carter. The hip-hop legend, who has confidently proclaimed himself the "best rapper alive," wasted no time diving into his new music, opening the LA show with the first two tracks from the album, "King Carter" and "Welcome to the Carter." This year's tour is set to celebrate all six chapters of the Tha Carter series, which began its journey back in 2004.
Lil Wayne’s performance included some standout tracks from his impressive catalog. About ten minutes in, he took a moment to connect with the audience following an emotional performance of "Mr. Carter." "How are you all doing tonight?" he asked, clearly energized. "You look amazing. I wish you could see how you light up this place." Before diving back into the music, he emphasized three important points. "First, I want you to know we’re all in this together, you feel me? Second, I realize that without you, I’m nothing. And third, this one’s crucial, if you forget everything else from tonight, hold onto this: 'I. Ain’t. Shit. Without. You.'"
As the living legend took the stage, he lit up a blunt and casually carried his guitar, which he played throughout the night. The setlist was a testament to his legendary status, featuring a selection of almost all his iconic hits, from the double-platinum "Go D.J." off "Tha Carter," to fan favorites like "Fireman" and "Hustler Musik" from "Tha Carter II." He also revisited the monumental tracks that made Tha Carter III his most celebrated album. Wayne didn’t stop there; he delivered an energetic performance of key singles from "Tha Carter IV," including "Six Foot Seven," "John," "How to Love," and "She Will," while also throwing in some significant moments from Tha Carter V, featuring the double-platinum smash "Uproar." His journey in hip-hop extends well beyond the "Tha Carter" series, and he made sure to pull from a diverse catalog, incorporating songs like "I’m Me," "Drop the World," "Love Me," "Rich as Fuck," and standout collaborations with Drake on "HYFR" and Chris Brown’s "Loyal." Reminiscing about the "Mixtape Weezy" era, he graced the audience with "Rollin’" and "Wasted," and even unveiled a new soulful slow jam "for the ladies," where he showcased his guitar skills while singing. While "Tha Carter VI" might not be seen as his finest moment, it hardly took away from the electrifying experience. Wayne mesmerized the crowd in Los Angeles, guiding fans through a melancholy journey filled with allure and a shared history.
Any artist with the all-encompassing career of Wayne is bound to put together a greatest hits tour at some point, regardless of how their latest album is received. There’s just too much history to ignore the past. Watching him deliver a flurry of cherished classics in rapid succession truly reinforced the lasting appeal of those hits, while also showcasing how his music has evolved over the 26 years since his first studio album, Tha Block Is Hot. The night took an electrifying turn with the final song, “A Milli,” as flames flickered on a backdrop screen showing an old apartment building named Tha Carter, all while DJ T. Lewis and Yayo the Drummer held down the upper tier of the two-tiered stage.
In essence, this event encapsulated the quintessential Lil Wayne experience, highlighting one of hip-hop's most distinctive figures in his early 40s, who continues to push boundaries and refuses to settle into any comfort zone.
