It was a glittery Las Vegas night, and Lil Wayne gave fans just the show they would need to see for many years. He picked up the custom OVO chain, yelling with “They not like us”—all it took to get them wild. The moment became one of respect to Drake and created a bold statement within the ongoing dynamics of the hip-hop world.
Last night, Lil Wayne was on stage in Vegas with his OVO chain
Drake’s mentor and friend started saying, “They Not Like Us,” while grabbing his Chain in support of the Toronto rapper
Kendrick Lamar fans are upset because they see this as a shot 👀 PIC.TWITTER.COM/OJCBSU2EIQ
— keep6ixsolid (@keep6ixsolid) JULY 14, 2024
Things took a creative turn in performance as Lil Wayne remixed Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” Playing in the background was “The Motto,” a song he collaborated on with Drake back in 2011. With that playing, Weezy’s declaration had reverberated deep: the OVO chain is a symbol of Drake’s label and brand, October’s Very Own—adding layers upon layers to his emphatic statement.
Lil Wayne and Drake shared a long, multi-faceted relationship that unfolded over the years through mentorship, collaboration, and friendship. Their connection goes all the way back to 2008, when Lil Wayne discovered Drake and signed him onto his record label Young Money Entertainment. This was quite a critical moment for immense partnership and building the foundation of great friendship between these two artists; it set the stage for an incredible journey through hip-hop history.
For instance, Drake always refers to Lil Wayne whenever he is addressing him. Several times, he has referred to Lil Wayne as the GOAT with respect to rap [music], telling much about how deep their relationship is. Many have had the point that, in the middle of it, Lil Wayne managed to play a very instrumental role in opening up opportunities for Drake to pop out and into successful collaborations—cases very significant in mentorship and artistic collaboration under a music career.
The musical chemistry between Lil Wayne and Drake brought forth a long list of chart-toppers and memorable collaborative efforts. Running the lists from “Dedication 6” to “The Motto,” “Believe Me,” “Right Above It,” and “She Will,” with all that in mind, there’s one thing that cannot go unnoticed in this hip-hop space: the fact that the two can make forever music together.
From beef rumors to light-hearted, joking shades, their relationship has withstood every test of time as a beacon for loyalty, friendship, and artistic collaboration in their hip-hop career. It’s the story of an idea—rising from a mentorship into collaborations that transfixed fans worldwide. It’s inspiration to new talent in the music scene.
The complexity of the relationships and the general row between Drake and Kendrick Lamar give rise to some critical nuances related to loyalty, rivalry, and alliance in the music world.. The set Lil Wayne made was just routine, and actions sparked a controversy that gave fans and observers alike varying opinions, feeding the already flowing discourse going on within the hip-hop community at that time.
The Vegas performance also mixed up the pot in the current Drake-Kendrick Lamar rivalry. It did not take long before speculation from fans began to spread that Lil Wayne was performing the act to show solidarity for Drake against Kendrick, particularly as a reaction to his diss track. The image of Lil Wayne holding an OVO chain while rapping off the hook from one of Kendrick’s songs fueled the speculation even further.
The responses from the fans have varied. Some believed Lil Wayne was light-hearted yet positive towards Drake; some others believed it was directed at Kendrick Lamar, but nonetheless, talking of loyalty or rivalry—love-hate relationship between artists in the industry—took this act up a notch. That very epic moment in Vegas sealed artistry and profound effects on the hip-hop community courtesy of Lil Wayne. Whether it was a sign of support for Drake or a message regarding the many feuds, Lil Wayne’s message was clear: they are on another level.
