Lil Wayne doesn't give all that many interviews, but as an artist with such a long and storied career, he always drops some gems when he does. Recently, he appeared on a podcast with ESPN's Cari Champion, as the two had an equally hilarious and informative conversation.
Topics included Wayne going against the grain in his city by listening to west and east coast rap, his thoughts on Straight Outta Compton, the euphoria of his brief but important first conversation with Jay Z, and the advice he gave Drake in his early years. While he refrained from commenting on Drizzy's beef with Meek Mill, his reaction to the question was still priceless.
Check out some excerpts from the conversation, and listen to the podcast below.
On Straight Outta Compton:
The movie was awesome! The movie was amazing. I think they left a lot out of course, but they had to, but other than that the movie was great. They had some characters in there that didn't get it right, but they weren't the main characters. Other than that it was cool to me. I really liked it.
On listening to N.W.A. in New Orleans:
At the time that N.W.A. was out. If you're from New Orleans, to listen to N.W.A., you had to literally be a *different* person... I did though, because I was a big Eazy-E fan... I had a homie. His name was Big Jerry, and he lived across the street from me, and he didn't go to school, and my mama hated that I hung with him because he didn't go to school... He was the only person that would let me listen to N.W.A. and Geto Boyz... That's how unique it was to listen to any music other than New Orleans music. I can pinpoint my friend that let me listen to N.W.A.
On Listening to New York rap:
I was a big East Coast rap fan and Baby hated it [laughs].
On getting his first call from Jay Z:
At that moment, my mama couldn't tell me nothing.... Other people may say you've done a bunch of other stuff that should have made you feel solidified, but that phone call right there was serious to me. I remember exactly where I was, I remember telling everybody in the garage to shut up [laughs]. I was in my house in New Orleans. It was my second house on my own... We were all shooting pool in my garage... I got a phone call letting me know -- Jay Z is about to call you. So I told everybody to be quiet... Like bro, be quiet... Like you shot a gun in the air [laughs]... All he really said is "Sup, lil homie. I see you. Just wanted to let you know, I see you."
On his early advice to Drake:
I was the one to tell him; don't change anything. Don't think 'cause you're coming over here by me that you gotta rap about the things I rap about... Please rap about your little TV show... rap about girls, 'cause that's what you're good at... Don't start singing about killin' nobody [laughs]. Don't start singing about the streets. Keep it Canadian [laughs].
On whether he's better than Drake:
Man, I'd annihilate that guy [laughs]... I was trying to keep it Canadian, but you got me with that one.
On what's going on with Meek Mill and Drake:
That I don't know... To the next song is all I can tell you...
(ESPN: "I love 'Back To Back'")
I think everybody does... Stop it! Let's move to sports [laughs].