Lil Wayne Gets His Flowers From Nicki Minaj as He Wins BMI Icon Award
Lil Wayne was honoured with the Icon Award at the BMI Awards, receiving recognition for his remarkable contributions to the world of music. During the event on Wednesday (September 6), the Young Money founder expressed gratitude to his friends and family for their support as he accepted the prestigious award, presented by NLE Choppa and Big Freedia, among others.
However, the evening took a special turn when Nicki Minaj, the “Super Bass” rapper, joined the event via video conference to convey her support and admiration for her dear friend and former label boss.
Nicki Minaj began by saying, “Where do I begin?” She continued by expressing her profound appreciation for Lil Wayne’s impact on the rap culture and how he personally inspired her to push herself to excel. She thanked him for being a genius and a remarkable leader in the industry.
The mutual admiration between Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne has been evident for quite some time. In June, during an appearance on the All the Smoke podcast hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Lil Wayne was asked to rank Nicki Minaj among all-time female MCs. He confidently asserted, “Ain’t nobody fucking with Nicki,” and praised her as the best in the game.
Nicki Minaj responded to Wayne’s comments by posting clips from the interview on her Instagram and reciprocating the compliment. She called Lil Wayne the greatest rapper of all time and acknowledged the importance of his belief in her career. She also expressed gratitude for his unwavering support and collaboration.
In the same All the Smoke interview, Lil Wayne shared insights into discovering Nicki Minaj and the criteria he had for signing artists to Young Money. He explained that he was seeking a female artist from New York but wanted someone with a unique style, distinct from Foxy Brown or Lil’ Kim. When he heard Nicki Minaj, he was impressed by her ability to change her voice and create a distinct sound, which ultimately led to her becoming a part of Young Money.
