Lil Wayne’s performance, which tonight, changed that trend and brought more hip-hop back to “Unplugged”.
Doing a bare-bones, acoustic show such as MTV’s Unplugged brings with it pressures different than those found in a normal live set.
Lil Wayne recognized these challenges in a post-taping interview with MTV, saying:
“It’s very intimate and they damn sure picked the right artist to do it, because if you’re not a full artist, you can’t do that. You can’t do an ‘Unplugged’.” Weezy went on to state: “You have to be a full-circle artist. You have to have everything, because it’s so intimate. And if there are any flaws, they will be spotted. So I suggest you be flawless.”
Critics of Lil Wayne can not say he does not have the right attitude. Lil Wayne’s warnings are accurate, when one considers what hip-hop royalty have graced the MTV “Unplugged” stages before him. The star-studded list includes Jay-Z and Lauryn Hill, who both recorded specials in 2001, as well as LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest, and De La Soul, who appeared on “YO! Unplugged Rap” 20 years ago.
A retrospective of hits from over the years, all performed in “Unplugged” fashion, are planned for Lil Wayne’s special. However, viewers can probably expect something a little different than Nirvana’s more traditional acoustic set.
Sources that have already seen the footage from the program, taped on May 13, indicate that Weezy performs his 18-song set with a six-piece band. In addition, Lil Wayne reportedly uses drum machines, electric guitars, and even autotune at one point, during his hit “Prom Queen.” A zipper “incident” has also happened.
“MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged” Set List
1. “3 Peat”
2. “Mr. Carter”
3. “Shoot Me Down”
4. “Miss Me”
5. “A Milli”
6. “Fireman”
7. “Hail Mary”
8. “Hustler Musik”
9. “Drop the World”
10. “I’m Single”
11. “Lollipop” featuring Shanell
12. “Nightmares of the Bottom”
13. “6 Foot 7 Foot” featuring Cory Gunz