A History of Drake & Lil Wayne's Bromance
We’ve sifted through all the fuzzy stuff—man-dates and bro-hugs included—to bring you A History of Drake & Lil Wayne’s Bromance.
Image via Complex Original
Drake and Lil Wayne have produced some of our favorite tracks of the last few years. As label-mates and friends, their close-knit relationship has been well-documented, ranging from multiple song shout-outs to sitting together courtside at NBA playoff games.
With Birdman confirming a collaborative album between the two just days ago—and their latest collabo “She Will” hitting the net last week—we decided to dive deeper into this mutual man-crush. We’ve sifted through all the fuzzy stuff—man-dates and bro-hugs included—to bring you A History of Drake & Lil Wayne’s Bromance. Sit back and catch up on this touching tale of rap friendship.
RELATED: The 100 Best Lil Wayne Songs
Written by Julian Pereira (@Broadway_Jay).
When Drizzy Met Weezy
Date: November 2008
What happened? When we interviewed Drake in May 2009, he told us about how Jaz Prince introduced him to Lil Wayne in Houston. It turns out they met on November 18th (hence the song) shortly after Drake had broken up with his girlfriend. Drake spoke about the experience saying, “I felt like I hit Houston and got my swag back. I was single, I was with Wayne and it was Houston, I was going nuts, sipping drank, smoking.”
Complex says: After Drizzy broke up with his girl, he met Wayne, and an epic bromance was born.
Drake Raps About How Wayne Made Him Happy On “Ransom”
Date: 2008
Lyric: “Weezy told me just write every single thing you need down/And he got it for me, and I'm as happy as I can be now.”
Complex says: How much would you pay to see the list of things Drake asked Wayne for? What are the chances it included a Maybach, a record deal, and streetcred?
Lil Wayne Raps Drake’s “Money To Blow” Verse During 2008 MTV VMA Performance
Date: September 2008
What happened? During his appearance at the 2008 MTV VMA’s, Weezy rapped Drake’s “Money to Blow” verse to the beat of his own song “Misunderstood.” At the end of the verse he screamed, “Drizzy Drake I love you, boy.”
Complex says: This homage to Drake was pretty snuggly-wuggly. In addition to solidifying Drake as part of the family, it also showed that Weezy respected Drizzy as a rapper.
Lil Wayne Says He And Drake Make Magic Together On “Ignorant Shit”
Date: February 2009
Lyric: “Drizzy Drake what the lick read/We make magic boy, Roy and Siegfried.”
Complex says: If Kanye and Jay-Z compare themselves to Dwayne Wade and LeBron James, you’d think these two could think up a better duo to compare themselves to than these guys.
Lil Wayne Boasts About Drake’s Hit-Making Capabilities On “Money To Blow”
Date: August 2009
Lyric: “We pop it like champagne bottles but we never shook/And we gon’ be alright if we put Drake on every hook.”
Complex says: Drake’s radio-ready choruses have been money in the bank for YMCMB. Most of that money has ended up on the floor of various strip clubs, but Wayne’s foresight about Drizzy’s hooks carry the team was dead-on.
Drake Says There Will Never Again Be Anyone Like Lil Wayne In Hip-Hop
Date: February 2010
What happened? A month before Wayne started his eight-month prison sentence in March 2010, Drizzy told Rolling Stone, “I don't think there will be anybody like Lil Wayne ever again in hip-hop. He paralyzes a room when he walks into it, his wordplay, the excitement that he brings to his music."
Complex says: Drizzy was missing his good buddy before he even said goodbye. We agree, Wayne’s legacy is already cemented, but freezing up when he walks in the room? Drizzy’s got it bad.
Drake Calls Wayne His Hero & Mentor
Date: May 2010
What happened? Two months after Wayne was sentenced to a bid on Riker’s Island, Drizzy spoke on his labelmate’s incarceration saying, “As far as me being able to 'hold it down,' that's not even a conversation. Lil Wayne is Lil Wayne. He's my hero, my mentor and he's the reason I'm here. I do it in honor of him as opposed to filling the void."
Complex says: You’ve got to really love your bro to be one of the most talented rappers in the game and still call him your hero. We can’t help but suspect a little fake humbleness on Drake’s part, though. If anyone could hold it down for the dreadlocked rapper, it was him.
Drake Speaks On Missing Lil Wayne, Wears Shirt With His Face On It
Date: May 2010
What happened? While Wayne still had about six-months left in the bing, Drake and MTV recorded a video detailing everything that he missed about his partner in rhyme. Drake wore a shirt bearing Wayne’s likeness, and he even delivered a message from Momma Graham sending her love and acknowledging how much even she missed Tunechi.
Complex says: What are the chances Weezy went and Delonte West’ed Mama Graham? Our moms barely liked—never mind loved—our friends.
Drake Speaks On His Relationship With Wayne On “Fireworks”
Date: May 2010
Lyric: “Wayne put me right here, that's who I get the paper with/I hope that my success never alters our relationship”
Complex says: Lauryn Hill once said, “It’s funny how money changes situations,” and it might be the realest shit she ever wrote. So many duos—from EPMD to Organized Konfusion—have let the money and fame get the best of them. For the time being, YMCMB is a hip-hop empire built in the image of Wu-Tang, Death Row, Roc-A-Fella and others. Let’s hope they don’t end like those did.
Drake Says It Ain’t No Fun If Wayne Can’t Have None On “Show Me A Good Time”
Date: June 2010
Lyric: “Understand girl, we fam girl/Can't get me right and not do Wayne.”
Complex says: So...Drake won’t have sex with a girl unless she agrees to have sex with Wayne too? That’s a bit creepy.
Before Going To Prison, Lil Wayne Places Confidence In Drake On “Miss Me”
Date: June 2010
Lyric: “Damn, I'll be gone till November/Fuck it I ain’t tripping, I know Drizzy gon' kill 'em”
Complex says: Let’s not forget this bromance is two-sided. Weezy’s embrace of his Canadian rapper friend on “Miss Me” was like a passing of the torch. Drizzy did kill ‘em, but it wasn’t in a way that would’ve made them cellmates.
Drake Expresses His Excitement About One Day Making An Album With Lil Wayne
Date: June 2010
What happened? When DJ Envy said he talked to Birdman about the possibility of a Drake and Lil Wayne collaborative album, Drake said it’s one of the things he’s most excited for in his life.
Complex says: The way Aubrey starts cheesing whenever Lil Wayne’s name is mentioned is something out of a movie. The name of that movie is My Girl I Love You Man (Drake is clearly the Paul Rudd of this rap shit).
Drake Says Wayne Is “Just Too Good”
Date: June 2010
What happened? When asked about the people he likes to work with most, Drake mentions Jay-Z and Alicia Keys and then puts an emphasis on Lil Wayne saying, “Ooh, Ooh Lil Wayne is just too good.”
Complex says: This has been reblogged, slow-mo’d, and bromanticized all over the Internet since it aired in June of last year, and for good reason. Sure, Wayne’s good, but no man should be that excited when talking about another man (unless that floats your boat, which is totally cool too).
Drake Accepts Wayne’s Mixtape Of The Year Award For Him On MTV
Date: July 2010
What happened? When MTV named Lil Wayne’s No Ceilings mixtape of the year, Drake accepted the award on his behalf. Dressed in a dreadlock wig and doing his best Weezy impression, Drizzy saluted the mixtape and once again spoke of Wayne as his hero and mentor.
Complex says:If we were Drake we woulda been mad we didn’t win the award ourselves. No Ceilings is great but So Far Gone tops it.
Drake Reflects On Lil Wayne Tour Bus Memory
Date: August 2010
What happened? In an interview chronicling Drake’s rise to fame, the rapper reflected on how far he had come saying, “I’ll never forget riding in his tour bus: Wayne being asleep, watching ESPN, and I’m looking at him like, ‘That’s actually Lil Wayne and I’m actually on his bus. I’m just a kid from Toronto.’”
Complex says: There are certain man-laws that should never be broken, and watching another man while he sleeps is definitely one of them.
From Jail & On His Birthday, Lil Wayne Places A Surprise Call To Drake On Live TV
Date: September 2010
What happened? While Drake showed up on Lil Wayne’s birthday for the premiere of MTV’s “The Seven,” Wayne surprised him with a phone-call from prison. Drake was pleasantly surprised saying, “It always makes it a great day when you get to hear your big brother on the phone.”
Complex says: We couldn’t help but laugh at how excited Drake was to hear Wayne’s call. After all, Wayne claimed every time he called Drake from prison, Aubrey never answered the phone.
Lil Wayne Surprises Drake On-Stage In Vegas
Date: November 2010
What happened? With everybody in the Young Money camp in on Wayne’s plan, Drake performed his Las Vegas show unaware that Weezy was in the building. Fresh out of prison, Wayne jumped on stage during “Miss Me” to surprise Drake and send the crowd into a frenzy.
Complex says: In an interview afterward, Drizzy said he didn’t know what was going on at first. That makes sense because, the way he reacted, we weren’t sure if he had seen Lil Wayne or Jesus Christ.
Drake Explains Why Lil Wayne Is The Messiah Of Hip-Hop
Date: December 2010
What happened? When asked about a prior interview in which he called Lil Wayne the messiah of hip-hop, Drake stuck to his guns saying that as an icon—like Jimi Hendrix and Che Guevara—Wayne’s likeness will transcend generations and be worn on t-shirt’s for years to come.
Complex says: Guevara was a major part of the Cuban Revolution. Wayne was a major part of the trend of rappers getting face tattoos. Clearly Lil Wayne is just like Che Guevara.
Lil Wayne Says Drake Is A Better Artist Than He Is
Date: March 2011
What happened? When speaking to MTV about how proud he was of Drake and Nicki Minaj, Wayne revealed that he thinks Drake is a better artist than he is. He cited Drake’s lyrical prowess and singing ability as the reasons that ultimately give him the edge as the better artist.
Complex says: Drake may be a better singer, but let’s not front like Wayne didn’t kill “Lollipop.”
Lil Wayne And Drake Share Laughs & Courtside Seats At NBA Playoffs
Date: May 2011
What happened? During the Eastern Conference Semifinals as well as the Eastern Conference Finals of this year’s NBA Playoffs, Drizzy and Wayne decided to spend some quality time together at a Heat-Celtics and a Heat-Bulls game.
Complex says: Ball games are the quintessential atmosphere to establish brohood. If Drizzy and Wayne know anything, it’s the importance of a good man-date every once in a while.