TVD Live Shots: Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz at Bridgestone Arena, 9/25

On Friday, September 25, Lil Wayne brought his “20 Years of Carter Classics” tour to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for a sold-out crowd of roughly 18,000 people. It was his first Nashville appearance in three years, following a much smaller show at Marathon Music Works. This time, he had an entire arena waiting for him. And waiting. And waiting. In true Lil Wayne fashion, the clock is more of a suggestion than a schedule.

The original schedule had Kid Maestro hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m., 2 Chainz at 8:30, and Wayne at 9:30. That plan quickly became irrelevant. Two Chainz finished around 10 p.m., and Lil Wayne didn’t actually appear until 11:35, performing until he said his final goodnight at exactly 12:59 a.m. Thankfully, Nashville had DJs. Was the wait worth it? Ask the person who had to work Saturday morning.

Kid Maestro got the night moving with a rowdy DJ set that included a Dolly Parton tribute, “Joleane.” DJ Sudd then cranked up the room for 2 Chainz, who mixed hits such as “No Lie,” “I’m Different,” “Bandz a Make Her Dance,” “Watch Out,” and “It’s a Vibe” with plenty of crowd interaction. He also announced his forthcoming album, P.O.L.O. (Players Only Live Once), due December 4, and premiered “Reign,” the project’s first single.

Chainz even turned the arena into a birthday party, asking concertgoers to shine their phone lights on the birthday celebrants before closing with “Birthday Song.” It was part concert, part birthday hotline. Then came the waiting.

DJ Tlew stepped in to keep Bridgestone alive, spinning hits from every genre, including Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” When the opening chorus hit, 18,000 increasingly impatient people suddenly erupted and became Nashville’s largest karaoke bar. And then, finally, at 11:35, the moment arrived and out came Lil Wayne.

Opening with “Welcome to the Carter,” Lil Wayne immediately reminded everyone why they had stayed. “Best Rapper Alive” followed, complete with Wayne picking up an electric guitar and shredding alongside his one-man band, drummer Yayo providing the live music behind him. The energy was less “concert starting late” and more “rock show that accidentally became a rap concert.”

Wayne tore through classics and brought out a parade of guests, including Domiio, longtime collaborator 2 Chainz, his 14-year-old son Lil Novi, and Lil Twist. Domiio joined him for “Lollipop,” “Mrs. Officer,” “Bottle Service,” “How to Love,” and “Doing Alright,” while 2 Chainz returned for “Rich as Fuck” and “Duffle Bag Boy.” Novi appeared for “Made in Paris,” “Mula,” and a verse during “A Milli.”

That “A Milli” moment may have been the night’s defining scene. When the beat dropped out during Wayne’s famously rapid-fire verse, the crowd took over. Thousands of voices finished the lyrics for him. Wayne smiled and told the audience it felt like everyone was right there in the booth with him.

He wasn’t wrong.

Throughout the night, Wayne repeatedly thanked Nashville and acknowledged the crowd’s patience for sticking around. And patience was certainly part of the evening’s price of admission. Some fans appreciated the extended DJ sets; others were less forgiving of the delay. But when Wayne finally arrived, he delivered an arena-sized performance worthy of the occasion. He closed with “6 Foot 7 Foot,” followed by a heartfelt message of gratitude before walking off to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”

So, did Lil Wayne make up for the wait?

Absolutely.

Did he owe Nashville a coffee the next morning?

Also, absolutely.