Lil Wayne took it back to 2008 at the 2023 Espys. 15 years after the initial release of “A Milli,” the rapper opened the 31st ESPY Awards with an athletic rendition of the iconic track.
“How y’all doing tonight?,” the rapper asks as he struts the stage at Dolby Theater, red lights flashing and the beat building behind him. “I’m over New Orleans like I’m Angel Reese,” he spits, paying homage to the LSU women’s basketball star (who will later take home the ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete). The entire audience is on their feet as Wayne continues dropping surprise sports-related bars throughout the song, while some of this year’s biggest sports moments play on the screen behind him.
“God is good, Damar Hamlin threw it fine,” he raps.
Weezy wasn’t the only rapper at the awards show. Quavo and Lil Dicky each presented awards, and Common narrated the tribute to Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendricks. H.E.R. performed “The Journey,” commemorating basketball coach Jimmy Valvano.
Other highlights from the night include Lionel Messi winning the award for Best Championship Performance, Patrick Mahomes snagging the award for Best Athlete in Men’s Sports, and Lebron James – with James Gang in tow – revealing that he won’t be retiring.
In other music news, Playboi Carti announced his global “Antagonist Tour.”
