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Lil Wayne was a recent guest on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast. He has some high praise for hip-hop icons Jay-Z and Missy Elliott.
Lil Wayne Shows Love to Jay-Z & Missy Elliott
During his sit-down with the Friends Keep Secrets crew, Weezy alluded to Hov and Missy as his “favorite” rap artists.
But even though Lil Wayne says that he has favorite artists, the rap star says that he makes a point to avoid listening to other artists. So that he can keep his music sounding authentic and original.
“Not listening is how you keep it original. That’s what I do; it’s my test… Like an athlete who can shoot the ball with his eyes closed,” he added.
Check out the full clip below (via HotNewHipHop/X):
Lil Wayne names JAŸ-Z & Missy Elliott as his favorite rappers after explaining that he often avoids listening to other artists in order to keep his sound original 👀
— HotNewHipHop (@HotNewHipHop) July 21, 2026
"Not listening is how you keep it original. That's what I do, it's my test… Like an athlete who can shoot the… pic.twitter.com/6qf5Z3LP8j
Weezy and Jay Have Complicated History
Wayne showing love to Jay-Z is pretty surprising. Especially when you consider their complicated history. The two first traded shots back in 2011. When Hov targeted Way on his song H.A.M. off his 2011 Watch The Throne project with Kanye West. In the song, Hov clowns Weezy for being a product of nepotism, accusing him of having “baby money” and noting that at the time, he did not even make more money than Beyoncé.
“I’m like really half a Billie, I’m like really you got baby money. Keep it real with n****s, n****s ain’t got my lady money,” Hov raps in the verse.
Wayne tapped Drake and Jadakiss for a track on the Carter V, where he hit back at the Roc Nation founder, threatening to kidnap Beyoncé for ransom money.
“Talking about baby money. I got your baby money. Kidnap your b***h get that how much [do] you love your lady money,” he raps on the song.
Weezy also seemed to take issue with Jay-Z back in 2025 over the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label partners with the NFL each year to choose the performer. And despite Weezy’s hometown of New Orleans playing host to the event in 2025, Kendrick Lamar was chosen to headline the show. A decision that Weezy was very vocal about being disappointed in.
Still, it doesn’t appear to have affected the love that Wayne has for Jay-Z as an artist.
