New Orleans, LA - Canadian rapper Drake has come under fire from music mogul Jermaine Dupri for his absence at the much-anticipated LilWeezyAna Festival, headlined by Lil Wayne in New Orleans. Instead of attending the festival, Drake was spotted courtside at a Toronto Raptors game, where he spent much of the time engaging in playful trash talk with former Raptors player DeMar DeRozan.
Dupri took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment, writing, “This is amazing !! Southern H ipHop at its best,” followed by, “I cant believe drake missed that, couldn’t have been me.” He further emphasized his enthusiasm for the event, saying, “Pardon me for getting excited about the amazing show they just had, ima HipHop nigga and this was a moment.”
The festival, which featured a historic reunion of the Hot Boys—Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., and Turk—was a significant occasion, marking the group's first performance together in nearly 25 years. They entertained fans with classic hits such as “Get Your Roll On,” “I Need a Hot Girl,” and “Neighborhood Superstar,” alongside solo performances from each member.
In addition to the musical highlights, Lil Wayne was honored with the key to the city of New Orleans and his own day, celebrated by fellow NOLA legend Master P and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. The emotional presentation showcased Wayne's deep connection to the city and included the announcement of a new Walk of Fame in New Orleans, with Wayne being one of its first honorees.
While Wayne basked in the spotlight, Drake made headlines for his antics during the Raptors game, where he was seen taunting DeRozan, who recently appeared in a music video for rival Kendrick Lamar. The rapper's jabs included a playful remark about ripping down a DeRozan banner if it were to be hung in the Scotiabank Arena, prompting DeRozan to respond in a post-game interview, “He’s gonna have a long way to climb, I’ll tell you that.”
As the festivities in New Orleans continued, fans and industry insiders alike are left wondering if Drake will address the criticisms from Dupri and the implications of his absence at such a landmark event in hip-hop history.
Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding story.
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