'It's very intimate and they damn sure picked the right artist to do it,' Weezy says of bringing rap back to MTV series on June 12.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Lil Wayne during his "Unplugged" performance
Photo: Frank Micelotta/MTV/PictureGroup
Is there anything Lil Wayne can't do? Weezy started out rapping as a youngster, but the self-proclaimed martian has since stepped into the realm of pop and rock, selling more than 10 million albums along the way. Weezy is well-rounded, for sure, and, according to him, that's what made him the perfect choice to bring hip-hop back to MTV's "Unplugged" series.
"It's very intimate and they damn sure picked the right artist to do it, because if you're not a full artist, you can't do that. You can't do an 'Unplugged,' " Lil Wayne told us after the taping last month of "MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged." "You have to be a full-circle artist. You have to have everything, because it's so intimate. And if there are any flaws, they will be spotted. So I suggest you be flawless."
The program, which is set to premiere across MTV2, MTV and MTV.com on Sunday, June 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, will feature Tunechi performing acoustic versions of select hits from his classic catalog. The show will be MTV's first televised hip-hop unplugged concert since Jay-Z and Lauryn Hill taped their respective specials in 2001 and will come 20 years after LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul appeared on the original "YO! Unplugged Rap." The special comes as Wayne and his Cash Money label are preparing to release the MC's ninth studio album, Tha Carter IV, on August 29.
"Lil Wayne is an amazing choice for 'Unplugged' as he is at hip-hop's forefront — leading a new generation of artists whose appeal spans across music genres and playlists," Amy Doyle, MTV's executive vice president of music and talent, said in a statement. "Lil Wayne's skills, influence, and catalog are a powerful addition to the legacy of artists who have rocked the 'Unplugged' stage."
MTV's "Unplugged" first debuted in 1989 and spotlighted artists like Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Mariah Carey, R.E.M., Jay-Z and Bob Dylan. Now, Lil Wayne will join the ranks of music's biggest and most iconic stars.
What songs are you hoping to hear Lil Wayne perform unplugged? Tell us in the comments!
Don't miss "MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged," premiering Sunday, June 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV2, MTV and MTV.com.
Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1665134/lil-wayne-unplugged.jhtml
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