New Orleanian Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., better known to the world at large as Lil Wayne, has jammed a couple of lifetimes into his first 30 years, but that’s bound to happen when you sign a music contract at age 9. His solo effort, Tha Carter, in 2004 vaulted Wayne into the musical stratosphere, exposing him to wider mainstream audiences and made him a Rap superstar. Wayne has maintained that he’ll retire at 35 and that the imminent Tha Carter V will be his last album.
Tauheed Epps, the College Park, Ga.,-based MC formerly known as Tity Boi and now known as 2 Chainz, has a hype man’s aura despite building a real sturdy career for himself. He has scored multiple mainstream hits (not the least of which is “Birthday Song,” which includes the genius turn of phrase, “She got a big booty, so I call her Big Booty”), but his mass appeal is rooted in his role as a guy who visits (or throws) big, dumb parties while spending a lot of time flanked by his friends in high places.
Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and T.I. play Riverbend Music Center at 7 p.m. $39.60-$103.60. riverbend.org.
