“Here we go. Here we go again.”
When Kelly Rowland sang that chorus on track 4 of Trina’s Glamorest Life, I never thought it would be my reaction to seeing the announcement of a long awaited group reunion. As many Americans went back to work Tuesday morning after enjoying their Labor Day weekend, the Lil Weezyana Fest IG clocked in to announce the return of Lil Wayne’s hometown festival after a two year hiatus. Rob49 is scheduled to appear, Mannie Fresh will have a DJ set, special guests will be there, and a Hot Boys Reunion will take place.
The Hot Boys were up there with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in my eyes when I saw them on my TV running around New Orleans. Now that I’m in my 30’s, I can see clearly that they’re grown ass men with interrelationship issues. Tuesday, September 3rd, was also B.G’s 44th birthday and I bet that he did not accept a call or read a text from Turk if his number isn’t already blocked. Since B.Gizzle’s prison release, there has been tension between the two of them and it’s still ongoing. I haven’t even cared enough to research it, because they have too much history together to be malicious towards each other over petty issues like Hot Boy Turk talking on a podcast. [Sidenote: I can’t believe that I can accurately tell you about Karrabooh vs Yachty & Cleotrapa vs Ice Spice. I know I’m way too old for that drama, but somehow they both entertained me.]
AND WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT “CASH MONEY REUNION” AT ESSENCE FEST?!?! This year’s Essence Festival of Culture honored Maze featuring Frankie Beverly on their farewell tour, had Usher there to celebrate the 20th of his classic album, Confessions, and on night one of the celebratory weekend they highlighted a locally owned-Black business started by two brothers three decades ago. The flier read “Birdman Presents 30th Anniversary of Cash Money.” There was speculation of Turk’s presence. He said Essence hadn’t contacted him yet. We wondered if it was truly a Hot Boys reunion with only three members. WELP! We got an answer: It was not. We got confused by the appearance of The LOX first on stage. Okay, they go back to the legendary Ruff Ryders/Cash Money tour of the early 2000s. Then other friends of CMR emerged in the forms of Bun B, Scarface, and Tunechi’s bestie, 2 Chainz. There were also doubts that Weezy would not be appearing that night and we were right. Kind of. Big Tymers, Juvenile, and B.G. rocked the Superdome with classic after classic. Once the final notes of “Back That Thang Up” played, I thought it was over. Nah.
Lil Wayne emerged front and center by his lonesome and stated that he appeared courtesy of Young Money Records. Like father , like estranged son. Beatrice did not acknowledge the artists or music of Cash Money Records before the Universal deal. Weezy Baby did not acknowledge his days pre-Tha Carter III. It was a (s#!t) show as the two never crossed paths on the stage and Turk was nowhere to be found till the next day at Juvenile’s Donna Color Explosion Event and on the road with Juvie & Mannie at select shows on the Back That Azz Up 25th Anniversary Tour the last two months. As we look forward to the second reunion, let’s throw it back to a time when they were all working together. SOTW is “Tuesday and Thursday” from the classic album, Guerilla Warfare.
Since they didn’t do it for Essence, I hope they shoot a promo video with them together in a Mint-Condition Prowler riding around New Orleans like the golden days. They can even drive past Williams Brothers Way. We’ll see what happens in November. Hopefully these are enough Louisiana Legends for Hurricane Chris.