It’s been years since MTV has had a hip-hop artist grace its “Unplugged” stage, but now the famous music channel has announced that Young Money rapper and CEO Lil Wayne is gearing up to play an acoustic set for the iconic show in June.
According to a statement from Amy Doyle, MTV’s EVP of music and talent, the guitar strumming rapper, who’s blurred the lines between hip-hop, pop and rock, was chosen for the show because of his massive appeal and influence across multiple genres and scenes.
“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,” said Doyle. “Lil Wayne’s skills, influence, and catalog are a powerful addition to the legacy of artists who have rocked the ‘Unplugged’ stage.”
Although hip-hop and R&B legend Lauryn Hill appeared on the show in 2002, this will be the network’s first full-on hip-hop unplugged set to be televised since Jay-Z appeared on the series with The Roots and singer Jaguar Wright a year earlier.
Iconic hip-hop acts such as LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul made history as the first rappers to perform acoustic sets on “Yo! Unplugged Rap” back in the early ’90s.
Wayne’s “Unplugged” episode is set to premiere across MTV2, MTV and mtv.com on Sunday, June 12 at 9 p.m. EST/PST.
What do you think of Wayne performing on “Unplugged?” Will you be tuning in to watch?
–nicholas robinson
