Nicki Minaj Brings Out Skillibeng At Young Money Reunion Show In Toronto
Skillibeng made his stage debut with the ‘Queen of Rap’ Nicki Minaj at Budweiser Stage in Toronto last night. As part of Drake’s ‘October World Weekend’, the Young Money trio of Drake, Minaj, and Lil Wayne along with other members of Young Money Entertainment family reunited for the first OVO Fest in two years.
The sold-out event, which was abruptly postponed a week earlier after Drake tested positive for COVID-19, finally took place at Lake Ontario on Saturday (August 6). Yet eager fans were once again left waiting when the 8 pm show was delayed. Finally, just before 10 pm, a message appeared on the venue’s display screens: “Unfortunately, Lil Wayne had issues at the border,” but within moments, another line appeared: “Luckily, Drake runs the border.”
Weezy entered the stage to run through a series of career-spanning hits, including Mrs. Officer, Rich as F–, Loyal, and Steady Mobbin before closing his 30-minute set with Tha Carter III and the classic A Milli.
Entering next to serve up raw star power, sporting a green checkered Louis Vuitton outfit and neon pink hair, was Minaj who performed songs like Beez In The Trap, Chun-Li, Hold Yuh (Remix) and Superbass.
Minaj would later surprise fans when she brought out the Jamaican Fresh Prince, Skillibeng to perform their 2021 collab Crocodile Teeth, which had peaked at No. 100 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It didn’t take long for Skilli to switch gears and perform his crowd-pleaser Whap Whap, which Nicki thoroughly enjoyed reenacting the lyrics to.
https://twitter.com/thekingharajuku/status/1556137772213305346?s=20&t=ApzyG_ojJ0-t38cJz4e6pw
Nicki Minaj brought out Skillibeng to perform “Crocodile Teeth” and “Whap Whap” #YoungMoneyReunion #OvoFest pic.twitter.com/jcd9ihBFuG
— Stats of Minaj (@statsofminaj) August 7, 2022
.@NICKIMINAJ and Skillibeng perform Crocodile Teeth for the first time. pic.twitter.com/gOBVgtCpw1
— BARBIE NEWS (@BarbieNewsCo) August 7, 2022
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg8bDGQOtl5/
Nicki took to her Instagram Stories that night to big up “Kingston, Rema, Waterhouse, Jungle,” adding “Barbie, Mi av nuff gal in a bungle” (a quote from Beenie Man’s Nuff Gal), and “Love you Jamaica!!!! Gwan Bad!!!!! Spanish Town yea.”
After Nicki and Skillibeng’s high-energy performance, Drake arrived at 10:45 p.m. for a 45-minute set, which featured a guest appearance by Toronto rapper Smiley and performances of his songs, Calling My Name, Marvin’s Room, Sticky, Too Sexy and Knife Song plus others.
The show closed with other performances with Birdman and Mannie Fresh, Big Tymer$ along with a few others from the Young Money crew. The Young Money Reunion paid ode to the first chapter on Drake’s journey towards superstardom and tribute to his mentor, Young Money record label founder Lil Wayne for giving him his big break.
Drake recalled when Wayne gifted him and his mother $30,000. “That’s the most important amount of money I’ve made in my life to date,” he told music mogul. “You’re the most important man to each and every one of us. You are truly the most selfless man on planet earth”…“I’m your son! Look at this sh–! You did this!” Drake continued gesturing to the crowd.
To close the reunion show, Lil Wayne announced that his album Tha Carter VI is “coming soon,” before dropping the mic. The album — which reportedly has been in development since 2020 — serves as the follow-up to 2018’s Tha Carter V.