Lil Wayne Reveals Drake Introduced Him to Using Teleprompters
Legendary rapper Lil Wayne has revealed that his longtime collaborator Drake deserves credit for fundamentally changing the way he approaches live performances. During a recent appearance on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, the Young Money founder admitted that it was the 6 God who first introduced him to the utility of using teleprompters during concerts.
The conversation, which featured guests Lil Dicky, Lil Twist, and producer Benny Blanco, turned to the technical aspects of touring when Lil Dicky inquired about whether Wayne utilized screens to display his lyrics. Wayne did not hesitate to acknowledge the influence of his protégé.
“I got that from Drizzy,” Wayne explained. “He asked me to come out one night… I had to pop out from the middle of the stage, and I saw there were TVs. I started looking at them sh*ts and saw my lyrics. I was like, ‘You could do this? This is awesome.’”
For a five-time Grammy winner with an expansive catalog spanning decades, the discovery was a revelation. Wayne noted that he had previously been unaware that artists could project lyrics onto monitors positioned around the stage. Once he witnessed the setup, it became an immediate and permanent fixture of his own concert routine.
“Ever since I seen them, I’ve never not had them,” he added. “I don’t care if we doing a Bar Mitzvah, I need it.”
Wayne’s candid admission offers fans a rare glimpse into the practical realities of high-level touring. With a discography that includes the iconic Tha Carter series, countless mixtapes, and hundreds of guest verses, the mental load of memorizing every line can be immense. Rather than viewing the teleprompter as a shortcut, Wayne frames it as an essential tool that allows him to maintain focus on his stage presence and connection with the audience while ensuring lyrical accuracy.
This revelation comes as Wayne celebrates the 20th anniversary of Tha Carter with his ongoing tour, revisiting the records that defined his career. Ultimately, the story highlights the enduring influence of Drake, showing how a simple backstage production detail evolved into a staple of one of hip-hop’s greatest performers.