Watch Lil Wayne Freestyle Over "A Milli" at the 31st ESPY Awards

Hyping up the star-studded crowd before the start of the show.

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Lil Wayne took it back to 2008 at the 2023 Espys. 15 years after the initial release of “A Milli,” the rapper opened the 31st ESPY Awards with an athletic rendition of the iconic track.

“How y’all doing tonight?,” the rapper asks as he struts the stage at Dolby Theater, red lights flashing and the beat building behind him. “I’m over New Orleans like I’m Angel Reese,” he spits, paying homage to the LSU women’s basketball star (who will later take home the ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete). The entire audience is on their feet as Wayne continues dropping surprise sports-related bars throughout the song, while some of this year’s biggest sports moments play on the screen behind him.

“God is good, Damar Hamlin threw it fine,” he raps.

Weezy wasn’t the only rapper at the awards show. Quavo and Lil Dicky each presented awards, and Common narrated the tribute to Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendricks. H.E.R. performed “The Journey,” commemorating basketball coach Jimmy Valvano.

Other highlights from the night include Lionel Messi winning the award for Best Championship Performance, Patrick Mahomes snagging the award for Best Athlete in Men’s Sports, and Lebron James – with James Gang in tow – revealing that he won’t be retiring.

In other music news, Playboi Carti announced his global “Antagonist Tour.”

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Elaina Bernstein
Elaina Bernstein Editor

Elaina Lauren Bernstein is a New York-based writer and editor, overseeing Hypebeast's music vertical, Hypetrak. She handles both editorial and social coverage for Hypetrak, and served as the Deputy Editor for Summer 2025's Hypetrak Magazine — the first in 10 years. With a particular affinity for underground hip hop, she has racked up a wide range of interviews and cover stories, spanning A$AP Rocky, Larry June, Shaboozey, Leon Thomas, Rihanna, Brent Faiyaz, Jean Dawson, and Miguel, and has covered major music tentpole events including the Grammys and Coachella. The intersection of fashion and music guides her coverage as well.

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