Music
Lil Wayne Snubs Cash Money Reunion at Essence Festival for Solo Spotlight
Lil Wayne didn’t join his former label mates at the Essence Festival, opting instead for a solo performance after their set. Fans expecting a Birdman, Cash Money, and Hot Boys reunion were left wanting more when Wayne took the stage alone, replacing the Cash Money logos with his Young Money insignias.
The Cash Money reunion at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on Friday (July 5) featured a star-studded lineup, but Lil Wayne was notably absent from the group performance. He appeared separately, performing for about 20 minutes starting around 1:30 AM local time, and was not seen backstage with the group. This separation hints at ongoing issues within the camp, which might be logistical or perhaps driven by lingering tensions.
The Cash Money reunion saw appearances from former New Orleans mayor Marc Morial, who presented a National Urban League proclamation to Cash Money co-boss Ronald Williams, Birdman’s brother. Recently, Birdman and Ronald were honored with a street naming ceremony in their city. The live performance included acts from Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Birdman (Stunna), B.G., The LOX, Bun B, Scarface, and 2 Chainz. Turk, another Hot Boys member, hinted at “business” issues preventing his appearance, raising further questions about internal conflicts.
Lil Wayne kicked off his solo set with “Uproar,” proclaiming, “My name is Tunechi. I’m here on behalf of Young Money f***ing Records,” clearly distancing himself from his former Cash Money affiliation. Young Money members joined him to perform “Every Girl,” after which he left the stage before Birdman, Mannie Fresh, and B.G. returned for the Big Tymers’ “Still Fly.” This move suggests that Weezy remains outside the loop of the Cash Money reunion or possibly chose to stay away from it.
During the performance, Birdman reflected emotionally on his past and the loss of his mother, Ms. Gladys. “Every day I did this st it was painful for me, because I lost Ms. Gladys as a youngster and I never recovered from that,” he shared. “I was just trying to bless some young nas who were headed in the direction I was headed. I swear to God on everything I love, and I love nothing more than Ms. Gladys, I would never let my city down and be a py a n***a for nobody.”
Lil Wayne’s decision to perform separately highlights ongoing rifts within the Cash Money camp, leaving fans wondering about the future of their reunions.
Artist Spotlight
Lisa Boostani creates a mesmerizing tidal realm in “Ocean”
Lisa Boostani’s “Ocean” takes you deep into a sensory world where body, spirit, and myth come together, beyond the surface of genre. Boostani makes a soundscape that is both ethereal and deeply human by combining the broad essence of psychedelic pop with the strong appeal of alternative rock.
Her voice rises as if it is coming from deep within her, shaped by emotion rather than action. She intentionally channels the intangible, turning weakness into strength rather than a source of pain, and “Ocean” tells people to get involved in this inner world, not just watch it. This release is an integral part of her first EP, “One,” which will come out in March 2026 and is based on love, sensuality, and unity.
If “Ocean” is any indication, the EP will show sensuality not as something pretty, but as a kind of spiritual intelligence, a way to know yourself by connecting with others. The song’s textures and structure have an aquatic quality, moving between clarity and delirium, rhythm and freedom. Its emotional focus is on immersion instead of resolution.
The striking quality of “Ocean” is the blend of the mystical worlds. Boostani understands that strength often shows up as gentleness and that deep feelings are better expressed through frequencies than words. She wants people to see consciousness as immediacy, sensation as truth, and openness as an undeniable strength.
Artist Spotlight
NOAH. captures the unspoken signals in enchanting R&B track “That’s Bless”
“That’s Bless” captures the unspoken late-night message, the smile that was exchanged from afar, and the feeling you sense but are afraid to say. NOAH. offers a song with a smoky R&B feel and lyrics that capture unspoken tension, firmly in the realm of emotional ambiguity, where connection is clear but not defined.
This piece concerns the subtle discomfort of mixed signals and quiet longings, when looks say more than words ever could. NOAH. handles the theme with restraint, letting the chemistry simmer rather than explode. NOAH.’s delivery shows a confident gentleness, recognizing that some feelings don’t need strict definitions to be real.
In “That’s Bless,” he captures the essence of connection and the compelling allure that endures, even when both parties pretend it is not there. The composition is based on real-life events, and it acknowledges that specific attachments endure in the heart long after one has persuaded oneself of having progressed.
“That’s Bless” is at the crossroads of closeness and distance, clarity and confusion. The song doesn’t resolve the tension it talks about, and that’s what makes it so powerful. It sums up the connection we say we don’t want but keep coming back to in memory, rhythm, and pulse.
Connect with NOAH. on Instagram
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