Lil Wayne recently shared his admiration for Missy Elliott in an interview for the season finale of TV One’s UNCENSORED. Reflecting on his early influences, Wayne stated, “I was into Missy Elliott as a kid before Jay — this was before I even knew a Jay-Z existed.” This acknowledgment highlights how significant Elliott’s music was to him during his formative years.

Wayne expressed that Missy Elliott not only inspired him but also helped him articulate feelings he wanted to express through rap. He remarked, “You made me love it, not just appreciate it. You really aroused my interest.” He reminisced about the moment he bought her CD, noting he was surprised to discover her lyrical prowess, stating, “I had no idea you were actually spitting.”

In a later part of the interview, Missy Elliott asked Wayne about the impact of his groundbreaking album Tha Carter III on his career. Wayne reflected, “I think that was perhaps the first time we noticed—at least for me, it was when I started to truly get that acknowledgment and start to accept…accepting and cherishing it.” He described the confidence he felt during that period as being robust, noting the shift in how artists perceived their success.

Wayne also reminisced about the days when he and fellow artists would eagerly check Billboard magazine to track their rankings. He recalled, “When we released Tha Block Is Hot, I remember thinking, ‘I can do nothing but thank God.’ It sold like 114,000 or 95,000 in the first week, which was the equivalent of selling a million.”

This conversation not only highlights Wayne’s respect for Missy Elliott but also offers insight into his journey as an artist and the significance of Tha Carter III in his career.