Banjo Player Puts Country Twist On Lil Wayne’s 2008 Hit, “Lollipop,” & It Just WORKS

This just… works?

If you were in middle or high school in the early to mid 2000s, then you’re probably very familiar with Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter album series, more specifically the 2008 installment Tha Carter III.

That album was a massive commercial success, selling over a million copies in its first week and becoming the best-selling album of 2008 in the United States. It featured hit singles like “Lollipop” and “A Milli,” significantly increasing his popularity in the mainstream and earning him several awards at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, including Best Rap Album for Tha Carter III, Best Rap Solo Performance for “A Milli,” Best Rap Song for “Lollipop,” and Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for “Swagga Like Us”.

You just had to be there, honestly… that music hits different.

By far and away the most popular single from Tha Carter III was “Lollipop,” where Lil Wayne posthumously featured Static Major on the original version. It was released on March 13th, 2008 as the lead single from Tha Carter III, and a remixed version with Kanye West, also with new verses from Lil Wayne, was released as a bonus track for the album on iTunes later on. “Lollipop” spent five non-consecutive weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100, and it has been certified Diamond by the RIAA for selling over ten million units in the United States.

It’s an integral part of that period of my life, and I honestly miss that era of music… we just didn’t know how good we had it.

While I mostly listen to country these days, I still enjoy (good) rap and hip hop at times… and it’s pretty rare for elements of the country and rap world to meet, and really mesh and gel, but I was scrolling on TikTok the other day and stumbled upon a viral video of an artist playing a very much country-fied version of “Lollipop” with a heavy banjo accompaniment, and I can’t get enough.

I never could’ve dreamed this up, but the haunting feel of the banjo with this beat and song just works. The video has over two million views now, and for good reason:

@evilvampiregirl #lilwayne #lollipop #banjo #vampire #evilvampiregirl #sinners ♬ original sound – evilvampiregirl

Fans in the comments were all about it, too… if this is the kind of sound we could get when rap and country mix, I am a million percent on board:

“This is what Florida feels like.”

“This is exactly how those vampires would get me.”

“Lollipop of folk and despair.”

“Banjo just makes things sound GUT WRENCHING. Idk what it is about a banjo but there is so much sorrow in those strings.”

“This proves how underrated the banjo really is.”

“This is actually my experience living in rural Appalachia during 2009 listening to lil Wayne on my iPod but n also simultaneously being in banjo classes.”

“‘Lollipop’ by Lil Wayne (Appalachian Remix).”

“The accompaniment really brings out the Louisiana-ness of his flow…”

“God I love a banjo.”

“This is what it feels like to live on the country outskirts of a the major city.”

“The banjo is the superior instrument.”

“Play this one as my funeral procession.”

“This is the EXACT vibe I bring to the function.”

“God forbid a maiden catch a vibe.”

“Every song is a banjo song if you’re brave enough.”

So true… justice for the banjo. Such an underrated instrument for any genre.

Lil Wayne has been associated with country music here and there over the years, most recently joining Morgan Wallen on a remixed version of “Miami”:

And for old times’ sake…

“Lollipop”

The post Banjo Player Puts Country Twist On Lil Wayne’s 2008 Hit, “Lollipop,” & It Just WORKS first appeared on Whiskey Riff.