Lil Wayne's "On Fire" Music Video Review

Music Video Review

Lil Wayne is Still ‘On Fire’, Even In The Slammer

By our guest blogger, Gabrielle Corrado

Whether he’s laying down beats in the studio, shutting down arenas on sold-out tours, or simply relaxing in one of his many homes across the country (or, as of late, in his prison cell), Lil Wayne keeps a firm hold on his position as one of the major players in the rap music world. Those who follow Weezy religiously have probably already noted that Wayne, voted “Best Rapper Alive” in 2008 by TIME Magazine, has put out a video for his recently released single "On Fire."

In his usual fashion, the video is heavy on scantily clad, beautiful women and light on plot. "On Fire" is set in a huge, light-filled mansion with high ceilings and an excessive amount of empty space. The sparsely furnished manse, which features little more than a few plush leather couches, some bookcases, chandeliers and a plethora of stacked chairs for Wayne’s girls to writhe on, makes for the perfect party spot.

One thing, however, that is different about this video is the appearance of Wayne’s "band." As he strums away on the red-and-white electric guitar that has become something of his signature (secondary, of course, to his Styrofoam cup of cough syrup), we see a band behind him dressed similarly to Weezy himself--baggy jeans, tight tees and trademark dark shades. Also striking about "On Fire" is the sound--Lil Wayne’s sampling of music from the movie "Scarface" lends the track a unique edge and is a noticeable departure from his quick-witted, spitfire raps that have made him so famous. Fans can take comfort in the fact that he hasn’t completely changed his formula, though--as expected, there is a brief Birdman cameo in the video, and both the drinks (red wine in this case) and the leading lady are still very much integral parts of the video.

Though it’s safe to say Wayne has never once stepped out of the spotlight in the music world, in recent months he has become perhaps even more famous for something entirely unrelated to his raps--his recent incarceration. Though a fire in the basement of the prison and a series of extensive dental procedures delayed Wayne considerably, he officially began serving his one-year sentence for felony gun charges on March 8, 2010.

Despite this setback, not even prison could keep Lil Wayne down for long. Weezy, with the help of his associates, recently launched a website called WeezyThanxYou.com, in which he communicates with his fans from jail. In the most recent posting on the website, he writes, “Love. Live. Life. Proceed. Progress. That’s who I am and who I’ll always be. You see, we’re all living on borrowed time, so I’m not worried about this situation. Life happens quick…I’m in good spirits, man, for real…” In short, Weezy’s most adoring fans and harshest critics can undoubtedly agree that the rapper is unstoppable, in the truest sense of the word.

Check out the music video for "On Fire" below. What are your thoughts?