HIP-HOP TRIUMPHANTLY TAKES THE STAGE WITH MTV2 PRESENTS: LIL WAYNE UNPLUGGED
Latest Episode in the Groundbreaking Music Series Set To Premiere on Sunday, June 12th across MTV2, MTV and MTV.com
MTV2 today announced that it is set to welcome hip-hop’s hottest MC to the legendary “Unplugged” stage with MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged. As the world awaits his highly-anticipated ninth studio album, Tha Carter IV, Lil Wayne is the latest artist to perform on this Grammy® and Emmy® award winning Unplugged music series. Featuring stripped down versions of his classics and more, MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged will premiere on Sunday, June 12th across MTV2, MTV and MTV.com at 9 PM ET / PT.
“Lil Wayne is an amazing choice for Unplugged as he is at hip-hop’s forefront – leading a new generation of artists whose appeal spans across music genres and playlists,” stated Amy Doyle, EVP, Music and Talent, MTV. “Lil Wayne’s skills, influence, and catalog are a powerful addition to the legacy of artists who have rocked the Unplugged stage.”
With well over ten million in sales, unquestionable street credibility, critical acclaim, industry accolades, eight Grammy nominations, and four Grammy wins for his multi-platinum selling album Tha Carter III, Cash Money/Universal Motown recording artist Lil Wayne has firmly laid to rest all doubt that he is anything less than the best. Now, with his upcoming 9th studio album release, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV is one of the most anticipated albums of 2011.
MTV’s Unplugged concert series first debuted in 1989 showcasing popular musical artists playing acoustically in an intimate setting. The acclaimed series is credited with starting an “acoustic revolution” among musicians, bringing acoustic instruments and arrangements back into the musical mainstream. Unplugged has received critical acclaim, spotlighting artists including Eric Clapton, who won six Grammys including Album of the Year for his performance, Nirvana who won Best Alternative Album Grammy for their Unplugged appearance, and Tony Bennett whose performance earned him Album of the Year honors. Other past Unplugged performers have included Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Mariah Carey, Oasis, Sting, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Alicia Keys, R.E.M., LL Cool J, Aerosmith, Jay-Z and more. Most recently, Unplugged has evolved to showcase the work of today’s top artists and the stars of tomorrow such as Adele, Lykke Li, B.o.B., Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, Adam Lambert, Katy Perry and more across MTV Music Group’s multiple digital platforms: Unplugged.MTV.com, Unplugged.CMT.com and Unplugged.VH1.com.
MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged is a production of Den of Thieves with Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager serving as Executive Producers. Garrett English, Amy Doyle and Joanna Bomberg serve as Executive Producers for MTV. Elena Diaz serves as Executive in Charge of Music Talent for MTV. The series was created by Robert Small and Jim Burns.
About MTV2
MTV2 is a man’s best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
About MTV:
MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. MTV’s sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online hub MTV.com is the leading destination for music, news and pop culture. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
About Den of Thieves:
Founded in 2007 by Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager, Den of Thieves has quickly emerged as a force for ambitious event shows and uniquely stylized reality television series. Using their extensive experience working with talent, Ignjatovic and Prager launched Den of Thieves as the TV arm of the Warner Music Group in 2007. After a successful three year partnership there, they branched out and are now fully independent. With an array of formats ranging from Comedy Central’s stand-up special “Russell Brand in NYC” to VH1’s “The T.O. Show” to the MTV Video Music Awards, Den of Thieves continues to create, develop and produce original television.