ESPN has shared an exclusive preview of Lil Wayne’s upcoming album Tha Carter VI just hours before its release.
A new unreleased song titled “The Days,” which includes a feature by the U2 frontman Bono, was used in a promotional video for the first game of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, June 5.
In the track, Lil Wayne delivers lines such as, “I pledge allegiance to what I believe in/ Live to fight another day,” and, “I ain’t getting younger, but I’m getting better/ No time to waste that’s another man’s treasure/ They say every dog has hit day.” Bono follows up by singing, “These are the days.”
This preview of “The Days” marks the first public snippet from Tha Carter VI, as no singles had been released prior. The collaboration aligns with Wayne’s long-time love of basketball.
“Basketball’s been in my blood since day one, so to team up with ESPN less than 24 hours before the drop of Tha Carter VI for the NBA Finals is an incredible honor,” Wayne stated. “My music and the NBA are vibin’ on the same frequency because it’s perfect timing for fans to hear Tha Carter VI on the game’s grandest stage.”
Throughout the NBA Playoffs, ESPN has featured several of Wayne’s tracks in their promotional content, including “I Am Not a Human Being,” “Uproar,” and “Glory (Remix).”
“Lil Wayne brings the energy, edge and emotion that define the NBA Finals,” said Curtis Friends, ESPN’s vice president of sports marketing. “Integrating his music into our NBA Playoffs coverage has been a strategic brand flex — amplifying our storytelling and connecting with fans as we showcase today’s rising stars on the league’s biggest stage.”
Game one of the NBA Finals is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, with Tha Carter VI set to release on streaming platforms at midnight ET on Friday, June 6.
Get a taste of “The Days” with the NBA Finals teaser below.
