Lil Wayne walked out of New York's Rikers Island jail a free man today after serving eight months on gun charges. Since Weezy hit the slammer on March 8, he missed several crucial musical moments -- like the essential songs of the summer and the arrival of rapping Justin Bieber. Here's a guide to the 10 key tracks and videos he missed so he can get all the jokes at the Cash Money Thanksgiving dinner this year (he'll have to Netflix the "Lost" finale himself).
Big Boi - "Shutterbugg" Video
While Weezy was in the clink, OutKast's Big Boi finally released his epically delayed "Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty," with the funky single "Shutterbugg." Its video features dancers outfitted like guys from "Tron Legacy," a wall of red plastic cups that would make a frat party weep, toy trains, a puppet band, and a rainbow low rider.
Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé - "Telephone" Video
Once Wayne gets past the opening jailhouse sequence (flashback!), he'll enjoy Lady G and her Honey Bee on the run like the Thelma and Louise of Quentin Tarantino's warped world, taking control of a diner and our minds with a mix of product placement and catchy choreography.
Erykah Badu - "Window Seat" Video
Badu revisits the scene of John Kennedy's assassination while surreptitiously disrobing in public. The low-key but controversial clip earned Badu some unwanted attention from the cops, too.
Katy Perry - "California Gurls" Video
Weezy's a candy fiend, so Katy Perry's clip with Snoop Dogg may be enough to send him into sugar shock: strategically placed cotton candy and cupcake tops cover the nearly nude Perry as an array of trippy giant treats roll by (including, yes, lollipops).
Nicki Minaj's Verse on Kanye West's "Monster"
Wayne's own Young Money heroine Minaj blows Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rick Ross out of the water on the G.O.O.D. Friday goodie: "First things first, I eat your brains." The rest is already pop culture history. While we're on the topic, Wayne should check out Kanye West's "Runaway" video -- and its extended 40-minute short movie -- too. (We presume he already got an earful about it from 'Ye himself during one of their prison visits.)
Cee Lo - "F--- You"
A smoothly crooned kiss-off of the most wicked variety that had the whole country talking dirty all summer long. Its lyric video, with the track's ticked-off message simply scrolling by, was a hit, but Cee Lo took his ire to hilarious new levels in the tune's final clip.
Willow Smith - "Whip My Hair"
While Weezy was away, Willow Smith emerged as a 9-year-old prodigy and blossomed into a 10-year-old star. "Whip My Hair" is a frighteningly catchy neck-snapper from producer Jukebox that's outperforming Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)" on YouTube.
Die Antwoord - "Enter the Ninja"
This wacked-out South African rap duo love tattoos and freaking people out almost as much as Wayne does. Their rapid-fire rhymes are otherworldy weird, and witty in ways most of us can't even understand.
Janelle Monae on "Dancing With the Stars"
Wayne may be a Martian, but Janelle Monae is the ArchAndroid. The budding soul singer funked up "Dancing With the Stars" in late September, bringing her out-of-this-world jam to what had to be one surprised audience.
Shawty Mane - "Speakin' Tongues"
Yes, Wayne, this really happened. Justin Bieber freestyled over Cam'ron and Vado's "Speakin' Tongues," and Vado had the nerve to compare Biebs to B.I.G.