New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne, with 8-nominations for next month's Grammy awards including Album of the Year, captivated his Toronto audience, during the interval of a
3-song encore, by slipping into a red Everlast boxing robe and using a flame-thrower to shoot flames into the crowd, even as he sang Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'.

Performing at the Air Canada Centre, Lil Wayne was in Toronto for a part of his 'I Am Music' tour, also featuring performances by robo-soul crooner T-Pain and R&B singers Keyshia Cole and Keri Hilson. Midway through a tour that will also see him perform at on 22nd January at Calgary 's Pengrowth Saddledome and 24th January at Vancouver 's GM Place .

Opening with 'Mr. Carter' from his 'Tha Carter III' album which sold 1-million copies in one week, resounding applause greeted the 26-year old's mission statement: 'I ain't
(anything) without you, so make noise for what you created. Ladies and gentlemen, I am music.'

He had a packed Air Canada Centre audience in the palm of his hand, despite his sometimes strange, sometimes weird 90-minute performance, squealing every time he ripped of his shirt to reveal the dense tattoo etchings on his chest.

Joined early in the show by his friend, T-Pain, they gave a rendition of their hit collaboration 'Get Money', followed by something that resembled a comedy sketch, first they had a staged conversation, and then a brief dance/rap battle.

Later, Lil Wayne allowed a brisk succession of rappers from his Young Money Entertainment record label, including Canadian Drake (Drizzy) Rogers , take centre stage as he remained backstage.

Born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., Lil Wayne was discovered at age 11, initially finding teenage fame with New Orleans group the Hot Boys, before his first solo record, 'Tha Block is Hot', released in 1999.

Churning out five more solo records in the nine years since, last year Lil Wayne also made guest appearances on almost 100-songs by other artists and is well-known for tehe unorthodox flow of his clever, elliptical rhymes.

Drawing from his records frequently, the crowd roared recognition at the opening bars of 'Sky's the Limit,' as he jumped from record to record, with equal time for mix tape tracks and old favourites, bothering now and then with only a verse or two, before moving on, as dancers wandered in and out for some tracks, before disappearing.

Giving a playful performance, Lil Wayne grinned, hopped his way across the stage, jumping on amps and sprawling on his back, initially dressed in a red T-shirt with jeans, black hat, shades and dreadlocks tied back. Soon after, he changed into a fluorescent yellow jacket and sneaker combination.

Every time the energy waned, he got his audience back with hits like 'I'm Me', 'Phone Home' and 'Fireman'. His backing of live musicians (drummer, guitarist, DJ, keyboardist) and a woman splitting time between bass guitar and cello, added extra punch to his songs, particularly the three-song encore of 'Lollipop', 'Shoot Me Down' and thunderously, rocked-out 'A Milli'.

Flanked by candy-coloured burlesque outfit clad dancers seemingly moving to their own beat, for 'Lollipop', Lil Wayne stood in the midst of them all, wearing a dishevelled, over-sized tuxedo with a single black glove, looking for all we know, much like a gone insane opera conductor.