Lil Wayne does not like the Big Apple, and now New York State Sen. Malcolm A. Smith does not like Lil Wayne ... and went so far as to call a news conference on the matter. Seriously. The politician took issue with an interview the rapper gave to MTV News on Monday in which he stated, "I don't like New York." Smith says he was "shocked" by the declaration, and demanded at yesterday's presser that the New Orleans native apologize, the New York Times reports.
"If you don’t like New York, you don’t have to come to New York," said Smith, whose 19-year-old daughter is a fan of Lil Wayne. "You don’t have to sell your products here. And perhaps we won’t come to your concerts." He added that he represents Hollis, Queens, "which is essentially the home and the origin of hip-hop," and that he's happy to meet with the rapper "any place, any time" to further discuss the issue. No word yet from Lil Wayne. The Times notes this NYC experience could be behind the celeb's displeasure with the city. (More Malcolm A. Smith stories.)