The Universal Zulu Nation reportedly has a new member in Lil Wayne. On Wednesday (Nov. 26) Q-Tip publicly inducted the “Start a Fire” rapper into the the global hip hop awareness organization with the tweet, “Help me in welcoming @LilTunechi to fold of the Zulus.”

He continued explaining, “We need all the help we can get these r URGENT times and if folks are HEARTFELT in lending a face a voice a view so be it! Don’t judge.” The “URGENT times” referenced by Tip is a likely a nod to the #BlackLivesMatter campaign birthed in the aftermath of the shooting death of 18-year-old Mike Brown by a Ferguson, Mo., police officer, and the killing of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old gunned down by a Cleveland police officer for playing with what was later determined to be a toy gun. Newly released video of Rice’s death shows that the cop shot and killed him within two seconds of arriving to the scene. It was also revealed that authorities waited four minutes to administer first aid to Rice, who later died at a hospital. 

While Wayne didn’t tweet a confirmation (instead he gave some love to Juicy J for bringing him out at a show), producer 9th Wonder spoke to those questioning the YMCMB leader’s involvement with the Zulus. He noted the “countless hours” that Weezy has dedicated to “community service in N.O., Katrina, & the like.”

“People say they want unity among hip hoppers, rappers, and such…but they really DON’T want it,” wrote the producer. "They want to keep the division…”

Founded in the 1970s by hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, the Zulu Nation began as a way of unifying and mobilizing reformed New York City gang members to put their energy towards positive cultural events for neighborhood youth. Over the years it has expanded globally, reaching countries as far away as Australia, South Korea and South Africa, the latter of which holds the largest number of Zulus, Africa’s best-known tribal group.  

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(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)