Rick Ross 'Back In The Groove' On Lil Wayne Tour

Lil Wayne knows how to throw a party. For his first concert run since being released from prison late last year, the New Orleans MC invited a slew of acts along for the outing, from his protégé Nicki Minaj to veteran rocker Travis Barker with Mix Master Mike to Miami don Rick Ross.

The lineup is impressive, and Lil Wayne isn't the only one who's excited — his tourmates share his enthusiasm for the outing.

"What's been different so far, it's just being back in the groove," Ross told MTV about Wayne and company "I've really just been reflecting. I went overseas on tour with Jay-Z and now it's like coming back full circle. I'm still a student of the game, still want to go learn music. And to be in this position to see this type of tour come together and us go from sitting down talking about the possibility to seeing it sold out, it's a great experience."

The I Am Music II Tour kicked off on Wednesday night in Providence, Rhode Island. The 31-date trek is scheduled to end next month after stops in Atlanta, Miami and Philadelphia, among other cities. Wayne is expected to be joined by various members of his Young Money crew during the tour, including Drake.

Wayne told his set — which includes time for YM members Nicki Minaj, Lil Twist, Mack Maine, Jae Millz and Shanell to perform — was patterned after Bad Boy and Roc-A-Fella tours of the past.

"That's where I get my little oomph from, when I bring my whole clique out there, and I want them to be heard," Wayne explained. "I remember when [Bad Boy] had Total, Biggie, Ma$e, Junior Mafia, all of them other people. Then you think of the Roc. We're more so like the Roc. 'Cause Jay always had artists the world didn't know, but he put them on the proper song and everybody knows the song. But this time around, I want you to know the song, I want you to know the person, I want you to know us. And it's no secret about it, I got the toughest team in the game right now and later."