Lil Uzi Vert Lollapalooza Hip-Hop Surprise EP

Lil Uzi Vert Turns Weather Cancellation into a Birthday EP Drop

The rapper's eight-track surprise arrives hours after Lollapalooza scrapped his set, on a date with a ten-year history.

Surprise Birthday EP

Lil Uzi Vert dropped the surprise eight-track EP Maverick "Almost Forever" on his 31st birthday, a Friday, marking his first release in two years. The cover art shows a young Uzi alongside his grandmother. The project arrived hours after Lollapalooza cancelled his set, turning a lost performance into a celebration.

Lollapalooza Cites Weather

Lollapalooza's official statement attributed the cancellation of Lil Uzi Vert's Friday set to "weather issues." NBC Chicago reported that heavy rain and stormy conditions swept the Grant Park area throughout the day. Uzi had been scheduled to perform ahead of headliner Charli XCX.

Zara Larsson Fills the Slot

Zara Larsson was moved up to fill the slot left by Lil Uzi Vert at Lollapalooza on Friday. The Swedish singer's set, originally scheduled for a different time, took over the vacated position. Larsson performed as the festival continued despite the weather disruption.

A Decade-All Anniversary

Maverick "Almost Forever" lands exactly a decade after The Perfect LUV Tape, released on July 31, 2016. That mixtape debuted at No. 55 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified gold by the RIAA. The date ties the new project to a landmark in Uzi's catalogue.

Three No. 1 Albums and Diamond Singles

Lil Uzi Vert has topped the Billboard 200 three times: with Eternal Atake (2020), its deluxe reissue Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World 2 (2020) and Pink Tape (2023). He reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 as a featured artist on Migos' "Bad and Boujee" in 2017. His own "XO Tour Llif3" climbed to No. 3 and is certified diamond.

The Mid-July Tease

In mid-July, Lil Uzi Vert posted an Instagram Story showing work in a studio. The post carried no details about a project, leaving fans to speculate. Two weeks later, the rapper released a surprise EP on his birthday, fulfilling the tease. The studio session evidently produced the project that dropped that day.

Lollapalooza's Friday Lineup

Lollapalooza 2026 continues at Grant Park in Chicago through Aug. 2. The festival's Friday lineup featured Smashing Pumpkins, Mustard and Yungblud, who each performed their slated sets. The event's multi-day run draws to a close on Sunday.