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Calling someone a “genius” is no small statement, but Lil Wayne was willing to describe one of his contemporaries as one. Weezy has seen enough of Kanye West to believe he’s one of the best when it comes to making music.

During an episode of All the Smoke, the New Orleans rapper went into detail about why Kanye is the best at whatever genre he puts his mind to. “He’s a total genius, plain and simple,” he said. “What I mean by that is he can stop being Kanye West at any time and start being Kanye East and be the best at that and people will still love him. He’s a genius when it comes to music.”

He continued, “Whatever route he wants to go, be it gospel or whatever, he’s gonna be great and he’ll still be packing in arenas to see him perform. He can put on a mask, you won’t even know if it’s him there rapping, but we here ’cause he’s a genius.”

West and Wayne have collaborated many times over the years, with Weezy appearing on ‘Barry Bonds’ from 2007’s Graduation and ‘See You in My Nightmares’ from 2008’s 808s & Heartbreak. Kanye also mentioned Wayne on ‘The Glory’, rapping, “The hood love to listen to Jeezy and Weezy/ And oh yeah, Yeezy/ I did it for the glory.”

Ye also returned the favour by producing two tracks on Tha Carter III, ‘Comfortable’ and ‘Let the Beat Build’, while also appearing on the remix of ‘Lollipop’. The pair have also collaborated on songs from other artists, including Drake’s ‘Forever’ alongside Eminem, Busta Rhymes’ ‘Thank You’ with Q-Tip, Tyler, The Creator’s ‘Smuckers’, T.I.’s ‘Swagga Like Us’ and Rick Ross’ ‘Maybach Music II’.

On another occasion, Kanye West complimented Wayne by calling him one of the most important figures of 2007, stating that Graduation was made as a time capsule for that year. Without Wayne’s inclusion, it just wouldn’t have been a staple of that time.

“I make music as good as possible, but I do reference cultural icons, because I want my music to be a time capsule of 2007,” he told DJBooth. “You throw everything in, you know, the Kate Moss reference to the Lil Wayne verse to a T-Pain feature, everything is like, ‘This is what’s happenin’ in 2007.’ I want my album to be that one – if you’re making a time capsule you have to throw my album in there.”

Wayne once called himself “the last of a dying breed” during an interview with Nylon Guys, naming West as the only rapper on the same level as him. “When I first started [rapping], you only did it to be the best. Not to have a hot song or popularity or for Instagram or Twitter. You have to want to be unforgettable. The only other people who I can think of like that are Kanye and Beyoncé.”

It’s easy to see why Wayne may be in awe of West but it would appear as though the feelings are reciprocated.