From Calliope To Courtside: Master P's Ultimate Guide To New Orleans

Forbes

05-07-2025

Percy 'Master P' Miller is evolving from Master P to Coach P in his new position as President of ... More Basketball Operations.
Rap legend Master P has seen the world. His lifetime of careers, from founding and running No Limit Records to stints in the NBA and numerous entrepreneurial ventures, has afforded him the opportunity to be a globetrotter. However, to him, nothing beats the streets of New Orleans.
"I was 8 years old," Master P recalled of his first time participating in a "second line" with Forbes in a digital interview.
He reminisced about the excitement he felt partaking in his first traditional NOLA street parade. "They had a second line on Martin Luther King and I was so excited. To see people out there dancing in the streets, having fun and jumping on cars... everybody was happy. Those are the parts that make me proud to be from New Orleans."
Born Percy Miller, Master P was raised by his grandmother and grandfather in the B.W. Cooper Public Housing Development, famously known as the Calliope Projects.
The housing projects stretched across 56 acres and 24 city blocks in New Orleans' 3rd Ward.
Within the iron gates, Friday night card parties and fish fries set to the soundtrack of jazz and R&B music cultivated a sense of community and resilience.
The Calliope Projects, also known as the B. W. Cooper Public Housing Development, in New Orleans, ... More Louisiana on June 2, 2007. (Photo by)
Growing up with music as a staple in his household inspired Miller to enter the music industry as a promoter curating performances for local acts. It wasn't until a Halloween concert at the now-demolished Riverboat Hallelujah Auditorium that the then-19-year-old Miller grabbed the mic for himself.
"The people who were supposed to perform didn't show up. I ended up getting up there and just saying some stuff. People were like, 'Man, that's dope,' and I was just on the mic talking. But it showed me that I had something and people were paying attention," he said.
He began making his rounds around the city as a performer, even hitting the stage at the infamous Club Rumors, a prominent hip-hop venue in the city's 9th Ward from the late 1980s to the late 1990s.
His early efforts both on and off the mic laid the foundation for what would become No Limit Records.
With artists on the label representing several areas across the city, Miller was intentional about showing the world the true essence of New Orleans.
"You had to be from the East Coast or the West Coast to be successful in the music business and our music was just different," Miller said.
He added that his label of over 10 artists was pivotal in changing the "mindset" of what people thought about Southern hip-hop.
'No Limit brought resources and money to hip-hop. When MTV came to see my crib and saw that we weren't riding horses and cattle, we had Rolls-Royces; we have mansions... and we did it off of hard work. We had all these different people and all these different personalities. But we had one mission. We were going to change and get better. That was what No Limit was and that's what we stood on.'
Percy "Master P" Miller receives a key to the city of New Orleans from Mayor LaToya Cantrell on June ... More 28, 2021
In February 2025, Miller cemented his affection for the city and the creatives who made it special with the unveiling of the New Orleans Walk of Fame.
Along Canal Street, the embedded plaques recognize the city's cultural icons and trailblazers.
We're telling these stories, we're painting this picture for the next generation to walk by and say, 'Those guys come from nothing. I can get a fleur-de-lis on Canal Street. I could be like Lil Wayne. I could be like Todd Graves with a multi-billion-dollar company or Tom Benson and own a football franchise.' We wanted to celebrate these people who came right here from New Orleans so these kids could actually dream and dream big," Miller expressed of the sentimental project.
Master P spearheaded the construction and unveiling of the New Orleans Walk of Fame, honoring the ... More city's trailblazers. (From left to right: Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Lil Wayne, Percy Miller)
For over 30 years, Miller has been at the helm of taking fans on sonic tours of The Big Easy. In the role of the General of the "No Limit Soldiers," he consciously introduced people to the glamour and grit of the city that raised him. On Sunday, July 6, Miller will take the stage at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture in the Caesars Superdome. In his signature army fatigues, Miller will give what he is calling his final performance.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 25: Master P performs onstage during the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft ... More Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor BET) "This is not a concert. This is a celebration," Miller says of the planned extravaganza. "This show is going to take you on the journey of my life as Master P, this is where it all started."
Before he lays his "soulja rag" down as a performer, Miller has curated a personal guide to New Orleans that highlights the best of the city for tourists and natives alike.Landry's Seafood House in New Orleans impeccably blends Southern hospitality and Gulf-fresh cuisine across two iconic locations: the historic JAX Brewery in the French Quarter and the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The locations offer traditional New Orleans charm with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide sweeping views of the Mississippi River or Lake Pontchartrain. Live jazz is the perfect soundtrack to seasonal craft cocktails and menu standouts such as char-grilled oysters, blackened swordfish, crawfish bread, Gulf fish and other signature Creole dishes.Parkway Bakery and Tavern is a true New Orleans institution. Located in Mid‑City, Parkway is beloved for its perfectly crusted Leidenheimer French bread and overstuffed po' boy sandwiches. Since 1911 and especially after introducing the iconic "poor boy" in 1929, Parkway has built its reputation on hearty, no-frills fare served in a welcoming community setting with indoor, outdoor and bar seating. Miller's favorite is their James Brown sandwich, which combines fried shrimp, hot BBQ beef, pepper-jack cheese and a spicy Crystal hot sauce mayo on crusty bread. This messy yet delicious creation won "Best of Fest" at the 2018 Po'Boy Festival.In the heart of New Orleans at the lively corner of Bourbon and Conti Streets in the French Quarter is Oceana Grill. Housed in a captivating historic building, the restaurant offers tourists and locals classic Creole and Cajun flavors that reflect the city's rich culinary tradition. The seven themed rooms and sun-drenched courtyard are the perfect places to enjoy their famed crab cakes, traditional gumbo, BBQ shrimp & grits and signature bread pudding.UNO Lakefront Arena is the home of the University of New Orleans Privateers men's basketball team. With 9,000 seats, fans visiting the massive arena will get to witness Miller transform from Master P to Coach P as he steps into his newly appointed role as the university's President of Basketball Operations. With previous experience as an NBA and IBL player combined with his undeniable ability to lead and create winners, witnessing Miller take this ambition and ability from the stage to the court is going to be historic.Louis Armstrong Park, in the heart of the historic Tremé neighborhood, is a cultural oasis that celebrates New Orleans' African American heritage and its role as the birthplace of jazz. Spanning over 30 acres, it holds the historic Congo Square, where enslaved and free Black people gathered on Sundays in the 18th and 19th centuries to drum, sing and dance. Visitors can congregate under the sculptures honoring jazz pioneers Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden, Mahalia Jackson and others. Adjacent to the park are the Mahalia Jackson Theater and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, which amplify the unforgettable legacy of music through performances and educational exhibits.One of the easiest ways to experience New Orleans' hauntingly beautiful past is to take a cemetery tour. Known as the "Cities of the Dead," these cemeteries are filled with ornate tombs, crumbling mausoleums and century-old oaks that hold the tales of voodoo queens, jazz legends and ordinary souls who shaped the city's rich culture. Tours of notable graveyards such as St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 or Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 are an intriguing way to learn about the folklore, architecture and local legends, making every storied pathway feel like a living museum.After a full day of exploring the city, the perfect place to retreat to is the Bienville House Hotel. Located steps away from Bourbon and Royal Streets, the Bienville House Hotel offers a captivating mix of old‑world charm and modern comfort in a building dating back to 1835. The hand-painted murals, ornate wrought-iron balconies and antique appointments personify Southern flair and opulence. The hotel's well-known flagstone courtyard is favored by locals for its picturesque backdrop and the heated saltwater pool creates the ambiance of a private oasis amid the Quarter's chaotic energy. The 83 rooms range from European-style suites to spacious accommodations overlooking the cobbled streets of the French Quarter, featuring antique-style French furnishings with a modern twist.