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Who Is Lil Wayne?
Lil Wayne, an influential figure in the hip-hop industry, began his career as a member of the hip-hop group Hot Boys before launching a successful solo journey with the release of his acclaimed albums Tha Carter and its subsequent sequels, Tha Carter II, III, IV, and V. In 2009, he achieved significant recognition, winning four Grammy Awards for his hit singles, including “A Milli” and “Lollipop.” Over the years, he has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, such as Robin Thicke and Nicki Minaj. Despite his musical accomplishments, Lil Wayne has faced legal challenges, including a 2010 prison sentence for criminal possession of a weapon.
Early Life
Born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. on September 27, 1982, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Lil Wayne grew up in Hollygrove, one of the city’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. He began rapping at the tender age of eight, showcasing his talent early on. His journey took a pivotal turn when he encountered brothers Bryan and Slim Williams, the founders of Cash Money Records. Impressed by his skills, they provided him with a business card. Driven by ambition, Wayne persistently reached out to them until they recognized his potential, ultimately welcoming him into their label’s environment.
Aspiring Rapper
‘True Stories’
Lil Wayne made his debut with Cash Money Records in 1993 through the release of True Stories, where he collaborated with fellow rapper B.G. under the moniker the BGs. Outside of the studio, Wayne’s life took a perilous turn; he became involved in drug dealing, specifically selling crack cocaine, and he faced serious personal challenges, including a near-fatal accident. In a 2008 interview with Rolling Stone, Wayne recounted the harrowing experience of accidentally shooting himself in the chest with his mother’s firearm. He described the incident, stating, “It was like a chopper hit me. But the bullet went straight through, and I bounced back in two weeks.” In a later interview with Billboard in 2018, he revealed that this incident stemmed from an attempted suicide after his mother prohibited him from pursuing a career in rap.
‘Get It How U Live!!’ and ‘Guerilla Warfare’
Lil Wayne’s ascent to fame began with his involvement in the Hot Boys, a collective that included several prominent artists from Cash Money Records, such as B.G., Juvenile, and Turk. Their debut album, Get It How U Live!!, released in 1997, achieved significant commercial success, selling over 400,000 copies. The group’s follow-up project, Guerilla Warfare, released in 1999, surpassed its predecessor, eventually selling over 1 million copies. By the age of 16, Lil Wayne was well on his way to becoming a major figure in the music industry.
Solo Successes
‘Tha Block Is Hot’
Lil Wayne officially launched his solo career with the release of Tha Block Is Hot in 1999. The title track became a significant hit, propelling the album to the top of the hip-hop charts. Featuring collaborations with members of the Hot Boys and the Big Tymers—comprising Brian Williams and Mannie Fresh—the album achieved double platinum status. Mannie Fresh also served as the producer for this groundbreaking project.
‘Lights Out,’ ‘500 Degreez,’ and ‘Da Drought’
Following his debut, Lil Wayne released Lights Out in 2000 and 500 Degreez in 2002. While these albums achieved modest sales compared to his first, they laid the groundwork for a pivotal shift in his career. In 2003, Wayne diverged from traditional album formats by releasing Da Drought, a compilation of tracks from his underground mixtapes that showcased his unique style. These mixtape tracks often featured beats from other artists, with Wayne providing entirely new lyrics.
‘Tha Carter’ and ‘Tha Carter II’
In 2004, Lil Wayne released Tha Carter, a commercially successful album that solidified his standing as a leading figure in rap. The single “Go D.J.” enjoyed considerable success on both hip-hop and pop charts. Rolling Stone critic Christian Hoard noted Wayne’s increasingly dexterous delivery, highlighting the evolution of his distinctive style. Building on this momentum, Wayne quickly followed up with Tha Carter II in December 2005, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard pop charts and garnered critical acclaim. His cameo on Destiny’s Child’s hit “Soldier” further elevated his profile in the music industry.
‘Dedication, Vol. 2’ and ‘Like Father, Like Son’
Over the following years, Lil Wayne released several acclaimed mixtapes, including the highly regarded Dedication, Vol. 2 in 2006, created in collaboration with DJ Drama. During this period, he partnered with his Cash Money mentor Bryan Williams (commonly known as “Baby” or “Birdman”) to produce Like Father, Like Son, which also released in 2006 and featured the hit “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy.”
Grammy Awards for ‘Tha Carter III’
In response to numerous unreleased tracks circulating online, Lil Wayne released The Leak, a download-only EP, in 2007. This set the stage for his eagerly awaited studio album, Tha Carter III, released in 2008. The album debuted at the top of the rap, hip-hop, and pop charts, selling over one million copies in its first week. Featuring multiple successful singles such as “A Milli” and “Lollipop” (a collaboration with Static Major), Tha Carter III also included appearances from Jay-Z on “Mr. Carter,” T-Pain on “Got Money,” and cameos by Babyface, Robin Thicke, Busta Rhymes, and Juelz Santana. The album earned Lil Wayne the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, along with three additional Grammys at the February 2009 ceremony, including Best Rap Song for “Lollipop” and Best Rap Solo Performance for “A Milli.”
In the summer of 2009, Lil Wayne toured with the Young Money Presents: America’s Most Wanted Music Festival, featuring artists such as Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy, and Drake. In August of the same year, Wayne signed rapper Bow Wow to his label and collaborated with Jay Sean on the hit song “Down” from Sean’s album All of Nothing.
More Albums:
‘Rebirth’ and ‘I Am Not a Human Being’
Lil Wayne released his seventh studio album, Rebirth, in February 2010, followed by his eighth album, I Am Not a Human Being, later that year. Both projects received positive reviews and contributed to his continued success.
‘Tha Carter IV’ and ‘I Am Not a Human Being II’
In August 2011, Wayne released Tha Carter IV, which achieved immediate success, setting a record with 300,000 downloads on iTunes within its first four days. The album featured popular tracks such as “Mirror,” featuring Bruno Mars, and “It’s Good,” featuring Drake and Jadakiss. In March 2013, Lil Wayne released his tenth studio album, I Am Not a Human Being II, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold 217,000 copies in its first week.
‘Free Weezy Album’ and ‘Tha Carter V’
Initially expected to follow up with Tha Carter V, Lil Wayne delayed the album’s release due to disputes with the Cash Money label. Instead, he released the mixtape Sorry 4 the Wait 2 and the Free Weezy Album in 2015. After resolving his contractual issues with Cash Money in June 2018, the highly anticipated Tha Carter V debuted at the top of the Billboard charts in September.
Arrests and Controversy
Lil Wayne’s affinity for marijuana has led to several legal issues throughout his career. He was arrested in Georgia for drug possession in 2006 and again in Arizona in January 2008. A drug-related arrest in New York City in 2007 resulted in criminal charges for weapon possession, leading to an eight-month sentence at the infamous Rikers Island in 2010. He later chronicled his experiences in the memoir Gone Til’ November: A Journal of Rikers Island, published in 2016. In May 2013, following the release of a song with derogatory lyrics referencing civil rights icon Emmett Till, Lil Wayne was dropped by PepsiCo, for whom he had signed a promotional deal. In December 2019, he was arrested for transporting a loaded handgun on his private jet, pledging guilty a year later; he received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in January 2021.
Personal Life
In addition to his music career, Lil Wayne established the One Family Foundation, a charitable organization aimed at supporting urban youth. This initiative included efforts to rebuild the athletic fields at his former school, Eleanor McMain Secondary School, which were devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Lil Wayne was previously married to a high school girlfriend, with whom he shares a daughter, and he has three additional children from various relationships.