Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne

Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (born September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States), better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. Growing up in the Hollygrove neighborhood of the New Orleans, Louisiana, he met the Cash Money Records collective as a teenager and eventually recorded for the label. He soon joined the rap group Hot Boys as the youngest member by age. His solo debut was Tha Block is Hot, released in 1999. After releasing the albums Lights Out in 2000 and 500 Degreez in 2002 to little success, in 2004 he released the bestseller Tha Carter and eventually was featured in the popular song "Soldier" by the R&B group Destiny's Child. Tha Carter 2 followed in 2005.

In 2006, he collaborated with rapper Birdman for the collaboration album Like Father, Like Son. He later did a guest spot on Fat Joe's single "Make it Rain" that year. In 2007, he also appeared on the popular R&B single "You" by singer Lloyd.

Biography

Early Years

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born to Jacida "Cita" Carter and Dwayne Michael Turner. Jacida Carter was 19 at the time, in the process of graduating from high school, and involved in an abusive relationship with Turner. Turner abandoned the family soon after Dwayne's birth. Jacida later became involved with Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald, who moved the family from Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans' 17th Ward to East New Orleans. It was around the time of the move that Dwayne Carter began to get involved more deeply in rap music, signing with Cash Money at the age of 11. A year after his move to East New Orleans, Carter accidentally shot himself in the chest with McDonald's .44 Taurus Magnum, he would subsequently be on life support for two weeks. A year later, Jacida would demand Carter stay away from Brian "Baby" Williams, having gone to school with his older brother Ronald "Slim" Williams, both founders of Cash Money. The separation would only last a year, as Carter returned to Cash Money after the death of Reginald McDonald on March 7, 1997.

Personal Relationships

At the age of 16, Wayne had a daughter named Reginae Carter with Antonia "Toya", his high school sweetheart. The two later divorced.

It is confirmed that Lil Wayne was at one time engaged to Kim Kardashian, but the wedding was cancelled. Wayne is now rumored to be engaged to Lauren London.

Education

Lil Wayne later enrolled at and is currently attending the University of Houston in Houston, Texas since early 2005, where he is majoring in political science. According to the Cash Money Records website, Wayne later switched his major to psychology.

Criminal history

On July 22, 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested in New York City following a performance at the Beacon Theater. NYPD discovered Wayne and another man smoking marijuana near a tour bus on 61st and Columbus. After taking Wayne into custody, police discovered a pistol on his person, and he was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana.

On October 5, 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested in Boise, Idaho, following a performance at Qwest Arena. Wayne was arrested on felony fugitive charges after Georgia authorities accused the rapper of possessing a controlled substance. Wayne was freed on $20,000 bond. The incident was later described as a "mix-up" and the fugitive charges were dropped.

On January 23, 2008, Lil Wayne was arrested alongside two others. His tour bus was stopped by Border Patrol agents near Yuma, Arizona. Lil Wayne had a .44 caliber pistol. A K-9 Unit recovered 105 grams of marijuana (3.7 ounces), almost 29 grams of cocaine (1.02 ounces), 41 grams of Ecstasy (1.05 ounces) and $22,000 dollars in cash. He has since been released on bail of $10,185.

Career

Wayne's first contact with hip-hop was listening to local Cash Money Records artists like Pimp Daddy and U.N.L.V., whom he would later credit as his earliest influences. Wayne began rapping at block parties as a child. His performance at one of the parties caught the ear of Lil Slim, a Cash Money rapper from the neighborhood, who gave Lil Wayne his phone number. He went to an autograph-signing session with Lil Slim, and there met the Williams brothers, but they were initially reluctant to sign him. Eleven-year-old Wayne started to record freestyles on Baby's answering machine and would frequently visit Cash Money offices. When Baby saw so much enthusiasm in the young rapper, he signed him. Wayne was later hooked up with another newcomer, Lil' Doogie (who would later become as famous as B.G.), to form The B.G.'z. The group released their first and only album, True Story, in 1995.

In 1997, Wayne formed the Hot Boys along with Juvenile, Turk, and B.G., and they released their seminal debut CD Get It How You Live. The record's success earned fans throughout the South and Midwest. He further distinguished himself on the Hot Boys' multi platinum-selling Universal debut, Guerrilla Warfare, which was released in 1998 and was followed by their 2003 release, Let Em Burn.

Cash Money and Young Money

In 2005, Wayne was named president of Cash Money, and in the same year he founded Young Money Entertainment as an imprint of Cash Money. However, as of late 2007, Wayne reports that he has stepped down from the management of both labels and has handed management of Young Money over to Cortez Bryant.

Music history

Tha Block Is Hot (1999)

Main article: Tha Block Is Hot

Wayne's debut solo album featured significant contributions from the Hot Boys and went double platinum, climbing to #3 on the Billboard album charts. The album earned Wayne a 1999 Source award nomination for "Best New Artist". The title track became a Top Ten hit. Other notable tracks included "Fuck tha World"--a rare instance of Wayne using profanity in his early career--in which he describes the pressures that accompany having a daughter at age 16.

The previous year, 1998, Wayne was featured on the song, "Back That Azz Up", with Juvenile and Mannie Fresh, which marked his first single as a featured performer. After the release of Tha Block is Hot, Wayne was featured on the single, "Bling Bling", with B.G., Juvenile, Turk, and Big Tymers.

Lights Out (2000)

Main article: Lights Out (Lil Wayne album)

Wayne's follow-up album failed to attain the level of success achieved by his debut, although is was certified Gold. At this point in his development as an emcee, Wayne was criticized for coasting on his fame and the collective success of the Hot Boys. Critics pointed to the lack of coherent narratives in his verses as evidence that he had yet to mature to the level of his fellow Hot Boys. Notable tracks included "Everything," which Wayne dedicated to his late stepfather Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald, and "Grown Man," in which Wayne raps about the responsibilities that come with adulthood.

Near the release of Lights Out, Wayne was featured on the single, "1# Stunna" with Big Tymers and Juvenile, which rose to 24th place on the U.S. R&B charts.

500 Degreez (2002)

Main article: 500 Degreez

Wayne's third album followed the format of his previous two, with significant contributions from the Hot Boys and the distinctive beat-making of producer Mannie Fresh. While certified Gold like its predecessor, it too failed to match the success of Wayne's debut. The title was a reference to the recently estranged Hot Boys member Juvenile's recording, 400 Degreez.

After the release of 500 Degreez, Wayne was featured in the single, "Neva Get Enuf" with 3LW.

Tha Carter (2004)

Main article: Tha Carter

In the summer of 2004, Wayne released Tha Carter. Often cited as a highlight of his career, Tha Carter marked a significant development in Wayne's flow and delivery, as the young rapper began to employ more original diction and syntax, while occasionally experimenting with his voice and inflection. In addition, the album's cover art featured the debut of Wayne's now-signature dreadlocks. Tha Carter gained Wayne significant recognition, selling 878,000 copies in the United States, while the single "Go DJ" became a Top 5 Hit. The album was loosely organized around the theme of Wayne's mansion, which he refers to as Tha Carter. The tracks "Walk In," "Tha Carter," and "Walk Out" employ this concept, as Wayne takes the listener through his house, rapping about the activity therein. Before the release of the album, Wayne garnered attention by releasing a mixtape called The Prefix, which included him rapping over a handful of beats from Jay-Z's The Black Album. Wayne's connection to Jay-Z continued on Tha Carter, when he referred to himself as, "The best rapper alive, since the best rapper retired" on the track "Bring It Back," referencing Jay-Z's subsequent retirement after releasing The Black Album. This statement by Wayne marked the first time he called himself "The Best Rapper Alive" on a recording. Wayne's continued use of the boast from this point on in his career has essentially transformed the phrase into yet another nickname for the rapper.

After the release of Tha Carter, Lil Wayne was featured in Destiny's Child's single "Soldier" with T.I., which peaked at #3 on the U.S. Hot 100 and the U.S. R&B Charts. It was the highest ranking for a song in which Lil Wayne was featured in in the Hot 100 charts, and was the second-highest R&B position.

Tha Carter II (2005)

Main article: Tha Carter II

December 6, 2005 brought the second installment of "Tha Carter" series. The album marked yet another shift in Wayne's career, as it was his first major release to lack the beats of longtime Cash Money Records producer Mannie Fresh, who had since left the label. As a result, Tha Carter II contained a more diverse range of production style than had previously been present on Wayne's recordings. Tha Carter II sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The lead single, "Fireman," became a hit in the US, peaking at 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The second single, "Grown Man", received little attention, while the third single "Hustler Musik" received a video and gained moderate airplay. Other notable tracks include "Fly In," "Carter II," and "Fly Out" which mirror the series of "walk" tracks that appeared on Tha Carter. Wayne also furthered his claim of being the "Best Rapper Alive" by including a track of the same name on the album.

From the release of Tha Carter II to the end of 2005, Lil Wayne was featured in two singles as a featured performer. His first single was on a remix of Bobby Valentino's "Tell Me", which rose to #13 on the U.S. R&B Charts.

The Mixtape Years (2006-2007)

Wayne's popularity continued to climb in the years following "Tha Carter" albums, yet no major solo album debuted during this period. Wayne did have a collaboration album with Birdman, called Like Father, Like Son. Instead, Wayne reached his audience through a plethora of mixtapes and guest appearances on a variety of pop and hip-hop singles. Of Wayne's many mixtapes, Dedication 2 and Da Drought 3 received the most media exposure and critical review. The former, released in 2006, paired Wayne with DJ Drama and contained the acclaimed socially conscious track "Georgia.......Bush," in which Wayne critiqued President George W. Bush's response to the tragic effects of Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans. Da Drought 3 was released the following year and was available for free legal download. It contained Wayne rapping over a variety of beats from recent hits by other musicians. The impressive flow, varied deliveries, charisma, dexterous freestyling that appeared on these mixtapes vaulted Wayne into the public eye, and won him a number of features in prominent hip-hop magazines, such as XXL and Vibe

Despite no album release for two years, Wayne was featured in numerous singles as a featured performer. Wayne's first performance in 2006 was on the remix of Chris Brown's "Gimme That", which rose to #15 on the U.S. Hot 100 and #5 on the R&B charts. Another single, "Make It Rain" with Fat Joe, rose to #13 on the Hot 100, #6 on the R&B, and #2 on the U.S. Rap Charts. His next performance, on Lloyd's "You", peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B, the highest ever for a song featuring Wayne. Wayne's first performance of 2007, with DJ Khaled, Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, and Birdman on "We Takin Over", rose to #11 on the Rap charts. Lil Wayne and Birdman again teamed up, after the release of "Like Father, Like Son", on the song "Pop Bottles". The single reached #15 on the R&B charts, and #6 on the Rap charts. His next featured single, "Duffle Bag Boy" with Playaz Circle, reached #15 on the Hot 100, #4 on the R&B and #2 on the Rap charts. The next single, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" with Wyclef Jean and Akon, peaked at #12 on the Hot 100. Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Fat Joe, Birdman, and Rick Ross all teamed-up on the "I'm So Hood" remix, which rose to #19 on the Hot 100, #9 on the R&B, and #5 on the Rap charts.

Tha Carter III (2008)

Main article: Tha Carter III

After numerous delays, Wayne's next solo studio release is finally expected in stores in March of 2008. Initially planned to be released in 2007, Tha Carter III's largest delay came after the majority of the tracks were leaked and distributed on mixtapes, such as "The Drought Is Over Pt. 2" and "The Drought Is Over Pt. 4." Wayne initially decided to use the leaked tracks, plus four new tracks, to make a separate album, titled Tha Carter III: The Leak. The Leak was to be released December 18 2007, with the actual album being delayed until March 18 2008, The release of The Leak in this format never came to fruition, but an official EP titled The Leak and containing five tracks was released digitally on December 25, 2007. Tha Carter III now has a release date of March 18, 2008.

Filmography

• Who's Your Caddy? (2007)
• Baller Blockin (2000)

TV appearances

Lil' Wayne made a guest appearance in the Cartoon Network hit television series The Boondocks in the "Invasion of the Katrinians" episode . Wayne also appeared on Black Entertainment Television's "Access Granted" in 2007.

Discography

Main article: Lil Wayne discography

Solo albums

• Tha Block Is Hot (1999)
• Lights Out (2000)
• 500 Degreez (2002)
• Tha Carter (2004)
• Tha Carter II (2005)
• Tha Carter III (2008)

Collaboration albums

• Like Father, Like Son with Birdman (2006)
• Dedication III with DJ Drama (TBD)
• I Can't Feel My Face with Juelz Santana (TBD)

External links

• Lil Wayne at MySpace
• Lil Wayne Picture Gallery
• Lil Wayne Audio & Video
• Cash Money Records Official Website
• Lil Wayne Interview and Pictures at Complex Magazine
• Lil Wayne at IMDb