Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September27, 1982),[2] known professionally asLil Wayne, is an American rapper. He is often regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, as well as one of the greatest rappers of all time.[3] Born and raised inNew Orleans, he was discovered by hometown rapperBirdman in 1993 and signed with his record label,Cash Money Records, at age eleven.[4][5] He emerged as the label'sflagship artist until his departure in 2018.[6]
Carter was first placed in a duo with Cash Money labelmateB.G. in 1994—known collectively as the B.G.'z—and they released the albumTrue Story that year, although Carter (at the time known as Baby D) appeared on only three of its tracks.[7] Carter and B.G. then formed the Southern hip-hop groupHot Boys with labelmatesJuvenile andTurk in 1997, and released their debut album,Get It How U Live! that year. The Hot Boys gained mainstream success after the release of their second albumGuerrilla Warfare (1999) and their appearance on B.G.'s single, "Bling Bling".[8] The group briefly disbanded after the album due to each member (besides Carter) parting ways with the label, although one further album—Let 'Em Burn (2003)—was released.[9]
Carter's debut studio album,Tha Block Is Hot (1999), was his breakthrough as a solo artist, quickly achieving commercial success. It was followed byLights Out (2000) and500 Degreez (2003). Carter is credited with revolutionizing themixtape scene with his innovative approach in the 2000s.[10][11][12] His fourth and fifth albums,Tha Carter (2004) andTha Carter II (2005), both debuted within the top five of theBillboard 200 and received critical acclaim. His sixth album,Tha Carter III (2008), yielded the pinnacle of Wayne's career, with first-week sales of over one million units domestically. It won theBest Rap Album at the51st Annual Grammy Awards and was supported by his firstBillboard Hot 100-number one single "Lollipop" (featuringStatic Major), and the top-ten singles "A Milli" and "Got Money" (featuringT-Pain).
Carter's seventh studio album,Rebirth (2010), experimented withrap rock and was released to generally negative critical reception. A month after its release, he began serving an 8-month jail sentence for criminal possession of a weapon stemming from an incident in 2007. His eighth album,I Am Not a Human Being (2010), was released during his incarceration, while his ninth album,Tha Carter IV (2011), followed months after his release from prison. Despite mixed reviews,Tha Carter IV sold 964,000 units in its first-week in the U.S.[13] His twelfth studio album,Tha Carter V (2018)—preceded byI Am Not a Human Being II (2013) andFree Weezy Album (2015)—was released following long-term delays and label disputes, and was met with 480,000 in first-week sales. His thirteenth album,Funeral (2020), became his fifth non-consecutive number one album. He released his fourteenth album,Tha Carter VI, in June 2025.[14]
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born on September27, 1982. He spent his first few years in the impoverishedHollygrove neighborhood ofUptown New Orleans, Louisiana's17th Ward.[20] His mother, acook, gave birth to him when she was 19 years old. His parents divorced when he was two years old, and his father permanently abandoned the family. In a 2009 interview,CBS News anchorKatie Couric asked the rapper why he used the name Wayne instead of his given name. Carter replied, "I'll tell you why I dropped the D right here on TV. I dropped the D because I am a junior. My father, he’s livin', and he is not in my life and he’s never been in my life. So I don't wanna be Dwayne. I’d rather be Wayne." Couric asked if his father knew that, and Carter, chuckling, said, "He knows it now."[21] Carter has said that he considers his deceased stepfather Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald to be his real father. Carter has a tattoo dedicated to McDonald.[22]
Carter was enrolled in the gifted program at Lafayette Elementary School. He later attendedEleanor McMain Secondary School for two years, where he was an honor student and a member of the drama club, playing theTin Man in the school's production ofThe Wiz.[23][24][25] Despite matriculating toMarion Abramson Senior High School, Carter left during his tenth grade year to pursue a GED. Carter's mother made the decision to remove him from school for his safety. At 15, Carter was already finding success in the music industry; his mother decided he needed to leave high school after discovering the gun he packed in his school bag for protection.[26]
Carter wrote his first rap song at age eight.[27] In the summer of 1991, he met rapper andCash Money Records co-founderBryan "Baby" Williams (known currently as Birdman), who mentored him and encouraged his love of hip-hop; Birdman included Carter on several Cash Money tracks, and he (in return) would often record freestyle raps on Williams' answering machine.[28]
In 1994, at age 12, Carter suffered a near-fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.[29] At the time, he said the injury was accidental. However, in September 2018, Carter claimed in interviews that it was asuicide attempt after he was told by his mother that he would have to end his rap-related associations.[30] Carter credits off-duty police officer Robert Hoobler (1956–2022),[31][32] who he calls "Uncle Bob", with saving his life by insisting the dying child be driven immediately to hospital in a police car rather than waiting for an ambulance to become available.[33] Other accounts indicate that several officers played a part in deciding on and implementing that course of action.[29]
Career
1994–1999: Career beginnings and Hot Boys
After recovering from his self-inflicted gunshot wound, Carter linked with Christopher Dorsey, a local New Orleans rapper known asB.G., his longtime friend, future Cash Money labelmate and Hot Boys bandmate. They would later form their duo, the B.G.'z, with B.G. being named "Lil Doogie" and Carter being "Baby D".[34] They only released one album under the group name,True Story (1995).[34]
In 1997, Carter and Dorsey then joined the hip-hop quartet, theHot Boys, along with rappers and labelmates,Juvenile, andTurk. Having joined at age 14, Carter was the youngest member at the time. Hot Boys' debut album,Get It How U Live!, was released the same year, followed in 1999 by the group's major-label debutGuerrilla Warfare,[20] which respectively reached number one on theBillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number five on theBillboard 200.[35] During their career, the Hot Boys had two charting singles, "We on Fire" fromGet It How U Live! and "I Need a Hot Girl" fromGuerrilla Warfare.[36] The group shared a track, "Bling Bling", alongside another Cash Money group, duoBig Tymers (consisting of Birdman and producerMannie Fresh). Carter's verse appeared only on the radio version of the song, while on the album version he performed on the chorus. "Bling Bling" appeared on Hot Boys member B.G.'s solo album,Chopper City in the Ghetto, released in April 1999.[37] Carter was also featured on Juvenile's single "Back That Azz Up", which reached number eighteen on theBillboard Hot 100 and number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.[38]
Let 'Em Burn, a compilation album of unreleased tracks recorded by the quartet during 1998 and 2000, was released in March 2003, several years after the group disbanded.[39] It reached number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, but underperformed on theBillboard 200 at number fourteen.[35]
1999–2004:Tha Block Is Hot,Lights Out, and500 Degreez
Carter's debut solo album,Tha Block Is Hot, was released on November 2, 1999, when he was 17 and featured significant contributions from theHot Boys. It debuted at number three on theBillboard 200 and was later certified platinum by theRIAA in December 1999, less than a month after its release.[40][20] The album earned Carter a 1999Source magazine nomination for "Best New Artist",[41] and also became a Top Ten hit.[20] The lead single wasthe album's title track, which its chorus was performed by Carter's former Hot Boys cohort, Juvenile and B.G.
His second album,Lights Out, was released on December 19, 2000. It failed to attain the level of success achieved by his debut,[20] but was certified gold by RIAA in June 2001, nearly six months after its release.[42] Critics noted the lack of coherent narratives in his verses as evidence that he had yet to mature to the level of his fellow Hot Boys.[43] The lead single was "Get Off the Corner", which was noticed for an improvement in its lyrical content and style. The second single, which received less attention, was "Shine" featuring the Hot Boys. Near the release ofLights Out, Carter was featured on the single, "Number One Stunna" withBig Tymers and Juvenile, which peaked at number 24 on theHot Rap Tracks chart. The track, originally featured on Big Tymers'I Got That Work, would be used for theSpike Lee-directed comedy film,The Original Kings of Comedy.
Carter's third album,500 Degreez, was released in August 2002. It followed the format of his previous two, with significant contributions from the Hot Boys andMannie Fresh. While being certified gold like its predecessor,[42] it also failed to match the success of his debut.[20] The title was a reference to the recently estranged Hot Boys member Juvenile's debut solo studio album,400 Degreez (1998).[44][45] Its lead single was "Way of Life", featuring Birdman and singerTQ with narration by its producer, Mannie Fresh; it reached number 71 on theBillboard Hot 100 and number 23 on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[46] The single featured a sample ofTupac Shakur'sdiss track towards theNotorious B.I.G., "Hit 'Em Up" (1996), which itself sampledDennis Edwards andSiedah Garrett's "Don't Look Any Further" (1984). Despite the album's commercial failure, John Bush ofAllMusic praised500 Degreez, while calling "Way of Life" an "infectious party hit".[44] After the release of500 Degreez, Carter was featured on the single "Neva Get Enuf" by3LW, and later appeared on his future girlfriend, singerNivea's single, "Ya Ya Ya".[47]
2004–2006:Tha Carter,Tha Carter II, andLike Father, Like Son
On June 29, 2004, Carter's fourth studio album,Tha Carter, was released, marking what critics considered advancement in his rapping style and lyrical themes.[48] In addition, the album's cover art featured the debut of Wayne's now-signaturedreadlocks.[20]Tha Carter gained Wayne significant recognition, selling 878,000 copies in the United States, while the single "Go DJ" became a top five hit on theBillboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[49] After the release ofTha Carter, Lil Wayne was featured onDestiny's Child's single "Soldier" alongsideAtlanta rapperT.I., which peaked at number three on theBillboard Hot 100 and theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[50]
In 2005, Carter appeared on a remix of singerBobby Valentino's "Tell Me", which rose to number thirteen on the U.S. Hot R&B Songs chart. That same year, Carter was named the president of Cash Money Records, but was later granted his own label; he foundedYoung Money Entertainment as an imprint of Cash Money andUniversal Music Group.[51] However, as of late 2007, Carter reported having stepped down from the management of both labels and handed management of Young Money over to his longtime manager, Cortez Bryant.[52]
Tha Carter II, the sequel to 2004'sTha Carter, was released on December 6, 2005. Mannie Fresh was not involved in the production of the album, as he had left the label prior, due to financial issues.[53][54]Tha Carter II sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number two on theBillboard 200; the album went on to sell two million copies worldwide. The lead single, "Fireman", became a hit in the U.S., peaking at 32 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart. Other singles included "Grown Man" withCurrensy, "Hustler Musik", and "Shooter" with R&B singerRobin Thicke.
Lil Wayne performing at Voodoo Music Experience in 2008
Instead of a follow-up solo album, Carter began to reach his audience through a plethora of mixtapes and guest appearances on a variety of pop, R&B and hip hop singles.[20] Of his many mixtapes,Dedication 2 andDa Drought 3 received the most media exposure and critical review.Dedication 2, released in 2006, paired Carter withDJ Drama and contained the acclaimed socially conscious track, "Georgia Bush", a remix ofField Mob andLudacris' "Georgia", in which Carter critiqued former U.S. presidentGeorge W. Bush's response to the effects ofHurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans.Da Drought 3 was released the following year and was available for free legal download. It contained Carter rapping over a variety of beats from recent hits by other musicians. A number of prominent hip hop magazines such asXXL[55] andVibe[56] covered the mixtape. Christian Hoard ofRolling Stone magazine considered the mixtapesDa Drought 3 andThe Drought Is Over 2 (The Carter 3 Sessions) "among the best albums of 2007".[57]
Vibe magazine ranked a list of 77 of Lil Wayne's songs from 2007 and ranked his verse in DJ Khaled's "We Takin Over" as his best of 2007, with "Dough Is What I Got" (a freestyle over the beat of Jay-Z's "Show Me What You Got") fromDa Drought 3.[56] At the end of 2007, an MTV poll selected Lil Wayne as "Hottest MC in the Game",[60]The New Yorker magazine ranked him "Rapper of the Year",[28] andGQ magazine named him "Workaholic of the Year".[61] In 2008, he was named "Best MC" byRolling Stone.[57] Another article, built around Lil Wayne's 2007 mixtape work, cites his creative practice as an example of post-performance creative practice.[62]
2007–2010:Tha Carter III,We Are Young Money, andRebirth
Lil Wayne performing in concert atRogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, January 2009
In 2007, Carter stated that he would reunite with Hot Boys, with plans to release an album after B.G.'s solo albumToo Hood to Be Hollywood was completed.[63]Tha Carter III was originally scheduled to be released in 2007, but it was delayed after several recordings were leaked and distributed through mixtapes, includingThe Drought Is Over Pt. 2 andThe Drought Is Over Pt. 4. Lil Wayne initially planned to releaseThe Leak, a separate album with leaked songs and four additional tracks, on December18, 2007, withTha Carter III delayed to March18, 2008.[64] Instead,The Leak became anEP with five songs and was released digitally on December25, 2007.[65]
Tha Carter III was released on June10, 2008, with first-week sales of over 1 million copies, the first to do so since50 Cent'sThe Massacre (2005).[66] The album's first single, "Lollipop", featuringStatic Major, became the Carter's most successful song at the time, topping theBillboard Hot 100 and becoming his first top ten single as a solo artist and his first number one on the chart. The third single "Got Money", featuring T-Pain, peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard 100.Tha Carter III went on to win four Grammy Awards, includingBest Rap Album andBest Rap Song, which he won for "Lollipop".[67] On July14, 2008, theRecording Industry Association of America certifiedTha Carter III two times platinum.[68] In October 2008, Lil Wayne announced plans to MTV News to re-release the album with new tracks, including a duet withLudacris and remixes of "A Milli".[69]
On December23, 2009, Carter released his label, Young Money's first compilation album,We Are Young Money, with its lead single being "Every Girl".[89] The second single was "BedRock", featuringLloyd, with the third being "Roger That". On May24, 2010, the album was certified gold by the RIAA with over 500,000 copies sold.[90] Carter is featured on the song, "Revolver", withMadonna for her greatest hits album,Celebration (2009). He was also featured on aWeezer song, "Can't Stop Partying", onRaditude (2009).[91] In late 2008, Carter announced plans to reissueTha Carter III with leftover recordings, and was to be titledRebirth, originally scheduled to be released on April7, 2009, before being delayed several times.[92]Rebirth instead became his sixth solo studio album, re-recorded with replaced material and later released on February2, 2010. The album received negative reviews from fans and critics, considering it Carter's worst album released since500 Degreez (2002).[93]
To support its release and that ofWe Are Young Money, Carter was featured on the cover ofRolling Stone[94] and headlined the 'Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival', a United States and Canada–only concert tour which began on July29, 2009. "Prom Queen", the first official single, debuted on January27, 2009, immediately after a live Internet broadcast of his concert in San Diego on Ustream (nowIBM Cloud Video).[95][96] It peaked at number fifteen on theBillboard Hot 100 charts. On December3, 2009, the second single, "On Fire", produced byCool & Dre, was released.[97] Based on a sample ofAmy Holland's "She's on Fire" from the soundtrack to the 1983 film,Scarface, "On Fire" peaked at number 33 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart. "Drop the World", which featuresEminem, was the album's third single; it was produced by a then-unknownHit-Boy.[97]
2010–2013:I Am Not a Human Being series andTha Carter IV
In an interview on MTV's Mixtape Monday, Carter hinted at the release ofTha Carter IV.[98] He later announced that it would be released in late 2009 before the holiday season.[99]Birdman had previously stated thatTha Carter IV would be packaged withRebirth as a double disc album.[100] Carter denied this, saying that "Tha Carter IV deservesTha Carter IV", adding thatWe Are Young Money may be packaged withRebirth.[101][102] These albums were eventually released separately.[citation needed]
Carter released his eighth album,I Am Not a Human Being, on his 28th birthday, September27, 2010. The album was released during Carter's incarceration on a weapon possession charge.[103] The album has sold over 953,000 copies in the U.S.[104] and spawned the successful single "Right Above It", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also debuted at number two, but later climbed to number one on theBillboard 200, making Carter the first rapper while incarcerated (since Tupac Shakur'sMe Against the World, released in 1995) to have a number one album.[105][106]
The artwork forTha Carter IV was unveiled on April20. Originally scheduled to be released on May16,[111] it was delayed several times until being confirmed for release on August 29, 2011.[112] On May26, the album's third single, "How to Love", was released. He released another track, "Dear Anne (Stan Part 2)", in June.[citation needed] In preparation forTha Carter IV, Carter released a mixtape,Sorry 4 the Wait, in similarity to his mixtapeNo Ceilings (2009); the mixtape was re-released on streaming services in January 2022 with four additional tracks.[113]
Finally released on August 29, 2011,Tha Carter IV debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, with first-week sales of 964,000 copies (overshadowing the first-week sales ofJay-Z andKanye West'sWatch the Throne),[114] making it Carter's third chart-topping album of his career. On January8, 2012, according toNielsen SoundScan, Carter was the seventh all-time best-selling artist fordigital track sales with 36,788,000 million to the end of 2011.[citation needed]
In October 2011, it was reported that Carter was working on sequels to bothI Am Not a Human Being andRebirth.[115] In January 2012, Birdman announced that he and Carter had finished recordingLike Father, Like Son 2.[116] On November22, 2012, Carter announced thatTha Carter V would be his final album, as he wanted to pursue other interests.[117][118]
After a one-year delay,I Am Not a Human Being II was released on March26, 2013, debuting at number two on theBillboard 200 selling 217,000 copies in its first week;[119] "My Homies Still", "Love Me", and "No Worries" were released as singles prior to its release. The album was met with generally mixed reviews, with most critics noticing the declining quality of his releases. Carter toured North America with2 Chainz andT.I. on the second America's Most Wanted Festival.[120] On May3, 2013,Pepsi dropped Carter, who was a spokesperson forMountain Dew, due to him performing offensive lyrics aboutcivil rights iconEmmett Till on the remix to rapperFuture's single, "Karate Chop".[121] On September1, 2013, Carter releasedDedication 5, the fifth instalment of theDedication mixtape series. The mixtape featured 29 tracks, with guest appearances from several members of Young Money.[122]
2014–2019:Free Weezy Album andTha Carter V
Wayne performing in 2015
On October18, 2013, former Cash Money Records vice president of promotion Mel Smith, tweeted: "Happy Friday!! New YMCMB music coming soon!! Carter 5."[123] Nearly four months later, in an interview withThe Griffin, released on February14, 2014, Smith spoke on the upcoming album: "We're very close to dropping the album. It's going to be a huge surprise to everyone ... I can't release the date because he wants to surprise people."[123] On February15, during Drake's performance at the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in New Orleans, Carter appeared as a guest performer before announcing thatTha Carter V would be released on May5, 2014.[124][125] In March 2014, Carter again said during an interview atSXSW thatTha Carter V would be his last album.[126]
On March27, 2014, Carter's manager Cortez Bryant announced that the album had been delayed.[127][128] Carter then released the single "Believe Me", which features vocals from Drake, tomainstream urban radio in the United States on May6, 2014.[129] Three more singles, "Krazy", "Grindin'" (featuring Drake) and "Start a Fire" (featuringChristina Milian), were also released, but ultimately scrapped from the album.[130][131][132]
In late 2014, Carter claimed that the album's release was postponed due to his financial disputes with Cash Money.[139][53]
On January20, 2015, Carter self-releasedSorry 4 the Wait 2, a sequel to his2011 mixtape, to compensate for the continued delay ofTha Carter V.[140][141] In February 2015, due toTha Carter V's delay, Carter announced that a free album would be released prior to the fifth installment in his popular series.[142] In June 2015, Carter joinedJay-Z'sTIDAL, as an artist owner, kicking off the partnership by exclusively releasing a single on the service titled "Glory".[143] He also announced plans on his own TIDAL X concert series.[144] On July4, 2015, Carter releasedFree Weezy Album, exclusively through TIDAL, under Young Money and Republic Records.[145] On January27, 2016, when rapper2 Chainz released his "Felt Like Cappin" EP, Carter is featured on the lead single titled "Back on That Bullshit".[citation needed] On March4, 2016, 2 Chainz released his third studio album,ColleGrove. The album was initially a collaborative effort between 2 Chainz and Carter, but due to his record label issues, only 2 Chainz was credited as the primary artist.[citation needed] On June28, 2016, Carter was one of several artists who appeared on the track "Sucker for Pain" for the filmSuicide Squad.[146] In September 2016, Carter tweeted "I AM NOW DEFENSELESS and mentally DEFEATED", followed by stating "I'm done", hinting at a possible retirement. Many rappers responded with respect and encouragement.[147]
In 2017, Carter announced he had signed with Jay-Z'sRoc Nation,[148] although he later stated that there was no official paperwork that he signed to the label.[149] On August8, 2017, he released the song "Like a Man" with sound engineer Onhel.[150] On June7, 2018, it was announced that Carter had been released from Cash Money Records and would be releasingTha Carter V via Young Money and Republic Records.[151][152]
In September 2016, Carter's song, "No Mercy", debuted as the theme song forSkip and Shannon: Undisputed, a sports talk show onFS1.[153][154] On Christmas Day 2017, Carter released the mixtapeDedication 6, the sixth installment of the "Gangsta Grillz" chronology. The second part was released on January26, 2018.[155][156]
Tha Carter V was finally released on September27, 2018, the day of Carter's 36th birthday, debuting at number one on the U.S.Billboard 200 with 480,000album-equivalent units, including 140,000 pure album sales. It is the second-largest streaming week for an album behind former Young Money labelmateDrake'sScorpion with 433 million streams. It is also Carter's fourth number-oneBillboard 200 album.[157] Every song on the album charted on theBillboard 100, while simultaneously charting 4 songs in the top 10, also becoming the first artist to debut two songs in the top five.[158][159] One of the album's singles, "Uproar", produced bySwizz Beatz, was its leading, reaching number seven on theBillboard Hot 100; it features a sample from rapperG. Dep's 2001 single, "Special Delivery".[160]Tha Carter V has since been certified 2× platinum by the RIAA.[161]
2020–2021:Funeral andTrust Fund Babies
While Carter was working onTha Carter V, it was announced that his next album would be titledFuneral.[162] On January23, 2020, he revealed the album's release date and album artwork.[163][164]Funeral was released on January31, and debuted at number one on the U.S.Billboard 200, with 139,000album-equivalent units, becoming his fifth U.S. number-one album.[165] The album received generally mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics.[166] On February2, 2020, Lil Wayne competed inseason three ofThe Masked Singer after theSuper Bowl LIV as "Robot". He was the first to be eliminated. Carter featured onLil Baby's track "Forever", a track from Baby's second studio album,My Turn, which was released on February28, 2020.[167][168] The song's music video was released on March3, 2020.[169] This marked the second collaboration for the two artists in 2020, with the first being on Carter's single, "I Do It".[167]
On April24, 2020, Lil Wayne, along withLitt Live (formerly at the time, Dash Radio), launched his own radio show, Young Money Radio, onApple Music through its subdivisionApple Music 1. Wayne described the show as having "heavyweights calling in discussing sports, music, comedy, everything!".[170] On July3, Lil Wayne released his eleventh studio album,Free Weezy Album (2015) on streaming services to commemorate its five-year anniversary. The album charted at number 77 on theBillboard 200 the following week.[171] On May29, Wayne released the deluxe edition ofFuneral featuring artists such as Doja Cat, Tory Lanez, Lil Uzi Vert, Benny The Butcher, Conway the Machine and Jessie Reyez.[172] On August28, Wayne released another old project, his 2009 mixtapeNo Ceilings, for commercial release. He also celebrated the release by collaborating withASAP Ferg on the song "No Ceilings".[173] Wayne was featured onYoungBoy Never Broke Again's albumTop on the track "My Window", released on September11. His verse received praise from critics.[174][175][176][177] On September25, he released the deluxe edition of his twelfth albumTha Carter V, to celebrate the album's second anniversary; it consists of songs that did not make the cut on the original album.[178]
On November27, 2020, Lil Wayne released the mixtape,No Ceilings 3, while announcing the album,I Am Not a Human Being III, for 2021,[179] although it would not be released that year due to delays. On October1, 2021, Wayne andRich the Kid released a collaborative mixtape titledTrust Fund Babies, along with a music video for the single "Feelin' Like Tunechi". The mixtape took roughly a month and a half to record. On their working relationship, Wayne said, "For me, it's the chemistry, it's the camaraderie because first of all, Rich like my little bro and me and Rich been rockin' for a minute".[180]
2023–present:Welcome 2 Collegrove andTha Carter VI
On March31, 2023, Wayne dropped his first evergreatest hits album titledI Am Music.[181] It included the then-unreleased "Kant Nobody", featuringDMX, whose song, "Niggaz Done Started Something" (1998), was sampled through.[182] Wayne and DMX previously collaborated on "Dogs Out", a track from the latter's posthumous album,Exodus, which was released a month after his death in 2021.[183] Wayne released a single titled "Kat Food" on September1, 2023.[173] That October, Lil Wayne released a mixtape,Tha Fix Before Tha VI.[184] On November3, 2023, Wayne was featured on the remix toCiara andChris Brown's single "How We Roll".[185] That same month, he and2 Chainz released a collaborative album,Welcome 2 Collegrove.[186][187] A sequel to 2 Chainz's 2016 album,ColleGrove, Wayne was credited as a co-leading artist as he was previously unable to receive credit for its predecessor, due to his prior legal issues involving his Cash Money dispute.[citation needed]
Carter has announced several possible upcoming projects, including a collaborative album entitledI Can't Feel My Face with Harlem-based rapperJuelz Santana, that has been in production for several years.[191][192] In late 2011, it was announced by Mack Maine that Carter andJuelz Santana had gone back to work on their collaborative albumI Can't Feel My Face, which had been delayed for a few years due to "label politics".[193]
On June19, 2008, Carter andT-Pain formed a duo called T-Wayne[194] with plans to release an album, titledHe Raps, He Sings;[195] however, those plans have died down due to much of the material recorded for the album being leaked.[196] T-Pain ultimately releasedT-Wayne as a mixtape in 2017.[197]
According to an interview withDrake, in the December 2011 issue ofXXL, plans for an upcoming album with Carter had been scrapped for the time being because of theJay-Z andKanye West collaboration albumWatch the Throne (2011).[198][199]
In April 2012, on the premiere ofMTV'sHip Hop POV, Carter sat down withAmanda Seales and spoke briefly about an album he put together titledDevol (loved, backwards), an album full of "love songs" that he wrote during his imprisonment atRikers Island. In May 2013, he confirmed the album will still be released.[200][201][202]
Carter's once ongoing litigation with Cash Money prevented numerous completed projects from being released. In January 2017, Young Money revealed the title of a planned Carter album calledVelvet.[203] The album ended up leaking online in November 2018.[204]
Musical style and artistry
Carter is known for his creative lyrical ability—which often usespunchlines,homonyms,word play, andbraggadocio. His music often deals with the subjects of wealth, drugs, and sex.[205][206] His lyrics have been criticized for their controversial subject matter.[207][208]
Carter has cited rapperMissy Elliott as his biggest musical inspiration, saying, "she's a huge influence of everything I've ever done".[209] Another one of his major influences is American hip hop groupGoodie Mob.[210] In an interview withGenius, Carter said, "I've been listening to Goodie Mob since I was in the 7th grade".[211] For hisMTV Unplugged special, Carter paid tribute to Tupac by covering his music.[212] He also pulled inspiration from Tupac's "Keep Ya Head Up" for his 2011 single "How to Love".[13]
According toAmerican Songwriter, Carter creditsJay-Z for inspiring him to freestyle rhymes while recording over an instrumental, as opposed to writing down his lyrics.[216] Carter also creditsThe Notorious B.I.G. as an influence.[217][218]
Legacy
Lil Wayne is often described as "one of the most influential artists in the 21st century" and is many times called "the greatest rapper of his generation" as well as one of the greatest rappers of all time.[219][220] His musical style and usage ofautotune influenced modern sound of hip-hop music and its subgenres, especially the development oftrap.[221]
Artists likeNicki Minaj,Young Thug andLil Skies have often mentioned Lil Wayne as their musical role model and inspiration.
In November 2024, during the Lil WeezyAna Fest, Lil Wayne received aKey to the City from New Orleans MayorLaToya Cantrell. In the same tribute,Master P announced the creation of theNOLA Walk of Fame and presented Wayne with a fleur-de-lis plaque to mark this honor. Additionally, February 6–7 will now be celebrated as "Lil Wayne Day" in New Orleans.[240][241]
Personal life
Relationships and children
Carter has four children. His first child, daughter Reginae, was born November29, 1998, when he was 16,[242] to his high school sweetheart and later ex-wifeToya Johnson. Internet rumors circulated in August 2008 that Carter's daughter had died in an auto accident; he immediately dispelled them.[243] His second child, son Dwayne III, was born on October22, 2008, atThe Christ Hospital inCincinnati[244] to former radio personality Sarah Vivan.[245][246] His third child, son Kameron,[247][248] was born to actressLauren London on September9, 2009.[249] His fourth child, son Neal, was born on November30, 2009, to singerNivea.[250]
Carter met his high school sweetheart, Toya Johnson, when he and she were 15 and 14 respectively. After datingon and off for seven years, they married on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2004, and divorced in January 2006.[251] Johnson cited her inability to cope with his lifestyle and the fact he had communicated with his other former romantic partners prior. More specifically, his career kept him away from their home for long periods of time. Despite being divorced, the two have remained good friends and continued to jointly support their daughter, Reginae.[252][253]
In February 2002, after he first broke up with Johnson, Carter began dating singer Nivea.[254] On the 2007 song "Something You Forgot", he explained his feelings for Nivea, whom he got engaged to in December 2002 but broke off the engagement with in August 2003. Nivea stated that Carter tried to make her quit doing music so that he could take care of her,[255][256] but she also acknowledged that the song was written about her.[257]
Previously having known each other since 1999, Carter and Lauren London reconciled following his divorce from Johnson in 2006. They broke up again in 2009 after London found out that she was pregnant at the same time as Carter's ex-girlfriend, Nivea.[258] In a May 2011 radio interview, London said of her relationship with Wayne and his fatherhood, "I met Wayne when I was 15 years old. I've known him a very long time, and we were in a relationship that didn't make it. We tried more than once to revive it, and we were engaged briefly years ago, but we eventually parted ways. People see the 'Lil Wayne' personality and think they know who he really is. My son's father is an intelligent, loving, and lovable person who will always be a dear friend. And that will never change. That is all."[259][260] On the500 Degreez track "Young'n Blues", Carter discussed his breakup with Toya Johnson and his issues with London, while he nicknamed the latter "YoungCali Sweet Thing".[261]
Carter began dating rapperTrina in 2005 after featuring on her single "Don't Trip". The two were discussing future plans for engagement and moving toFlorida to live together. However, in 2006, after Trina suffered a miscarriage from what was later confirmed to be her and Carter's unborn child, they have grown distant from one another. It was during that time when Trina developed an affair with Carter's would be rival, rapperYoung Buck.[262][263] In October 2007, the relationship ended after Trina realized that it was not properly empathized.[264][265] According to her, it was the cause of the pair "being young and not knowing what [we were] doing".[266] The two reunited to collaborate for the 2013 single "Wowzerz" and 2019's "Situation".[266] They remain on good terms.
Carter and Nivea reconciled in early 2008 following Nivea's divorce from singer-songwriterThe-Dream.[267][268] Both were re-engaged in 2009, but Nivea decided to end her relationship with Carter while pregnant with their son; they called off their engagement for the second time in June 2010, during Carter's prison sentence.[269]
He entered into an intimate relationship with glamour model Tammy Torres from 2009 to 2010.[254] While imprisoned, Drake encouraged him not to rekindle his relationship with Torres due to his already having had an encounter with her.[272] After ending his relationship with Torres and mending over his falling out with Drake, Carter later got involved with Dhea Sodano from 2011 to 2019.[273][254]
In July 2014, it was rumored that Carter was dating singerChristina Milian, with whom he attended theESPY Awards.[274] They later confirmed their relationship in mid-2015,[275] after which they received criticism from their interconnected exes, singer Nivea[276] and songwriter The-Dream.[277] They split in August 2015,[278][279] having collaborated on multiple singles, videos, and concert dates.
Wayne was engaged to model La'Tecia Thomas, but they called off the engagement in May 2020.[280] A month later, it was announced that Wayne had started datingDenise Bidot, another model.[281] In November 2020, they reportedly broke up over Wayne'sendorsement ofDonald Trump.[282] Shortly after, it was reported that the couple had reconciled.[283][284][285][286] Wayne and Bidot later broke up again in January 2022.[287][288]
On October 18, 2024, Carter began dating chef LeahAngelie Murphy.[289]
Carter's son, Neal Carter, currently performs music under the alias Lil Novi.[290][291]
Beliefs and interests
In an interview withBlender, Carter said that one of his favorite bands from childhood was rock groupNirvana; he cites them as a major influence in his music.[292]
Wayne in 2006
Carter got his first tattoo, of his father's name, at age 14. His second spelled "Cash Money" across his stomach.[293] His tattoos have grown to include aJay-Z verse on his leg, "I Am Music" on his forehead andteardrops on his cheeks among many others. His most recent one is "Baked" on his forehead stylized as theBaker Skateboards logo.[as of?][294][295][296]
After earning hisGED, Carter enrolled at theUniversity of Houston in January 2005. He dropped out in the same year due to his conflicting schedule.[301][302] He also stated onThe View that he switched to theUniversity of Phoenix and majored in psychology takingonline courses.[85] An article inUrb magazine in March 2007 asserted that Carter had been earning high grades at Houston.[303]
On October29, 2020, less than a week before thepresidential election, Carter posted an image of him and PresidentDonald Trump toTwitter. In the caption for the photo, Carter stated that he and Trump had recently met to discuss criminal justice reform and Trump's Platinum Plan, an initiative which aims to raise access to capital in Black communities by almost $500 billion. Carter claimed Trump "listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done".[305]
Health problems
On October25, 2012, Carter's private jet, bound forLos Angeles, made anemergency landing inTexas due to an in-flight medical episode. Lil Wayne was transferred to a local hospital upon arrival.[306]TMZ and other media sources said that Carter had suffered aseizure aboard the plane.[307] His publicist denied this, saying that he was in fact treated for "a severemigraine anddehydration".[308]
The following day, while flying from Texas to Los Angeles, Carter's private jet was reportedly again forced to make an emergency landing, this time inLouisiana, after he suffered a second seizure and required further hospitalization.[308][309] His representative said that the reports of Carter's condition had been exaggerated, and that he was resting at his Louisiana home.[310] In a November 2012 interview withMTV, Carter stated that he was taking seizure medication, on doctors' orders, due to the aforementioned incidents.[311]
On March14, 2013, TMZ reported that Carter had been treated atCedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on the evening of March12, after having seizures while on a music video set with Young Money rapperNicki Minaj. He was reportedly released in the early hours of March13.[312] On March15, TMZ published a second story, claiming that hours after his release on March13, Carter was found unconscious after experiencing further seizures, and was brought back to Cedars-Sinai, where he was admitted to theintensive care unit incritical condition.[313][314][315] The article alleged the latest seizures were found to be linked to high amounts ofcodeine in Carter's system, possibly due to bingeing onpurple drank after his initial hospital release.[314][316][317] Multiple celebrities, includingDrake andBirdman, were photographed on March15 and 16 visiting Carter at Cedars-Sinai.[316]
Several members ofYoung Money Entertainment, including presidentMack Maine, criticized media reports on Carter's hospitalization, particularly those of TMZ, alleging that they exaggerated the severity of his condition and falsely implied that he was on hisdeathbed (such as by saying that he was in amedically induced coma),[318] triggering what theWashington Post called "the most overheated celebrity deathwatch in recent years".[319] In separate interviews on March18, Mack Maine and Birdman disputed TMZ's reports; they stated that in fact there were not multiple seizures or multiple hospital visits. They explained that after Carter began seizing on the way to the music video shoot on March12, an ambulance was called and he was transported to the hospital, where he was admitted and remained continuously thereafter.[320] They also refuted the claims that Carter's seizures are drug-induced, saying that they are an ongoing problem for which doctors have been unable to identify a cause.[321]
Carter was released from the hospital late on March18, following a six-day stay.[322] He addressed his condition via avlog, on March21 saying he was "more than good".[323]
Carter had two seizures in June 2016 during a cross-country flight fromWisconsin toCalifornia, causing the plane to divert toOmaha, Nebraska.[324] The second seizure occurred just two minutes after takeoff, forcing the plane to land in Omaha once again. Less than a month later, he had another seizure, supposedly due to his not taking hisepilepsy medication.[325]
Carter canceled a Las Vegas show on September3, 2017, after experiencing a seizure in a Chicago hospital earlier that day. He was taken there after being found unconscious in a hotel room.[326]
In June 2023, Carter acknowledged that he now had trouble remembering his songs due to memory problems caused by his epilepsy.[327]
Philanthropy
On February19, 2008, Carter and his manager, Cortez Bryant, revisited theiralma mater, McMain Secondary School, to recruit students to design an invitation to the gala introducing Carter's nonprofit One Family Foundation.[328]
In December 2019, Carter announced his own cannabis brand under the name GKUA Ultra Premium.[330]
Sports media
On September24, 2008, Carter published his first blog forESPN in their issue,ESPN The Magazine. Carter said that he was a fan of tennis, theGreen Bay Packers, theBoston Bruins, theLos Angeles Lakers and theBoston Red Sox. To commemorate the Packers' appearance inSuper Bowl XLV, he parodiedWiz Khalifa's hit song "Black and Yellow" (which were the colors of the Packers' opponents, thePittsburgh Steelers) in 2021 with a song titled "Green and Yellow".[331] He released a second version of the song later that year, which was requested by the Packers and updated with the current roster.[332] Carter has continued writing for ESPN, notably reporting at the ESPNSuper Bowl party.[333]
Carter made his debut on ESPN's daily sports round table showAround The Horn on February10, 2009.[336] Carter created the intro song "No Mercy" for theFox Sports 1 sports debate showUndisputed. AfterShannon Sharpe's departure from the show, Carter created a new theme song forUndisputed: "Good Morning".[337] Carter also joined the series as a regular guest opposite Bayless.[338]
Carter has mentioned being a fan of Latvian tennis playerJeļena Ostapenko. He was extended an invite to the2024 US Open. Carter also thanked Ostapenko, who attended Drake's tour featuring Lil Wayne.[339][340]
Legal issues
Arrests, incarceration, and presidential pardon
On July22, 2007, Carter was arrested in New York City following a performance at theBeacon Theatre; theNew York City Police Department discovered Carter and another man smokingmarijuana near a tour bus. After taking Carter into custody, police discovered a .40 caliber pistol near his person. The gun, which was registered to his manager, was in a bag located near the rapper.[341] He was charged withcriminal possession of a weapon and marijuana.[342][343]
Following a performance atQwest Arena inBoise, Idaho, Carter was arrested October5, 2007, on felony fugitive charges afterGeorgia authorities accused the rapper of possessing a controlled substance.[344] The incident was later described as a "mix-up" and the fugitive charges were dropped.[345]
On January23, 2008, Carter was arrested alongside two others. His tour bus was stopped byBorder Patrol agents nearYuma, Arizona. A K-9 Unit recovered 105 grams (3.7 oz) of marijuana, almost 29 grams (1.0 oz) of cocaine, 41 grams (1.4 oz) ofecstasy, and $22,000 in cash. Carter was charged with four felonies: possession of narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was granted permission to travel outside of the state and remain out of custody on the $10,185 bond he posted.[346]
On May6, 2008, Carter returned to court in Arizona to plead not guilty to the charges.[347] Abench warrant was issued on March17, 2010, when Carter did not show for a final trial management conference.[348][349] However, he was already incarcerated, serving a one-year sentence onRikers Island on weapons charges. On June22, 2010, Carter pleaded guilty to the charges. As part of the plea deal he was able to serve 36 months of probation, to which he was sentenced on June30, 2010.[350][351]
On December18, 2009, Carter and 11 others were detained at theFalfurrias, Texas, border patrol checkpoint after an unknown amount of marijuana was found on two of his tour buses.[352]
On October22, 2009, Carter pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He was due for sentencing in February 2010 and was expected to receive a one-year county jail sentence,[353] but on February9, 2010, Carter's attorney announced that the sentencing was delayed until March2 due to dental surgery,[354] which was performed on February16. The surgery included eight root canals, the replacement of several tooth implants, as well as the addition of a few new implants and work on his remaining original teeth.[355] On March2, 2010, sentencing was postponed again when the courthouse reported a fire in its basement.[356]
On March8, 2010, Carter was given a one-year sentence, which he served on Rikers Island. His lawyer said the rapper expected to be held in protective custody, separated from other prisoners.[357] In May 2010, Carter was found by Rikers Island correctional staff to be in possession of contraband (an MP3 player, charger, and headphones).[358] In April 2010, Carter's friends created a website called Weezy Thanx You, which published letters written by Carter while incarcerated.[296][359] In the first letter, titled "Gone 'til November", Carter said he was staying in good spirits thinking about his children and spending his time working out regularly and reading theBible every day.[296] Carter was released from Rikers Island Jail on November4, 2010, after serving eight months of his year-long sentence.[360]
On December12, 2020, Carter pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge brought against him by theU.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. This plea stemmed from an incident during December of the previous year, when Carter was arrested in Florida after transporting a loaded handgun on his private jet from California. As a convicted felon, he is barred from possessing such weapons.[361] He was pardoned by U.S. PresidentDonald Trump on January19, 2021, his last full day in office before the end of his first term.[362]
In February 2009, production company RMF Productions filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against Carter following a $100,000 advance payment for three shows, all of which were cancelled by the artist.[366]
In October 2009, Carter,Birdman,Cash Money Records, and various music distribution outlets were sued for copyright infringement by Thomas Marasciullo, who says his voice was used without permission. The rappers asked him to record some "Italian-styled spoken word recordings" in 2006. The lyrics were allegedly used on "Respect" and other tracks from the rappers' collaboration albumLike Father, Like Son and Birdman's5 * Stunna.[367]
In March 2011, producerDeezle (Darius Harrison) sued Carter and his parent labels Cash Money Records over unpaid royalties fromTha Carter III.[368] Two months later, that May, producerBangladesh also filed a lawsuit against Wayne over unpaid royalties as well.[369]
In early June 2011, another producer named David Kirkwood filed a lawsuit against Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records on claims that the labels have failed to pay him over $1.5 million in royalties and production services for his work on the album, also including his songwriting on "Love Me or Hate Me", a bonus song featured only on the deluxe edition of the album.[370]
Also in June 2011, Dallas producersPlay-N-Skillz filed a lawsuit against him, saying Carter owes them at least $1 million in unpaid royalties for "Got Money" from his albumTha Carter III. The single has sold over 2 million copies since being released.[371]
In July 2011, Done Deal Enterprises, a production company based in Georgia, filed suit against Carter, Universal Music Group, Cash Money Records and Young Money Entertainment, claiming copyright infringement. The lawsuit alleges Carter stole the song "BedRock", featured on the compilation albumWe Are Young Money, and seeks damages of $15 million.[372]
In November 2012, Wayne was ordered to payQuincy Jones III $2.2 million based on a lawsuit which stated that the rapper blocked the release of Jones's filmThe Carter, therefore infringing on its profits.[373]
Controversies and feuds
Juvenile
Carter began feuding with formerHot Boys member andCash Money Records labelmateJuvenile in 2002 after he took offense to Carter naming his third studio album500 Degreez—a diss aimed towards Juvenile, whose previous album was named400 Degreez.[citation needed] Juvenile responded with a diss track on his 2002 album600 Degreez, titled "A Hoe". In the song, Juvenile questions Carter's sexuality and calls him a fake gangster. The two squashed their rivalry for a short period in 2004, with Carter andBirdman appearing in the music video for Juvenile andSoulja Slim's song "Slow Motion". Carter later paid tribute to the Hot Boys with a song called "I Miss My Dawgs" on 2004'sTha Carter. Juvenile responded by labeling the song "fake" and criticizing Carter for releasing a tribute song and later promoting the album onBET with "nothing good to say about them". The two eventually reconciled once again, and Juvenile re-signed with Cash Money Records in 2014.[374][375]
Young Buck
Young Buck released a song called "Off Parole", featuringTony Yayo, which insulted Carter. Young Buck said that Carter could not be angry because Buck spoke the truth. Young Buck also said "You think you got a problem with Juve and B.G.; you'll have a true problem with me", referring to the Cash Money-Juvenile/B.G feud.[376][377] One of the reasons50 Cent stated he was dismissing Young Buck was what he called "inconsistent behavior", which included appearing on stage with Carter, then seemingly dissing him on records with G-Unit.[378] After he was dismissed, Young Buck appeared in the music video "My Life" byThe Game, which featured Carter on the song's chorus.[379] As of 2009, Young Buck and Carter have reconciled and also linked up to record a track "Up's and Down's" for Young Buck'sBack on My Buck Shit mixtape.
Pusha T
Tension between Wayne andPusha T had been going on for years, beginning soon afterClipse andBirdman worked on "What Happened to That Boy", the latter's 2002 single. In 2006, Wayne felt the Clipse song "Mr. Me Too" was directed at him, which caused more tension between the two.[380] In 2012, after much speculation that Pusha T was subliminally dissing Canadian rapper and Wayne'sYoung Money signeeDrake in several songs, the speculation heightened after the release of Pusha T's "Exodus 23:1" song. Lil Wayne quickly responded on online social networking serviceTwitter and later released a diss track titled "Goulish". In the first verse, Wayne raps "Fuck Pusha T and anybody that love him / His head up his ass, I'mma have to head-butt him".[381] Pusha T called Wayne's diss track "horrible" and said he felt it did not deserve a response. Both men have downplayed the feud, with Wayne saying he's over it.[382][383] However, in November 2012, Pusha T dissed Wayne andBirdman on aLudacris song titled "Tell Me What They Mad For".[384] In December 2014, once the feud between Lil Wayne and Birdman arose, Pusha T sent out a tweet encouraging Lil Wayne to sign toG.O.O.D. Music, which also insulted Birdman for his hand-rubbing habit.[385][non-primary source needed]
Jay-Z
In a 2009 interview with Tropical TV,Birdman disputed the MTV poll that votedJay-Z "The Hottest MC in the Game", stating that Lil Wayne was a better rapper and made more money.[386] In early 2011, when Jay-Z andKanye West's single "H•A•M" was released, Jay-Z took shots atBirdman, saying "Really, you got Baby money" and "[you] ain't gotmy lady's money!".[387] On August24, 2011, a song called "It's Good" by Lil Wayne (featuringDrake andJadakiss) was leaked online and included Lil Wayne responding "Talkin' 'bout baby money? I gotcha baby money. Kidnap your bitch, get that, How much you love your lady? money".[388][389] Jadakiss later absolved himself of involvement in any brewing beef on his officialTwitter feed.[390][391]
Dispute with Cash Money Records
On December 4, 2014, just five days beforeTha Carter V was due to be released, Carter issued a statement saying the album would not be released on its expected release date, due to his displeasure withCash Money Records label-bossBirdman, refusing to release the album although it had been completed. Carter also expressed his feelings by stating he felt both he and his creativity were being held "prisoner".[139][392]
UponSorry for the Wait 2's release on January 20, 2015, he continuouslydisses Birdman and Cash Money Records, several times throughout the mixtape.[393][394][395] Birdman was reported to be upset with this.[396] In late January 2015, Carter sued Birdman and Cash Money Records for $51 million.[397][398] Carter and Birdman supposedly reconciled after being seen atDrake's NYE Party, at Miami's Club Liv, and in studio.[399]
On January 27, 2024, both Carter and Birdman reunited during a studio session, putting an end to their nine-year quarrel.[400]
Political and racial views
In 2013, Carter received criticism after a video released by TMZ showed him apparently stepping on theU.S. flag. Carter later explained that "It was never my intention to desecrate the flag of the United States", and that he was shooting a video for a song on his upcoming album, "God Bless Amerika". He says the purpose of the flag was to show that "behind the American Flag was the Hoods of America".[401]
In late 2016, Carter made statements critical of theBlack Lives Matter movement, saying, "I don't feel connected to a damn thing that ain't got nothin' to do with me. If you do, you crazy as shit," adding that his status as a wealthy black man who has white fans is evidence that black people are valued in the United States.[402]
^"Lauren London and Lil Wayne Welcome a Son".People. Archived fromthe original on September 22, 2009. RetrievedDecember 29, 2009.In a statement to 'People', a rep for the 24-year-old ... actress confirms the birth, revealing that a "healthy baby boy" arrived on Wednesday, September 9.
^abSanneh, Kelefa (February 26, 2008)."Savoring a Moment in the Sun, Despite a Court Date".The New York Times. RetrievedDecember 2, 2010.Lil Wayne had three things to explain. No. 1, a religious confession: "I believe in God and his son, Jesus. Do you?" He interpreted the roar as an affirmative response. No. 2, a professional confession: He said he was nothing without the fans, adding, "Make some noise for what you created!" Noise was made. No. 3: Same as No. 2. More noise.
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