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The following biography
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Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (born September 27, 1982), better known by his stage
name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. Formerly a member of the rap group the
Hot Boys, he joined the Cash Money Records collective as a teenager. Get It How
U Live, released in 1997, was Lil Wayne's first album with Hot Boys, and Tha
Block is Hot, his solo debut, came out 1999.
After gaining fame with two other albums in the early 2000s, Lil Wayne reached
higher popularity with 2004's Tha Carter and its two subsequent albums Tha
Carter II (2005) and Tha Carter III (2008). He earned various accolades
following Tha Carter III, including being nominated for eight Grammy Awards. He
will release a rock album titled Rebirth in 2009.
****
Background information
Birth name Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.
Born September 27, 1982 (1982-09-27) (age 26)[1]
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana
Genre(s) Hip hop, rock
Occupation(s) Rapper, singer
Years active 1995–present
Label(s) Cash Money, Young Money, Universal
Associated acts Birdman, Brisco, DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, Mannie Fresh, Hot Boys,
Jay-Z, Juvenile, Glasses Malone, Rick Ross, Juelz Santana, T.I., T-Pain, Kanye
West, Akon, Keri Hilson
Website lilwayne-online.com
****
Early life
Lil Wayne was born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. and grew up in the Hollygrove
neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana.[1] Carter enrolled in the gifted program
of Lafayette Elementary School and in the drama club of Eleanor McMain Secondary
School.[2][3] He wrote his first rap song at age eight.[4] At age eleven, he met
Bryan Williams, rapper and owner of Cash Money Records. Lil Wayne recorded
freestyle raps on Williams' answering machine; Williams would eventually mentor
the young Carter and include him in Cash Money-distributed songs.[5] When he was
12, he played the part of the Tin Man in his middle school drama club's
production of The Wiz.[6] He dropped out of school at age 14 but later earned
his GED.[2]
Music career
Hot Boys
Main article: Hot Boys
In 1997, Lil Wayne formed the group Hot Boys along with rappers Juvenile, Turk,
and B.G.; at age 15, Wayne was the youngest member at that time. Hot Boys' debut
album Get It How U Live! was released the same year, followed in 1999 by the
group's major-label debut Guerrilla Warfare,[1] which reached #1 on the
Billboard magazine Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #5 on the Billboard 200.[7]
During their career, the Hot Boys had two charting singles, "We On Fire" from
Get It How U Live! and "I Need a Hot Girl" from Guerrilla Warfare.[8] Lil Wayne
was also featured on Juvenile's single "Back That Azz Up", which reached #18 on
the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.[9] Let 'Em
Burn, a compilation album of unreleased tracks recorded during 1999 and 2000,
came out in 2003, several years after the group disbanded.[10] It reached #3 on
the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #14 on the Billboard 200.[7]
Early solo career (1999-2003)
Lil Wayne's debut solo album Tha Block Is Hot at age 17 featured significant
contributions from the Hot Boys and went double platinum, climbing to #3 on the
Billboard album charts.[1] The album earned him a 1999 Source magazine award
nomination for "Best New Artist",[11] and also became a Top Ten hit.[1] The lead
single was "Tha Block Is Hot". After the release of Tha Block is Hot, Lil Wayne
was featured on the single, "Bling Bling", with B.G., Juvenile, Turk, and Big
Tymers.
His 2000 follow-up album Lights Out failed to attain the level of success
achieved by his debut[1] but was certified gold by RIAA.[12] 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.[13] The lead single was "Get Off The
Corner" which was noticed for an improvement in lyrical content and style, it
also received a music video. The second single which received less attention was
"Shine" featuring The Hot Boys. Near the release of Lights Out, Lil Wayne was
featured on the single, "1# Stunna" with Big Tymers and Juvenile, which rose to
24th place on the Hot Rap Tracks charts.
Lil Wayne's third album 500 Degreez, released in 2002, followed the format of
his previous two, with significant contributions from the Hot Boys and Mannie
Fresh. While certified Gold like its predecessor,[12] it too failed to match the
success of his debut.[1] The title was a reference to the recently estranged Hot
Boys member Juvenile's recording, 400 Degreez.[14] The lead single was "Way Of
Life" which like the album failed to match the success of his previous singles.
After the release of 500 Degreez, he was featured in the single "Neva Get Enuf"
by 3LW.[15]
Tha Carter and Tha Carter II (2004-2005)
In the summer of 2004, Wayne's album Tha Carter came out, marking what critics
considered advancement in his rapping style and lyrical themes.[16] In addition,
the album's cover art featured the debut of Wayne's now-signature dreadlocks.[1]
Tha Carter gained Wayne significant recognition, selling over 1 million copies
in the United States, while the single "Go DJ" became a Top 5 Hit.[17] 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.[18] The song Get Something (featuring Mannie Fresh) was supposed to
appear on the album but failed to make the cut, however the music video was
released.[19]
Tha Carter II, the follow-up to the original Tha Carter album, was released in
December 2005, this time without production by longtime Cash Money Records
producer Mannie Fresh, who had since left the label. 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, and went on to sell 2,000,000 copies world wide.
The lead single, "Fireman," became a hit in the US, peaking at 32 on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other singles included "Grown Man", "Hustler Muzik",
and "Shooter" (featuring R&B singer Robin Thicke). Lil Wayne also appeared on a
remix of Bobby Valentino's "Tell Me", which rose to #13 on the U.S. R&B Charts.
In 2005, Lil Wayne was named president of Cash Money, and in the same year he
founded Young Money Entertainment as an imprint of Cash Money.[20] However, as
of late 2007, Lil Wayne reported that he has stepped down from the management of
both labels and has handed management of Young Money over to Cortez Bryant.[21]
Collaborations and mixtapes (2006-2007)
In 2006, Lil Wayne collaborated with rapper Birdman for the album Like Father,
Like Son, whose first single "Stuntin' Like My Daddy", reached #21 on the
Billboard Hot 100. Instead of a follow-up solo album, Lil Wayne reached his
audience through a plethora of mixtapes and guest appearances on a variety of
pop and hip-hop singles.[1] Of his many mixtapes, Dedication 2 and Da Drought 3
received the most media exposure and critical review. Dedication 2, released in
2006, paired Lil Wayne with DJ Drama and contained the acclaimed socially
conscious track "Georgia Bush," in which Lil Wayne critiqued former US president
George W. Bush's response to the 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 Lil Wayne rapping over a variety of beats from
recent hits by other musicians. Numerous of features in prominent hip-hop
magazines such as XXL[22] and Vibe[23] covered the mixtape. Christian Hoard of
Rolling Stone magazine considered the mixtapes Da Drought 3 and The Drought Is
Over 2 "among the best albums of 2007."[24]
Despite no album release for two years, Lil Wayne appeared in numerous singles
as a featured performer, including "Gimme That" by Chris Brown, "Make It Rain"
by Fat Joe, "You" by Lloyd, and "We Takin Over" by DJ Khaled (also featuring
Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, and Birdman), "Duffle Bag Boy" by Playaz Circle,
"Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" by Wyclef Jean (also featuring Akon), and the
remix to "I'm So Hood" by DJ Khaled (also featuring T-Pain, Young Jeezy,
Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Fat Joe, Birdman, and Rick Ross). All these
singles charted within the top 20 spots on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Rap
Tracks, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. On Birdman's 2007 album 5 * Stunna,
Lil Wayne appeared on the singles "100 Million" and "I Run This" among several
other tracks. Wayne also appeared on tracks from albums Getback by Little
Brother, American Gangster by Jay-Z, and Graduation by Kanye West. "Make it
Rain", a Scott Storch production that peaked at #13 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the
Hot Rap Tracks chart,[25] was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group for 2008.[26]
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") from Da
Drought 3 the second song.[23] At the end of 2007, an MTV poll selected Lil
Wayne as "Hottest MC in the Game",[27] The New Yorker magazine ranked him
"Rapper of the Year",[5] and GQ magazine named him "Workaholic of the Year".[28]
In 2008 he was named "Best Rock Star Alive" by Blender magazine[2] and "Best MC"
by Rolling Stone.[3]
Tha Carter III (2008)
Main article: Tha Carter III
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". Lil Wayne
initially decided to use the leaked tracks, plus four new tracks, to make a
separate album, titled The Leak. The Leak was to be released December 18, 2007,
with the actual album being delayed until March 18, 2008,[29] 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 was released on June 10, 2008, selling more than a million copies
in its first week of release, the first to do so since 50 Cent's The Massacre in
2005.[30] The first single "Lollipop", featuring Static became the rapper's most
commercially successful song at that point, topping the Billboard Hot 100,
making it the first Top 10 single for Lil Wayne as a solo artist, as well as his
first #1 on the chart. His third single from Carter III', "Got Money" featuring
T-Pain, peaked at #13 on the Billboard 100. Along with his album singles, Lil
Wayne appeared on R&B singles "Girls Around the World" by Lloyd, "Love In This
Club, Part II" by Usher, "Official Girl" by Cassie, "I'm So Paid" by Akon, "Turnin'
Me On" by Keri Hilson, and "Can't Believe It" by T-Pain; rap singles "My Life"
by The Game, "Shawty Say" by David Banner, "Swagga Like Us" by T.I., "Cutty
Buddy" by Mike Jones, and "Haterz" and the remix to "Certified" by Glasses
Malone; and pop single "Let It Rock" by new Cash Money artist Kevin Rudolf. On
July 14, 2008, the Recording Industry Association of America certified Tha
Carter III two times platinum.[31] In an October 2008 interview with MTV News,
Lil Wayne announced plans to re-release this album with all new tracks,
including a duet with Ludacris and remixes of "A Milli".[32]
The lineup for New Orleans' 2008 Voodoo Experience concert, to be held in
October, featured Lil Wayne. Jonathan Cohen of Billboard magazine reported that
the event would mark his biggest hometown headlining set of his career.[33] Lil
Wayne will be reuniting with Hot Boys alongside Juvenile, Turk, and B.G. They
plan to release an album after B.G.'s solo album Too Hood to Be Hollywood is
completed.[34] Wayne also performed as the 2008 Virgin Mobile Music Fest with
Kanye West, performing the remix of "Lollipop" with West and also lip-syncing to
Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You".[35]Lil Wayne also performed at the
2008 MTV Video Music Awards with Kid Rock ("All Summer Long"), Leona Lewis ("DontGetIt
(Misunderstood)") and T-Pain ("Got Money").[36] On the season premiere of
Saturday Night Live, he performed "Lollipop" and "Got Money".[37] He later
performed at the homecoming rally at Vanderbilt University[38] and the 2008 BET
Hip Hop Awards with 12 nominations.[39] He won the "MVP" title at the BET Hip
Hop Awards and seven others.[40] It was revealed that M.I.A. dropped out of
performing on the tour due to her pregnancy, however Jay Z is expected to
perform with Wayne on the song "Mr. Carter" at select shows.[41]
On November 11, 2008, Wayne became the first hip-hop act to ever perform at the
Country Music Awards. He played alongside Kid Rock for the song, "All Summer
Long", in which Wayne did not rap but instead played guitar along Kid Rock's
band.[42] Shortly after, Wayne was nominated for eight Grammys - the most for an
artist nominated.[43] Wayne was then named the first ever MTV Man of the Year at
the end of 2008.[44]
DJ Drama stated that there would be a third installation of the Dedication
mixtape series with Lil Wayne,[45] who insisted that it will would be a full
album under the title.[46] However despite the fact Wayne wanted to release
Dedication 3 as an album, it was released as a mixtape on November 14, 2008.
Rebirth (2009)
Wayne stated that he would release a debut rock album titled Rebirth. It is
slated to be released on April 7, 2009. "Prom Queen", the lead single, debuted
on January 27 immediately after a live Internet broadcast of his concert in San
Diego.[47] "Prom Queen" peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.[48]
Future work
He has announced several possible upcoming projects, including a collaboration
album I Can't Feel My Face with rapper Juelz Santana that has been in production
for several years.[49][50] On the website HipHopDX.com, he has discussed a
possible R&B album titled Luv Sawngz, for which he will heavily rely on a
vocoder.[51] He has also talked with singer Lloyd about doing a collaboration
album in the future.[52] On June 19, 2008, Lil Wayne and T-Pain formed a duo
called T-Wayne[53] and planned to release an album.[54]
In an interview on MTV's Mixtape Monday, Wayne asserted the possibility of an
album titled Tha Carter IV.[55] Following Tha Carter III's achievement of
selling over 2 million copies, becoming 2008's best record, Wayne re-signed with
Cash Money Records for a multi-album deal.[56] Wayne said Tha Carter IV will be
released in 2009 just before the holidays.[57]
Television and film career
Lil Wayne was a guest debater going up against Skip Bayless on the "1st & 10"
segment on the January 6, 2009 edition of ESPN First Take.[58] On February 10th,
2009 he also appeared on ESPN's Around The Horn and beat out veterans Woody
Paige, Jay Mariotti and fellow New Orleanian Michael Smith to win that show's
episode.[59]Wayne is set to produce and compose music for the film Hurricane
Season.[60] A documentary titled Tha Carter is also in production and was
released at the Sundance Film Festival.[61] On February 7, 2009, he presented
the Top Ten List on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman.[62] Wayne then won his
debut appearance on ESPN's Around the Horn on February 10, 2009, defeating
Michael Smith in the final round.[63]
Personal life
Family and education
Wayne has two daughters. One was born when he was a teenager[4], and another
named Reginae Carter with his high school sweetheart Antonia "Toya" Johnson.
Carter and Johnson married on Valentines Day of 2004 and divorced in 2006.[64]
His newborn son, Dwayne Carter III, was born on October 22, 2008 at Christ
Hospital in Cincinnati.[65]
After earning his GED, Wayne enrolled at the University of Houston in January
2005 with plans to major in political science.[66] To earn his degree, he had
been taking online courses,[4] An article in Urb magazine in March 2007 asserted
that Wayne had been earning high grades at Houston,[67] and by the end of the
year Wayne discontinued his education there.[68]
Sports and musical interests
In an interview with Blender magazine, Lil Wayne revealed one of his favorite
bands from childhood to be rock group Nirvana, and cites them as a major
influence in his music.[69]
On September 24, 2008, Lil Wayne published his first blog for ESPN in their
issue, ESPN The Magazine. Wayne revealed he was a fan of tennis, the Green Bay
Packers, the Boston Bruins, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Red Sox.[70]
Wayne continued writing for ESPN, eventually reporting at the ESPN Super Bowl
party.[71]
Lil Wayne made his debut on ESPN's daily sports round table show "Around The
Horn" on Feb. 10, 2009.
Drug use and arrests
Wayne told CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric on her All Access Grammy Special
in 2009 that he enjoys smoking marijuana recreationally.[72] He has been
arrested for use or possession of marijuana and other drugs.
In the latter half of 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested twice. On July 22, 2007, Lil
Wayne was arrested in New York City following a performance at the Beacon
Theatre; the New York City Police Department discovered Lil Wayne and another
man smoking marijuana near a tour bus. After taking Lil Wayne into custody,
police discovered a pistol on his person, and he was charged with criminal
possession of a weapon and marijuana.[73] Another arrest was on October 5, 2007,
following a performance at Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho, on felony fugitive
charges after Georgia authorities accused the rapper of possessing a controlled
substance.[74] The incident was later described as a "mix-up" and the fugitive
charges were dropped.[75]
On January 23, 2008, Lil Wayne was arrested alongside two others. His tour bus
was stopped by Border Patrol agents near Yuma, Arizona. A K-9 Unit recovered 105
grams of marijuana (3.7 ounces), almost 29 grams of cocaine (1.02 ounces), 41
grams of MDMA (1.4 ounces) and $22,000 in cash. Lil Wayne 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.[76] On May 6, 2008 Wayne returned to court in
Arizona to plead not guilty to the charges.[77]
Discography
Main article: Lil Wayne discography
Studio albums
1999: Tha Block Is Hot
2000: Lights Out
2002: 500 Degreez
2004: Tha Carter
2005: Tha Carter II
2008: Tha Carter III
2009: Rebirth[47]
2009: Tha Carter IV[57]
EPs
2007: The Leak EP
Official mixtapes
2003: Da Drought
2004: Da Drought 2
2004: The Prefix
2004: Dedication
2005: The Suffix
2006: Dedication 2
2006: Blow: The I Can't Feel My Face Prequel (w/Juelz Santana)
2006: Lil Weezyana
2007: Da Drought 3
2008: Dedication 3
Collaboration albums
2006: Like Father, Like Son (with Birdman)
2009: He Rap, He Sing[78] (with T-Pain)
TBA: I Can't Feel My Face (with Juelz Santana)
Filmography
Film
2000: Baller Blockin as Iceberg Shorty
2007: Who's Your Caddy? as Himself
2008: Hurricane Season as Lamont
2009: The Carter as Himself
2009: Fast and Furious as Alex
Television
2007: Access Granted as Himself
2007: The Boondocks
2009: 1st and 10
2009: Around the Horn
Awards
See list of Lil Wayne awards
Commercials
2008: Nike Zoom VI LeBron James - Chalk Commercial (appearance)
2009: Gatorade commercial (narrator)
References
Click here
for references to above biography
****
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