Historical Figure
Lil Wayne
b. 1982
American rapper (born 1982)
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Biography
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., known professionally as Lil 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. Born and raised in New Orleans, he was discovered by hometown rapper Birdman in 1993 and signed with his record label, Cash Money Records, at age eleven. He emerged as the label's flagship artist until his departure in 2018.
In Their Own Words (5)
Tranquilizer in tha trunk put yo ass to sleep man, Birdman Junior got the world in my wingspan.
MegaMan, written with Orville Mcwhinney , 2011
I’m strapped at home, strapped when I travel I pop my trunk and make these bitches spread like cattle.
King Kong , 2007
Young Money militia and I am the commissioner. You ain't gotta say Weezy cause the "F" is for finisha.
6 Foot 7 Foot, written with Peter Panky, Jr., Seandrae Crawford, William Attaway, and Irving Burgie , 2011
Fresh out the bank, it's the Birdman Junior, money too long. Teachers, put away your rulers.
Fireman, written with Bigram Zayas and Matthew DelGiorno. , 2005
Big money for the grill, so I'm never cheap talking.
Weezy's Ambitionz , 2006
Timeline
The story of Lil Wayne, told in moments.
Born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. in New Orleans. Grew up in the Hollygrove neighborhood. At 11 he was discovered by Birdman and signed to Cash Money Records. He dropped out of school. Started rapping full time at 12.
Released his debut solo album Tha Block Is Hot at 17. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum within months. He'd already been in a group, the Hot Boys, since he was 14.
Tha Carter III sold over a million copies in its first week. "Lollipop" hit No. 1 on the Hot 100. "A Milli" became ubiquitous. He won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. This was the peak, and he knew it, and he kept going anyway.
Served eight months at Rikers Island for criminal weapon possession. Released I Am Not a Human Being from jail. It debuted at No. 1. He wrote lyrics on scraps of paper since recording equipment wasn't allowed.
Tha Carter V finally dropped after years of label disputes with Birdman and Cash Money. It sold 480,000 first-week copies. He'd spent a decade fighting to release it. Over 120 million records sold across his career.
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