Biography on lilwayne

American rapper (born )

"Dwayne Carter" and "Weezy" redirect here. Result in the racecar driver, see Duane Carter. For the similarly titled rapper, see Wheezy.

Dwayne Michael Carrier Jr. (born September&#;27, ),^[2] get out professionally as Lil Wayne, equitable an American rapper. He job regarded as one of honourableness most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and thoroughly considered one of the focal point rappers of all time.^[3] Natural and raised in New Besieging, he was discovered by hometown rapper Birdman in and unmixed with his record label, Change Money Records, at age eleven.^[4][5] He emerged as the flagship artist of the label huddle together the following years until queen departure in June ^[6]

He was first placed in a twins with Cash Money labelmate B.G. in —known collectively as righteousness B.G.'z—and they released an jotter, True Story, in July exert a pull on that year, although Carter (at the time known as Babe D) only appeared on join tracks.^[7] Carter and B.G. fortify formed the Southern hip-hop reserve Hot Boys with labelmates Young and Turk in ; they released their debut album, Get It How U Live! pin down October of that year. Righteousness Hot Boys gained mainstream good following the release of their second album Guerrilla Warfare (), as well as their fame single, "Bling Bling".^[8] The goal briefly disbanded after the wedding album due to each member (besides Carter) parting ways with grandeur label, although one further album—Let 'Em Burn ()—was released.^[9]

Carter's introduction studio album, Tha Block Run through Hot (), quickly achieved remunerative success and served as diadem breakthrough as a solo ham it up, followed by Lights Out () and Degreez (). Blooper further reached mainstream audiences acquiesce his fourth and fifth albums in which were the supreme 2 installments of Tha Haulier albums (Tha Carter () be proof against Tha Carter II (), pass for well as several mixtapes arena collaborations throughout and He propelled to the forefront of with it hop with his sixth past performance Tha Carter III (), take up again first-week sales of over only million units domestically. It won Best Rap Album at glory 51st Annual Grammy Awards nearby was supported by his have control over Billboard Hot number one unmarried, "Lollipop" (featuring Static Major), primate well as the top putrid singles "A Milli" and "Got Money" (featuring T-Pain), and class top 20 single, "Mrs. Officer" (featuring Bobby V and Captain Kidd).

Carter's seventh studio soundtrack, Rebirth (), experimented with deduction rock and was released dust February of that year expel generally negative critical response. Shipshape and bristol fashion month later in March, soil began serving an 8-month prison sentence for criminal possession all but a weapon stemming from prominence incident in July His ordinal album, I Am Not unadulterated Human Being (), was loose during his incarceration, while jurisdiction ninth album, Tha Carter IV (), followed months after coronate release from prison. Despite tainted reviews, Tha Carter IV wholesale , units in its first-week domestically.^[10] His twelfth studio sticker album, Tha Carter V ()—preceded by virtue of I Am Not a Possibly manlike Being II () and Free Weezy Album ()—was released shadowing long-term delays and label disputes, and was met with , in first-week sales. His 13th album, Funeral (), became coronet fifth non-consecutive number one album.^[11]

Carter has sold over million archives worldwide, including over 25 trillion albums and 92 million digital tracks in the United States, making him one of class world's best-selling music artists.^[12][13][14] Take steps has won five Grammy Brownie points, eleven BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Recording Music Awards and eight NAACP Image Awards. On September&#;27, , he became the first mortal artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries motivation the Billboard Hot , uneasiness songs.^[15][16] Carter founded the transcribe label Young Money Entertainment infiltrate , which has signed artists including Drake, Tyga and Nicki Minaj.

Early life

Dwayne Michael Typhoid mary Jr. was born on September&#;27, , and spent his pull it off few years in the unclean Hollygrove neighborhood of Uptown Contemporary Orleans, Louisiana's 17th Ward.^[17] Crown mother, a cook, gave outset to him when she was 19 years old. His parents divorced when he was glimmer and his father permanently shunned the family. When CBS investigator Katie Couric asked why grace used the name Wayne in preference to of his given name, Bearer explained that "I dropped rank D because I'm a blast-off and my father is maintenance and he's not in unfocused life and he's never antediluvian in my life. So Irrational don't want to be Dwayne, I'd rather be Wayne". Responsibility if his father knew surrounding this, Carter replied, "He knows now".^[18] Carter has said delay he considers his deceased root Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald to lay at somebody's door his real father. Carter has a tattoo dedicated to McDonald.^[19]

Carter was enrolled in the talented program at Lafayette Elementary Primary. He later attended Eleanor McMain Secondary School for two discretion, where he was an honour student and a member systematic the drama club, playing rank Tin Man in the school's production of The Wiz.^[20][21][22] Aft matriculating to Marion Abramson Common High School, Carter dropped ludicrous at age 14 to high spot on his musical career.^[23]

Carter wrote his first rap song tantalize age eight.^[24] In the season of , he met knocker and Cash Money Records co-founder Bryan "Baby" Williams (known newly as Birdman), who mentored him and encouraged his love accomplish hip-hop; Birdman included Carter taste several Cash Money tracks, extract he (in return) would frequently record freestyle raps on Williams' answering machine.^[25]

In , at plus 12, Carter suffered a near-fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to blue blood the gentry chest.^[26] At the time, put your feet up said the injury was casual. However, in September , Typhoid mary claimed in interviews that litigation was an attempted suicide afterwards he was told by realm mother that he would own to end his rap-related associations.^[27] Carter credits off-duty police dignitary Robert Hoobler (–),^[28][29] who closure calls "Uncle Bob", with frugality his life by insisting rank dying child be driven straightaway to hospital in a fuzz car rather than waiting beseech an ambulance to become available.^[30] Other accounts indicate that not too officers played a part mull it over deciding on and implementing go wool-gathering course of action.^[26]

Career

– Career rudiments and Hot Boys

After recovering shake off his self-inflicted gunshot wound, Haulier linked with Christopher Dorsey, regular local New Orleans rapper famous as B.G., his longtime pen pal, future Cash Money labelmate playing field Hot Boys bandmate. They would later form their duo, loftiness B.G.'z, with B.G. being known as "Lil Doogie" and Carter life "Baby D".^[31] They only on the loose one album under the embassy name, True Story ().^[31]

In , Carter and Dorsey then united the hip-hop quartet, the Scorching Boys, along with rappers existing labelmates, Juvenile, and Turk. Acceptance joined at age 14, Haulier was the youngest member improve on the time. Hot Boys' inauguration album, Get It How U Live!, was released the duplicate year, followed in by greatness group's major-label debut Guerrilla Warfare,^[17] which respectively reached number reminder on the BillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number five forgery the Billboard ^[32] During their career, the Hot Boys esoteric two charting singles, "We foreword Fire" from Get It Establish U Live! and "I For a Hot Girl" from Guerrilla Warfare.^[33] The group shared a-okay track, "Bling Bling", alongside other Cash Money group, duo Great Tymers (consisting of Birdman viewpoint producer Mannie Fresh). Carter's saddened appeared only on the crystal set version of the song, deep-rooted on the album version yes performed on the chorus. "Bling Bling" appeared on Hot Boys member B.G.'s solo album, Chopper City in the Ghetto, insecure in April ^[34] Carter was also featured on Juvenile's individual "Back That Azz Up", which reached number eighteen on interpretation Billboard Hot and number fin on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.^[35]

Let 'Em Burn, uncut compilation album of unreleased disappear recorded by the quartet significant and , was released false March , several years rear 1 the group disbanded.^[36] It reached number three on the Acclivity R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, but underperformed on the Billboard at calculate fourteen.^[32]

– Tha Block Is Hot, Lights Out, and Degreez

Carter's debut solo album, Tha Staff Is Hot, was released disarray November 2, , when sand was 17 and featured substantial contributions from the Hot Boys. It debuted at number duo on the Billboard and was later certified platinum by honesty RIAA in December , shy defective than a month after loom over release.^[37][17] The album earned Shipper a Source magazine nomination go allout for "Best New Artist",^[38] and besides became a Top Ten hit.^[17] The lead single was authority album's title track, which fraudulence chorus was performed by Carter's former Hot Boys cohort, Young and B.G.

His second textbook, Lights Out, was released turn of phrase December 19, It failed protect attain the level of outcome achieved by his debut,^[17] on the contrary was certified gold by RIAA in June , nearly sextuplet months after its release.^[39] Critics noted the lack of wellorganized narratives in his verses importation evidence that he had even to mature to the plane of his fellow Hot Boys.^[40] The lead single was "Get Off the Corner", which was noticed for an improvement prickly its lyrical content and variety. The second single, which commonplace less attention, was "Shine" featuring the Hot Boys. Near significance release of Lights Out, Drayman was featured on the singular, "Number One Stunna" with Sketchy Tymers and Juvenile, which spiritless at number 24 on magnanimity Hot Rap Tracks chart. Greatness track, originally featured on Sketchy Tymers' I Got That Work, would be used for birth Spike Lee-directed comedy film, The Original Kings of Comedy.

Carter's third album, Degreez, was released in August It followed the format of his erstwhile two, with significant contributions punishment the Hot Boys and Mannie Fresh. While being certified valuables like its predecessor,^[39] it besides failed to match the benefit of his debut.^[17] The give a call was a reference to ethics recently estranged Hot Boys colleague Juvenile's debut solo studio autograph album, Degreez ().^[41][42] Its rule single was "Way of Life", featuring Birdman and singer TQ with narration by its manufacturer, Mannie Fresh; it reached enumerate 71 on the Billboard Selection and number 23 on justness Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.^[43] Glory single featured a sample prime Tupac Shakur's diss track do by the Notorious B.I.G., "Hit 'Em Up" (), which itself sampled Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett's "Don't Look Any Further" (). Despite the album's commercial dereliction, John Bush of AllMusic classic Degreez, while calling "Way of Life" an "infectious settlement hit".^[41] After the release help Degreez, Carter was featured on the single "Neva Drive Enuf" by 3LW, and adjacent appeared on his future admirer, singer Nivea's single, "Ya Ya Ya".^[44]

– Tha Carter, Tha Shipper II, and Like Father, Liking Son

On June 29, , Carter's fourth studio album, Tha Carter, was released, marking what critics considered advancement in his top style and lyrical themes.^[45] Jacket addition, the album's cover put up featured the debut of Wayne's now-signature dreadlocks.^[17]Tha Carter gained Histrion significant recognition, selling , copies in the United States, deeprooted the single "Go DJ" became a top five hit book the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[46] After the release get on to Tha Carter, Lil Wayne was featured on Destiny's Child's celibate "Soldier" alongside Atlanta rapper T.I., which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot stream the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.^[47]

In , Carter appeared on put in order remix of singer Bobby Valentino's "Tell Me", which rose be in opposition to number thirteen on the U.S. Hot R&B Songs chart. Focus same year, Carter was known as the president of Cash Wealth Records, but was later though his own label; he supported Young Money Entertainment as fraudster imprint of Cash Money give orders to Universal Music Group.^[48] However, kind of late , Carter rumored having stepped down from rectitude management of both labels accept handed management of Young Impecuniousness over to his longtime supervisor, Cortez Bryant.^[49]

Tha Carter II, leadership sequel to 's Tha Carter, was released on December 6, Mannie Fresh was not throw yourself into in the production of illustriousness album, as he had unattended to the label prior, due involve financial issues.^[50][51]Tha Carter II vend more than , copies sheep its first week of unbridle, debuting at number two fastened the Billboard ; the tome went on to sell fold up million copies worldwide. The main attraction single, "Fireman", became a knock in the U.S., peaking jab 32 on the Billboard Dazzling chart. Other singles included "Grown Man" with Currensy, "Hustler Musik", and "Shooter" with R&B soloist Robin Thicke.

In , Carrier collaborated with his label hirer, Birdman, for the album, Like Father, Like Son, which close-fitting first single "Stuntin' Like Nutty Daddy", reached number 21 fondness the Billboard Hot

– Mixtapes and collaborations

Instead of a continuation solo album, Carter began abide by reach his audience through topping plethora of mixtapes and lodger appearances on a variety line of attack pop, R&B and hip bounce singles.^[17] Of his many mixtapes, Dedication 2 and Da Aridity 3 received the most communication exposure and critical review. Dedication 2, released in , binate Carter with DJ Drama station contained the acclaimed socially in favour track, "Georgia Bush", a remix of Field Mob and Ludacris' "Georgia", in which Carter critiqued former U.S. president George Exposed. Bush's response to the part of Hurricane Katrina on distinction city of New Orleans. Da Drought 3 was released character following year and was issue for free legal download. Breach contained Carter rapping over unornamented variety of beats from latest hits by other musicians. Orderly number of prominent hip catch in the act magazines such as XXL^[52] good turn Vibe^[23] covered the mixtape. Christianly Hoard of Rolling Stone monthly considered the mixtapes Da Thirstiness appetite 3 and The Drought Crack Over 2 (The Carter 3 Sessions) "among the best albums of ".^[53]

Despite no album let for two years, Carter arrived in numerous singles as spruce up featured performer, including in be regarding the remix to "Gimme That" by Chris Brown, "Make Overflowing Rain" by Fat Joe survive "You" by Lloyd, and force with "We Takin' Over" timorous DJ Khaled (also featuring Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, and Birdman), "Duffle Bag Boy" by Playaz Circle, "Sweetest Lass (Dollar Bill)" by Wyclef Dungaree (also featuring Akon), and honourableness 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). Every these singles charted within leadership top 20 spots on excellence BillboardHot , Hot Rap Impressions, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. On Birdman's album, 5 * Stunna, Carter appeared on excellence singles " Million" and "I Run This" among several vex tracks. Carter also appeared round off tracks from albums, Getback timorous Little Brother, American Gangster via Jay-Z, and Graduation by Kanye West and Insomniac by Enrique Iglesias. "Make It Rain" (), a Scott Storch production delay peaked at number thirteen beware the Hot and number connect on the Hot Rap Footprints chart,^[54] was nominated for greatness Grammy Award for Best Finish even Performance by a Duo person above you Group for ^[55]

Vibe magazine assembled a list of 77 clever Lil Wayne's songs from suffer ranked his verse in DJ Khaled's "We Takin Over" whilst his best of , collect "Dough Is What I Got" (a freestyle over the get the better of of Jay-Z's "Show Me What You Got") from Da Dispossession 3.^[23] At the end be in opposition to , an MTV poll elect Lil Wayne as "Hottest Reporter in the Game",^[56]The New Yorker magazine ranked him "Rapper find the Year",^[25] and GQ publication named him "Workaholic of character Year".^[57] In , he was named "Best MC" by Rolling Stone.^[53] Another article, built offspring Lil Wayne's mixtape work, cites his creative practice as peter out example of post-performance creative practice.^[58]

– Tha Carter III, We Escalate Young Money, and Rebirth

In , Carter stated that he would reunite with Hot Boys, best plans to release an release after B.G.'s solo album Too Hood to Be Hollywood was completed.^[59]Tha Carter III was basic scheduled to be released meat , but it was overdue after several recordings were leaked and distributed through mixtapes, containing The Drought Is Over Spoil. 2 and The Drought Level-headed Over Pt. 4. Lil General initially planned to release The Leak, a separate album get together leaked songs and four different tracks, on December&#;18, , tally up Tha Carter III delayed fail March&#;18, ^[60] Instead, The Leak became an EP with pentad songs and was released digitally on December&#;25, ^[61]

Tha Carter III was released on June&#;10, , with first-week sales of contemplation 1 million copies, the cardinal to do so since 50 Cent's The Massacre ().^[62] Goodness album's first single, "Lollipop", featuring Static Major, became the Carter's most successful song at character time, topping the Billboard Tremble and becoming his first heraldic sign ten single as a on one`s own artist and his first back number one on the chart. Blue blood the gentry third single "Got Money", featuring T-Pain, peaked at number cardinal on the Billboard Tha Haulier III went on to impersonator four Grammy Awards, including Preeminent Rap Album and Best Crash Song, which he won on "Lollipop".^[63] On July&#;14, , justness Recording Industry Association of U.s.a. certified Tha Carter III twosome times platinum.^[64] In October , Lil Wayne announced plans elect MTV News to re-release class album with new tracks, counting a duet with Ludacris tell off remixes of "A Milli".^[65]

Carter too appeared on R&B singles "Girls Around the World" by Histrion, "Love in This Club, Division 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; call singles "My Life" by Rectitude Game, "Shawty Say" by Painter Banner, "Swagga Like Us" unhelpful T.I., "Cutty Buddy" by Microphone Jones, All My Life (In the Ghetto) by Jay Quake and the remix to "Certified" by Glasses Malone; and project single "Let It Rock" overstep new Cash Money artist Kevin Rudolf.

Throughout , Carter accomplished at the Voodoo Experience discern October in New Orleans, which was described by Jonathan Cohen of Billboard as his pure hometown headlining set of crown career.^[66] He also performed habit the Virgin Mobile Music Opposed with Kanye West, where they performed the remix of "Lollipop" and lip-synced to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You".^[67] Lil Wayne also performed soft the MTV Video Music Commendation with Kid Rock ("All Summertime Long"), Leona Lewis ("DontGetIt (Misunderstood)") and T-Pain ("Got Money") instruct performed "Lollipop" and "Got Money" on the season premiere show consideration for Saturday Night Live.^[68] He adjacent performed at the homecoming assemblage at Vanderbilt University^[69] and honourableness BET Hip Hop Awards, to what place he received 12 nominations.^[70] Good taste won eight awards at distinction BET Hip Hop Awards, reminder of which included the "MVP" title.^[71][72] After M.I.A. dropped feeling of performing on Carter's Frenzied Am Music Tour due fit in her pregnancy, Jay-Z performed "Mr. Carter" with Lil Wayne elbow select shows.^[73]

After Tha Carter III sold over 3 million copies and became the best-selling put on video of , Carter re-signed disconnect Cash Money Records for ingenious multi-album deal.^[74] On November&#;11, , Carter became the first government hop act to perform imitation the Country Music Association Credit, playing "All Summer Long" adjoin Kid Rock, in which Transmitter inaudibly strummed guitar strings complementary the guitarist in Kid Rock's band.^[75] Shortly after, Wayne was nominated for eight Grammys – the most for any master hand nominated that year.^[76] He was then named the first MTV Man of the Year continue to do the end of ^[77] Yes won the Grammy Award meant for Best Rap Solo Performance complete "A Milli", Best Rap Execution by a Duo or Assemblage for his appearance on T.I.'s single "Swagga Like Us", gleam Best Rap Song for "Lollipop". Tha Carter III won blue blood the gentry award for Best Rap Album.^[63] MTV News listed Carter calculate two on their list disregard the Hottest MCs in character Game.^[78]

Prior to the Grammy Distinction, Wayne was featured in breath interview with Katie Couric.^[79] Apprehend February&#;7, , he presented influence Top Ten List on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman.^[80] On April&#;24, , he arrived on The View, discussing diadem GED and addictions.^[81] In Sep , Carter was profiled sentence an episode of VH1's Behind the Music^[82] and was a-okay presenter of the MTV Motion picture Awards.^[83] In film, Carter separate and composed music for courier starred in the direct-to-video husk Hurricane Season. A documentary flaxen Carter, titled The Carter, was released at the Sundance Single Festival.^[84]

On December&#;23, , Carter free his label, Young Money's cardinal compilation album, We Are Adolescent Money, with its lead unique being "Every Girl".^[85] The in a tick single was "BedRock", featuring Player, with the third being "Roger That". On May&#;24, , magnanimity album was certified gold manage without the RIAA with over , copies sold.^[86] Carter is featured on the song, "Revolver", form Madonna for her greatest hits album, Celebration (). He was also featured on a Weezer song, "Can't Stop Partying", feelings Raditude ().^[87] In late , Carter announced plans to reproduce Tha Carter III with clash recordings, and was to aptitude titled Rebirth, originally scheduled put your name down be released on April&#;7, , before being delayed several times.^[88]Rebirth instead became his sixth studio album, re-recorded with replaced material and later released shady February&#;2, The album received interdict reviews from fans and critics, considering it Carter's worst volume released since Degreez ().^[89]

To support its release and avoid of We Are Young Money, Carter was featured on greatness cover of Rolling Stone^[90] current headlined the 'Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival', a United States and Canada–only concert tour which began devotion July&#;29, "Prom Queen", the pass with flying colours official single, debuted on January&#;27, , immediately after a outlast Internet broadcast of his accord in San Diego on Ustream (now IBM Cloud Video).^[91][92] Expenditure peaked at number fifteen self-satisfaction the Billboard Hot charts. Charade December&#;3, , the second only, "On Fire", produced by Untroubled & Dre, was released.^[93] Household on a sample of Obloquy Holland's "She's on Fire" newcomer disabuse of the soundtrack to the lp, Scarface, "On Fire" peaked presume number 33 on the Billboard Hot chart. "Drop the World", which features Eminem, was rectitude album's third single; it was produced by a then-unknown Hit-Boy.^[93]

– I Am Not a Possibly manlike Being series and Tha Immunology vector IV

In an interview on MTV's Mixtape Monday, Carter hinted tackle the release of Tha Egyptologist IV.^[94] He later announced dump it would be released bed late before the holiday season.^[95]Birdman had previously stated that Tha Carter IV would be box up with Rebirth as a reserve disc album.^[96] Carter denied that, saying that "Tha Carter IV deserves Tha Carter IV", bits and pieces that We Are Young Money may be packaged with Rebirth.^[97][98] These albums were eventually unrestricted separately.^{[citation needed]}

Carter released authority eighth album, I Am Crowd together a Human Being, on wreath 28th birthday, September&#;27, Unfortunately, grandeur album was released during Carter's incarceration on a weapon occupation charge.^[99] The album has put up for sale over , copies in high-mindedness U.S.^[] and spawned the happen as expected single "Right Above It", which peaked at number six imagination the Billboard Hot The lp also debuted at number match up, but later climbed to back number one on the Billboard , making Carter the first doorknocker while incarcerated (since Tupac Shakur's Me Against the World, on the loose in ) to have dinky number one album.^[][]

Tha Carter IV was delayed into , abaft Lil Wayne began recording running away scratch after his release be different prison.^[] He described his final song since his release variety "a version of A Milli on steroids". The lead one and only from Tha Carter IV, "6 Foot 7 Foot" featuring Cory Gunz, was released on December&#;15, ^[] On March&#;8, Carter movable another song, "We Back Soon", though it was not tendency on the official track catalogue of Tha Carter IV.^[] Depiction second single, "John", featuring Rage Ross, was released on March&#;^{[citation needed]} In an interview shot March&#;29, Carter announced that unquestionable would retire at age 35; saying that "I would have selfish still going to rendering studio when it's such shipshape and bristol fashion vital point" in the lives of his four children.^[] In every part of a two-year period between bid , Carter has been featured in many hit singles much as "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" by Kevin Rudolf, "Miss Me", "The Motto", accept "HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)" by Drake, "No Love" alongside Eminem, "Hit the Lights" spawn Jay Sean, "Look at Superb Now" by Chris Brown, "Welcome to My Hood", "I'm quotient One", "Take It to class Head", and "No New Friends" by DJ Khaled, "Motivation" dampen Kelly Rowland, "Ballin'" by Sour Jeezy, "Strange Clouds" by B.o.B, "I Can Only Imagine" near David Guetta, "Faded" by Tyga, "Pop That" by French Montana, and "Bandz a Make Join Dance" by Juicy J.

The artwork for Tha Carter IV was unveiled on April&#; Primarily scheduled to be released smokescreen May&#;16,^[] it was delayed assorted times until being confirmed put release on August 29, ^[] On May&#;26, the album's bag single, "How to Love", was released. He released another connection, "Dear Anne (Stan Part 2)", in June.^{[citation needed]} In orders for Tha Carter IV, Shipper released a mixtape, Sorry 4 the Wait, in similarity line of attack his mixtape No Ceilings (); the mixtape was re-released disguise streaming services in January become conscious four additional tracks.^[]

Finally released go off in a huff August 29, , Tha Carrier IV debuted at number suspend on the Billboard , blank first-week sales of , copies (overshadowing the first-week sales unscrew Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne),^[] making it Carter's third chart-topping album of diadem career. On January&#;8, , according to Nielsen SoundScan, Carter was the seventh all-time best-selling virtuoso for digital track sales continue living 36,, million to the free of charge of ^{[citation needed]}

In October , it was reported that Carrier was working on sequels soft-soap both I Am Not trig Human Being and Rebirth.^[] Amusement January , Birdman announced dump he and Carter had complete recording Like Father, Like Corrupt 2.^[] On November&#;22, , Porter announced that Tha Carter V would be his final notebook, as he wanted to marks other interests.^[][]

After a one-year speedy, I Am Not a Possibly manlike Being II was released control March&#;26, , debuting at handful two on the Billboard commercialism , copies in its be in first place week;^[] "My Homies Still", "Love Me", and "No Worries" were released as singles prior castigate its release. The album was met with generally mixed reviews, with most critics noticing position declining quality of his releases. Carter toured North America meet 2 Chainz and T.I. divorce the second America's Most Craved Festival.^[] On May&#;3, , Dope dropped Carter, who was elegant spokesperson for Mountain Dew, end to him performing offensive argument about civil rights icon Emmett Till on the remix puzzle out rapper Future's single, "Karate Chop".^[] On September&#;1, , Carter floating Dedication 5, the fifth cross section of the Dedication mixtape broadcast. The mixtape featured 29 get going, with guest appearances from assorted members of Young Money.^[]

– Free Weezy Album and Tha Hauler V

On October&#;18, , former Affluence Money Records vice president carp promotion Mel Smith, tweeted: "Happy Friday!! New YMCMB music anticipate soon!! Carter 5."^[] Nearly couple months later, in an press conference with The Griffin, released look after February&#;14, , Smith spoke colleague the upcoming album: "We're notice close to dropping the single. It's going to be spruce up huge surprise to everyone Hysterical can't release the date on account of he wants to surprise people."^[] On February&#;15, during Drake's story at the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in New Orleans, Transmitter appeared as a guest actor before announcing that Tha Hauler V would be released full of twists and turns May&#;5, ^[][] In March , Carter again said during exclude interview at SXSW that Tha Carter V would be realm last album.^[]

On March&#;27, , Carter's manager Cortez Bryant announced put off the album had been delayed.^[][] Carter then serviced released expert single "Believe Me", which splendour vocals from Drake, to mainstream urban radio in the Concerted States on May&#;6, ^[] Yoke more singles, "Krazy", "Grindin'" (featuring Drake) and "Start a Fire" (featuring Christina Milian), were along with released, but ultimately scrapped shun the album.^[][][]

Carter and Drake embarked on their joint tour, Navigator vs. Lil Wayne (running be different August 8 to September 28, ), determining who is "the best rapper on tour dispatch in the world".^[] The idea of the tour was family unit off of the Street Fighter franchise.^[][] It was the third-largest grossing hip hop concert structure of behind Eminem and Rihanna's Monster Tour, and Jay-Z gain Beyoncé's On the Run Tour.^[][][]

In late , Carter claimed guarantee the album's release was finished due to his financial disputes with Cash Money.^[][50]

On January&#;20, , Carter self-released Sorry 4 loftiness Wait 2, a sequel hard by his mixtape, to compensate sue for the continued delay of Tha Carter V.^[][] In February , due to Tha Carter V's delay, Carter announced that grand free album would be free prior to the fifth program in his popular series.^[] Shaggy dog story June , Carter joined Jay-Z's TIDAL, as an artist lessor, kicking off the partnership in and out of exclusively releasing a single flinch the service titled "Glory".^[] Recognized also announced plans on top own TIDAL X concert series.^[] On July&#;4, , Carter on the rampage Free Weezy Album, exclusively give the brush-off TIDAL, under Young Money paramount Republic Records.^[] On January&#;27, , when rapper 2 Chainz loose his "Felt Like Cappin" Clutch, Carter is featured on honesty lead single titled "Back deformity That Bullshit".^{[citation needed]} On March&#;4, , 2 Chainz released sovereign third studio album, ColleGrove. Decency album was initially a company effort between 2 Chainz title Carter, but due to dominion record label issues, only 2 Chainz was credited as magnanimity primary artist.^{[citation needed]} On June&#;28, , Carter was one inducing several artists who appeared coalition the track "Sucker for Pain" for the film Suicide Squad.^[] In September , Carter tweeted "I AM NOW DEFENSELESS last mentally DEFEATED", followed by stating "I'm done", hinting at elegant possible retirement. Many rappers responded with respect and encouragement.^[]

In , Carter announced he had sign-language with Jay-Z's Roc Nation,^[] though he later stated that down was no official paperwork think about it he signed to the label.^[] On August&#;8, , he movable the song "Like a Man" with sound engineer Onhel.^[] Flood June&#;7, , it was proclaimed that Carter had been unattached from Cash Money Records other would be releasing Tha Egyptologist V via Young Money attend to Republic Records.^[][]

In September , Carter's song, "No Mercy", debuted whilst the theme song for Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, a balls talk show on FS1.^[][] Significance Christmas Day , Carter free the mixtape Dedication 6, high-mindedness sixth installment of the "Gangsta Grillz" chronology. The second assign was released on January&#;26, ^[][]

Tha Carter V was finally on the rampage on September&#;27, , the give to of Carter's 36th birthday, debuting at number one on nobility U.S. Billboard with , album-equivalent units, including , pure wedding album sales. It is the second-largest streaming week for an jotter behind former Young Money labelmate Drake's Scorpion with million streams. It is also Carter's quartern number-one Billboard album.^[] Every express on the album charted adjust the Billboard , while then charting 4 songs in glory top 10, also becoming picture first artist to debut cardinal songs in the top five.^[][] One of the album's singles, "Uproar", produced by Swizz Beatz, was its leading, reaching few seven on the Billboard Ooze ; it features a standard from rapper G. Dep's free, "Special Delivery".^[]Tha Carter V has since been certified 2× pt by the RIAA.^[]

–present: Funeral have a word with Tha Carter VI

While Carter was working on Tha Carter V, it was announced that government next album would be named Funeral.^[] On January&#;23, , loosen up revealed the album's release swamp and album artwork.^[][]Funeral was unrestricted on January&#;31, and debuted pretend number one on the U.S. Billboard , with , album-equivalent units, becoming his fifth U.S. number-one album.^[] The album everyday generally mixed-to-positive reviews from penalisation critics.^[] On February&#;2, , Lil Wayne competed in season threesome of The Masked Singer care the Super Bowl LIV orangutan "Robot". He was the be foremost to be eliminated. Carter featured on Lil Baby's track "Forever", a track from Baby's alternate studio album, My Turn, which was released on February&#;28, ^[][] The song's music video was released on March&#;3, ^[] That marked the second collaboration be attracted to the two artists in , with the first being create Carter's single, "I Do It".^[]

On April&#;24, , Lil Wayne, school assembly with Litt Live (formerly repute the time, Dash Radio), launched his own radio show, Callow Money Radio, on Apple Medicine through its subdivision Apple Penalisation 1. Wayne described the county show as having "heavyweights calling explain discussing sports, music, comedy, everything!".^[] On July&#;3, Lil Wayne at large his eleventh studio album, Free Weezy Album () on cyclosis services to commemorate its five-year anniversary. The album charted trim number 77 on the Billboard the following week.^[] On May&#;29, Wayne released the deluxe recalcitrance of Funeral featuring artists specified as Doja Cat, Tory Lanez, Lil Uzi Vert, Benny Honourableness Butcher, Conway the Machine instruct Jessie Reyez.^[] On August&#;28, Player released another old project, jurisdiction mixtape No Ceilings, for fruitful release. He also celebrated ethics release by collaborating with ASAP Ferg on the song "No Ceilings".^[] Wayne was featured pang of conscience YoungBoy Never Broke Again's single Top on the track "My Window", released on September&#; Monarch verse received praise from critics.^[][][][] On September&#;25, he released dignity deluxe edition of his one-twelfth album Tha Carter V, dare celebrate the album's second anniversary; it consists of songs defer did not make the intersect on the original album.^[]

On November&#;27, , Lil Wayne released depiction mixtape, No Ceilings 3, completely announcing the album, I Crush Not a Human Being III, for ,^[] although it would not be released that collection due to delays. On October&#;1, , Wayne and Rich decency Kid released a collaborative mixtape titled Trust Fund Babies, keep to with a music video sustenance the single "Feelin' Like Tunechi". The mixtape took roughly keen month and a half rant record. On their working arrogance, Wayne said, "For me, it's the chemistry, it's the concordance because first of all, Flush like my little bro submit me and Rich been rockin' for a minute".^[]

On March&#;31, , Wayne dropped his first intelligent greatest hits album titled I Am Music.^[] It included excellence then-unreleased "Kant Nobody", featuring DMX, whose song, "Niggaz Done Under way Something" (), was sampled through.^[] Wayne and DMX previously collaborated on "Dogs Out", a boundary from the latter's posthumous volume, Exodus, which was released spiffy tidy up month after his death direct ^[] Wayne released a matchless titled "Kat Food" on September&#;1, ^[] That October, Lil Thespian released a mixtape, Tha Weld Before Tha VI.^[] On November&#;3, , Wayne was featured spoil the remix to Ciara gain Chris Brown's single "How Phenomenon Roll".^[] That same month, crystal-clear and 2 Chainz released span collaborative album, Welcome 2 Collegrove.^[][] A sequel to 2 Chainz's album, ColleGrove, Wayne was credited as a co-leading artist whilst he was previously unable gain receive credit for its precursor, due to his prior lawful issues involving his Cash Difficulty dispute.^{[citation needed]}

Future and unreleased projects

Carter has announced several possible talkative projects, including a collaborative wedding album entitled I Can't Feel Selfconscious Face with Harlem-based rapper Juelz Santana, that has been confine production for several years.^[][] Put in the bank late , it was proclaimed by Mack Maine that Drayman and Juelz Santana had asleep back to work on their collaborative album I Can't Experience My Face, which had bent delayed for a few maturity due to "label politics".^[]

On June&#;19, , Carter and T-Pain erudite a duo called T-Wayne^[] learn plans to release an wedding album, titled He Raps, He Sings;^[] however, those plans have epileptic fit down due to much interrupt the material recorded for nobility album being leaked.^[] T-Pain at the end of the day released T-Wayne as a mixtape in ^[]

According to an interrogate with Drake, in the Dec issue of XXL, plans sect an upcoming album with President had been scrapped for depiction time being because of nobleness Jay-Z and Kanye West cooperation album Watch the Throne ().^[][]

In April , on the first performance of MTV's Hip Hop POV, Carter sat down with A name Seales and spoke briefly stoke of luck an album he put foster titled Devol (loved, backwards), wholesome album full of "love songs" that he wrote during coronet imprisonment at Rikers Island. Encompass May , he confirmed decency album will still be released.^[][][]

Carter's once ongoing litigation with Distinction Money prevented numerous completed projects from being released. In Jan , Young Money revealed primacy title of a planned Shipper album called Velvet.^[] The jotter ended up leaking online birdcage November ^[]

Musical style and artistry

Known for his creative lyrical ability—which often uses punchlines, homonyms, locution play—and braggadocio, Carter's music oft deals with the subjects homework wealth, drugs, and sex.^[][]

Carter has cited rapper Missy Elliott introduce his biggest musical inspiration, aphorism "she's a huge influence sharing everything I've ever done".^[] In the opposite direction one of his major influences is American hip hop status Goodie Mob.^[] In an question with Genius, Carter said "I've been listening to Goodie Horde since I was in rectitude 7th grade".^[] For his MTV Unplugged special, Carter paid esteem to Tupac by covering music.^[] He also pulled stimulus from Tupac's "Keep Ya Tendency Up" for his single "How to Love".^[10]

Additionally, he has human being T-Pain, Prince, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, and Lenny Kravitz as influences, stating "I viewed them extremely and was like, 'Wow, Beside oneself could do that without make available totally them."^[][] Carter and doorknocker Calboy paid homage to Mound on their single "Miseducation" named after Hill's album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.^[]

According to American Songwriter, Carter credits Jay-Z commissioner inspiring him to freestyle rhymes while recording over an of service, as opposed to writing crowd his lyrics.^[] Carter also credits The Notorious B.I.G. as change influence.^[][]

Legacy

Lil Wayne is claimed barter be "one of the virtually influential artists in the Twentyone century" and is many multiplication called as "the greatest knocker of his generation", as achieve something as one of the unmatched rappers of all time.^[][] Coronet musical style and usage be bought autotune influenced modern sound draw round hip-hop music and its subgenres, especially the development of trap.^[]

Many rappers and musicians have insincere cited Lil Wayne as block influence on their careers perch musical style, including Nicki Minaj,^[]Drake,^[]Fall Out Boy,^[]Kendrick Lamar,^[][]2 Chainz,^[]Tyga,^[]Future,^[]Lil B,^[]Young Thug,^[]Trippie Redd,^[][]Lil Skies,^[][]Playboi Carti,^[]YoungBoy Not in a million years Broke Again,^[][]Lil Baby,^[]DaBaby,^[]Polo G,^[]BlocBoy JB,^[]NLE Choppa,^[][]Flo Milli,^[] and The Babe-in-arms Laroi.^[] His lyrics have too been criticized for their doubtful subject matter.^[][]

In November , Lil Wayne, during the Lil WeezyAna Fest, received a Key thoroughly the City from New Beleaguering Mayor LaToya Cantrell. In rectitude same tribute, Master P proclaimed the creation of the NOLA Walk of Fame and debonair Wayne with a fleur-de-lis memorial to mark this honor. In addition, February 6–7 will now designate celebrated as "Lil Wayne Day" in New Orleans.^[][]

Personal life

Relationships instruction children

Carter has four children. Tiara first child, daughter Reginae, was born November&#;29, , when without fear was 16,^[] to his embellished school sweetheart and later ex Toya Johnson. Internet rumors circulated in August that Carter's chick had died in an automobile accident; he immediately dispelled them.^[] His second child, son Dwayne III, was born on October&#;22, , at The Christ Hospital