Lil Wayne (1982-…) is a popular American rap performer. He is known for his gritty lyrics and clever rhymes. Lil Wayne has had many hit songs, and his albums have sold millions of copies. He has won a number of Grammy Awards for his music.
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., was born on Sept. 27, 1982, in New Orleans , Louisiana. He began rapping when he was 8 years old. Before he was even a teenager, Carter signed a recording contract with the New Orleans-based hip-hop label (company) Cash Money Records. In 1995, the label released the album True Story. It featured the teenaged rap artist called B.G., as well as Carter, recording under the name Baby D.
In 1997, with B.G. and fellow Cash Money rap artists Juvenile and Turk (also known as Young Turk), Carter formed the hip-hop group the Hot Boys. By this time, Carter had begun calling himself Lil Wayne. He dropped the D from his given first name to differentiate himself from his father. The group’s first album, Get It How U Live!, was released in 1997. It quickly became a hit in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The group’s second album, Guerilla Warfare (1999), became a national hit.
Lil Wayne began his solo career with the album Tha Block Is Hot (1999). The album and its title song, featuring B.G. and Juvenile, became big hits. Lil Wayne’s other albums include Tha Carter II (2005); Tha Carter III (2008); I Am Not a Human Being (2010); Tha Carter IV (2011); Tha Carter V (2018), and Funeral (2020), among others. His other hit songs have included “Go DJ” (2004); “A Milli” and “Lollipop” (both 2008); “Right Above It” and “6 Foot 7 Foot” (both 2010); and “Believe Me” (2014). Lil Wayne also has released a number of successful mixtapes—that is, informal recordings of Lil Wayne rapping over popular songs.
Many of Lil Wayne’s projects have been collaborations with other musicians. Such artists include the singer T-Pain, the rhythm-and-blues singer Static Major, and the rapper Cory Gunz (all American); and the Canadian rapper Drake . In 2010, Lil Wayne served eight months in prison on a weapons-related charge.
