American rapper (born 1982)
"Dwayne Carter" and "Weezy" redirect here. Misjudge the racecar driver, see Duane Carter. For the similarly forename rapper, see Wheezy.
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982),[2] make public professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. He task regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and widely considered one of the leading rappers of all time.[3] Born and raised in New City, he was discovered by hometown rapper Birdman in 1993 increase in intensity signed with his record label, Cash Money Records, at draw out eleven.[4][5] He emerged as the flagship artist of the earmark in the following years until his departure in June 2018.[6]
He was first placed in a duo with Cash Money labelmate B.G. in 1994—known collectively as the B.G.'z—and they released take in album, True Story, in July of that year, although Egyptologist (at the time known as Baby D) only appeared avert three tracks.[7] Carter and B.G. then formed the Southern hip-hop group Hot Boys with labelmates Juvenile and Turk in 1997; they released their debut album, Get It How U Live! in October of that year. The Hot Boys gained mainstream success following the release of their second album Guerrilla Warfare (1999), as well as their hit single, "Bling Bling".[8] Say publicly group briefly disbanded after the album due to each 1 (besides Carter) parting ways with the label, although one in mint condition album—Let 'Em Burn (2003)—was released.[9]
Carter's debut studio album, Tha Slab Is Hot (1999), quickly achieved commercial success and served considerably his breakthrough as a solo act, followed by Lights Out (2000) and 500 Degreez (2003). He further reached mainstream audiences with his fourth and fifth albums in which were picture first 2 installments of Tha Carter albums (Tha Carter (2004) and Tha Carter II (2005), as well as several mixtapes and collaborations throughout 2006 and 2007. He propelled to depiction forefront of hip hop with his sixth album Tha Egyptologist III (2008), with first-week sales of over one million units domestically. It won Best Rap Album at the 51st Yearbook Grammy Awards and was supported by his first Billboard Redhot 100-number one single, "Lollipop" (featuring Static Major), as well despite the fact that the top ten singles "A Milli" and "Got Money" (featuring T-Pain), and the top 20 single, "Mrs. Officer" (featuring Bobby V and Kidd Kidd).
Carter's seventh studio album, Rebirth (2010), experimented with rap rock and was released in February domination that year to generally negative critical response. A month subsequent in March, he began serving an 8-month jail sentence back criminal possession of a weapon stemming from an incident suspend July 2007. His eighth album, I Am Not a Sensitive Being (2010), was released during his incarceration, while his 9th album, Tha Carter IV (2011), followed months after his flee from prison. Despite mixed reviews, Tha Carter IV sold 964,000 units in its first-week domestically.[10] His twelfth studio album, Tha Carter V (2018)—preceded by I Am Not a Human Character II (2013) and Free Weezy Album (2015)—was released following long-term delays and label disputes, and was met with 480,000 livestock first-week sales. His thirteenth album, Funeral (2020), became his onefifth non-consecutive number one album.[11]
Carter has sold over 120 million records worldwide, including over 25 million albums and 92 million digital tracks in the United States, making him one of interpretation world's best-selling music artists.[12][13][14] He has won five Grammy Awards, eleven BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Tv Music Awards and eight NAACP Image Awards. On September 27, 2012, he became the first male artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, industrial action 109 songs.[15][16] Carter founded the record label Young Money Play in 2005, which has signed artists including Drake, Tyga take precedence Nicki Minaj.
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born tool September 27, 1982, and spent his first few years in representation impoverished Hollygrove neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana's 17th Ward.[17] His mother, a cook, gave birth to him when she was 19 years old. His parents divorced when he was two and his father permanently abandoned the family. When CBS interviewer Katie Couric asked why he used the name Actor instead of his given name, Carter explained that "I dropped the D because I'm a junior and my father not bad living and he's not in my life and he's not ever been in my life. So I don't want to joke Dwayne, I'd rather be Wayne". Asked if his father knew of this, Carter replied, "He knows now".[18] Carter has aforementioned that he considers his deceased stepfather Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald accomplish be his real father. Carter has a tattoo dedicated contact McDonald.[19]
Carter was enrolled in the gifted program at Lafayette Clear School. He later attended Eleanor McMain Secondary School for mirror image years, where he was an honor student and a affiliate of the drama club, playing the Tin Man in representation school's production of The Wiz.[20][21][22] After matriculating to Marion Abramson Senior High School, Carter dropped out at age 14 defile focus on his musical career.[23]
Carter wrote his first rap melody at age eight.[24] In the summer of 1991, he trip over rapper and Cash Money Records co-founder Bryan "Baby" Williams (known currently as Birdman), who mentored him and encouraged his warmth of hip-hop; Birdman included Carter on several Cash Money tracks, and he (in return) would often record freestyle raps assiduous Williams' answering machine.[25]
In 1994, at age 12, Carter suffered a near-fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.[26] At the span, he said the injury was accidental. However, in September 2018, Carter claimed in interviews that it was an attempted slayer after he was told by his mother that he would have to end his rap-related associations.[27] Carter credits off-duty constabulary officer Robert Hoobler (1956–2022),[28][29] who he calls "Uncle Bob", surrender saving his life by insisting the dying child be impelled immediately to hospital in a police car rather than for the duration of for an ambulance to become available.[30] Other accounts indicate consider it several officers played a part in deciding on and implementing that course of action.[26]
After recuperating from his self-inflicted gunshot wound, Carter linked with Christopher Dorsey, a local New Orleans rapper known as B.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. instruct named "Lil Doogie" and Carter being "Baby D".[31] They one released one album under the group name, True Story (1995).[31]
In 1997, Carter and Dorsey then joined the hip-hop quartet, depiction Hot Boys, along with rappers and labelmates, Juvenile, and Turki. Having joined at age 14, Carter was the youngest 1 at the time. Hot Boys' debut album, Get It Exhibition U Live!, was released the same year, followed in 1999 by the group's major-label debut Guerrilla Warfare,[17] which respectively reached number one on the BillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and distribution five on the Billboard 200.[32] During their career, the Stark Boys had two charting singles, "We on Fire" from Get It How U Live! and "I Need a Hot Girl" from Guerrilla Warfare.[33] The group shared a track, "Bling Bling", alongside another Cash Money group, duo Big Tymers (consisting be more or less Birdman and producer Mannie Fresh). Carter's verse appeared only assets the radio version of the song, while on the past performance version he performed on the chorus. "Bling Bling" appeared carry out Hot Boys member B.G.'s solo album, Chopper City in representation Ghetto, released in April 1999.[34] Carter was also featured the wrong way round Juvenile's single "Back That Azz Up", which reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number five on rendering Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.[35]
Let 'Em Burn, a compilation wedding album of unreleased tracks recorded by the quartet during 1998 put forward 2000, was released in March 2003, several years after say publicly group disbanded.[36] It reached number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, but underperformed on the Billboard 200 at few fourteen.[32]
Carter's debut solo album, Tha Block Is Hot, was released hinder November 2, 1999, when he was 17 and featured low contributions from the Hot Boys. It debuted at number tierce on the Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum do without the RIAA in December 1999, less than a month make something stand out its release.[37][17] The album earned Carter a 1999 Source journal nomination for "Best New Artist",[38] and also became a Gap Ten hit.[17] The lead single was the album's title target, 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 description level of success achieved by his debut,[17] but was documented gold by RIAA in June 2001, nearly six months provision its release.[39] Critics noted the lack of coherent narratives gravel his verses as evidence that he had yet to of age to the level of his fellow Hot Boys.[40] The inner single was "Get Off the Corner", which was noticed own an improvement in its lyrical content and style. The above single, which received less attention, was "Shine" featuring the Piping hot Boys. Near the release of Lights Out, Carter was featured on the single, "Number One Stunna" with Big Tymers dowel Juvenile, which peaked at number 24 on the Hot Festivity Tracks chart. The track, originally featured on Big Tymers' I Got That Work, would be used for the Spike Lee-directed comedy film, The Original Kings of Comedy.
Carter's third single, 500 Degreez, was released in August 2002. It followed say publicly format of his previous two, with significant contributions from interpretation Hot Boys and Mannie Fresh. While being certified gold near its predecessor,[39] it also failed to match the success obvious his debut.[17] The title was a reference to the late estranged Hot Boys member Juvenile's debut solo studio album, 400 Degreez (1998).[41][42] Its lead single was "Way of Life", featuring Birdman and singer TQ with narration by its producer, Mannie Fresh; it reached number 71 on the Billboard Hot Cardinal and number 23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[43] Say publicly single featured a sample of Tupac Shakur's diss track repute the Notorious B.I.G., "Hit 'Em Up" (1996), which itself sampled Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett's "Don't Look Any Further" (1984). Despite the album's commercial failure, John Bush of AllMusic praised 500 Degreez, while calling "Way of Life" an "infectious tyrannical hit".[41] After the release of 500 Degreez, Carter was featured on the single "Neva Get Enuf" by 3LW, and ulterior appeared on his future girlfriend, singer Nivea's single, "Ya Ya Ya".[44]
On June 29, 2004, Carter's fourth studio album, Tha Carter, was released, marking what critics considered advancement in his wellbuilt style and lyrical themes.[45] In addition, the album's cover crumbling featured the debut of Wayne's now-signature dreadlocks.[17]Tha Carter gained Actor significant recognition, selling 878,000 copies in the United States, long forgotten the single "Go DJ" became a top five hit discount the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[46] After the release observe Tha Carter, Lil Wayne was featured on Destiny's Child's unwed "Soldier" alongside Atlanta rapper T.I., which peaked at number threesome on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[47]
In 2005, Carter appeared on a remix of singer Bobby Valentino's "Tell Me", which rose to number thirteen on representation U.S. Hot R&B Songs chart. That same year, Carter was named the president of Cash Money Records, but was afterwards granted his own label; he founded Young Money Entertainment similarly an imprint of Cash Money and Universal Music Group.[48] Even, as of late 2007, Carter reported having stepped down plant the management of both labels and handed management of Countrified Money over to his longtime manager, Cortez Bryant.[49]
Tha Carter II, the sequel to 2004's Tha Carter, was released on Dec 6, 2005. Mannie Fresh was not involved in the making of the album, as he had left the label old, due to financial issues.[50][51]Tha Carter II sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at circulation two on the Billboard 200; the album went on come upon sell two million copies worldwide. The lead single, "Fireman", became a hit in the U.S., peaking at 32 on interpretation Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other singles included "Grown Man" be regarding Currensy, "Hustler Musik", and "Shooter" with R&B singer Robin Thicke.
In 2006, Carter collaborated with his label boss, Birdman, convey the album, Like Father, Like Son, which its first individual "Stuntin' Like My Daddy", reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Instead of a follow-up unaccompanied album, Carter began to reach his audience through a duration of mixtapes and guest appearances on a variety of appear, R&B and hip hop singles.[17] Of his many mixtapes, Dedication 2 and Da Drought 3 received the most media unmasking and critical review. Dedication 2, released in 2006, paired Hauler with DJ Drama and contained the acclaimed socially conscious residue, "Georgia Bush", a remix of Field Mob and Ludacris' "Georgia", in which Carter critiqued former U.S. president George W. Bush's response to the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the power of New Orleans. Da Drought 3 was released the masses year and was available for free legal download. It selfsufficing Carter rapping over a variety of beats from recent hits by other musicians. A number of prominent hip hop magazines such as XXL[52] and Vibe[23] covered the mixtape. Christian Reservoir of Rolling Stone magazine considered the mixtapes Da Drought 3 and The Drought Is Over 2 (The Carter 3 Sessions) "among the best albums of 2007".[53]
Despite no album release divulge two years, Carter appeared in numerous singles as a featured performer, including in 2006 with the remix to "Gimme That" by Chris Brown, "Make It Rain" by Fat Joe alight "You" by Lloyd, and in 2007 with "We Takin' Over" by DJ Khaled (also featuring Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fleshy Joe, and Birdman), "Duffle Bag Boy" by Playaz Circle, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" by Wyclef Jean (also featuring Akon), tube the remix to "I'm So Hood" by DJ Khaled (also featuring T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Corpulent Joe, Birdman, and Rick Ross). All these singles charted in the interior the top 20 spots on the BillboardHot 100, Hot Row Tracks, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. On Birdman's 2007 recording, 5 * Stunna, Carter appeared on the singles "100 Million" and "I Run This" among several other tracks. Carter likewise appeared on tracks from albums, Getback by Little Brother, American Gangster by Jay-Z, and Graduation by Kanye West and Insomniac by Enrique Iglesias. "Make It Rain" (2006), a Scott Storch production that peaked at number thirteen on the Hot Cardinal and number two on the Hot Rap Tracks chart,[54] was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance preschooler a Duo or Group for 2008.[55]
Vibe magazine ranked a transfer of 77 of Lil Wayne's songs from 2007 and hierarchic 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 Restore confidence Got") from Da Drought 3.[23] At the end of 2007, an MTV poll selected Lil Wayne as "Hottest MC manner the Game",[56]The New Yorker magazine ranked him "Rapper of representation Year",[25] and GQ magazine named him "Workaholic of the Year".[57] In 2008, he was named "Best MC" by Rolling Stone.[53] Another article, built around Lil Wayne's 2007 mixtape work, cites his creative practice as an example of post-performance creative practice.[58]
In 2007, Carter stated that he would reunite with Hot Boys, gather plans to release an album after B.G.'s solo album Too Hood to Be Hollywood was completed.[59]Tha Carter III was basic scheduled to be released in 2007, but it was abeyant after several recordings were leaked and distributed through mixtapes, including The Drought Is Over Pt. 2 and The Drought Admiration Over Pt. 4. Lil Wayne initially planned to release The Leak, a separate album with leaked songs and four more tracks, on December 18, 2007, with Tha Carter III delayed support March 18, 2008.[60] Instead, The Leak became an EP with fivesome songs and was released digitally on December 25, 2007.[61]
Tha Carter III was released on June 10, 2008, with first-week sales of occupy 1 million copies, the first to do so since 50 Cent's The Massacre (2005).[62] The album's first single, "Lollipop", featuring Static Major, became the Carter's most successful song at representation time, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming his important top ten single as a solo artist and his twig number one on the chart. The third single "Got Money", featuring T-Pain, peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard Centred. Tha Carter III went on to win four Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song, which sharptasting won for "Lollipop".[63] On July 14, 2008, the Recording Industry Meet people of America certified Tha Carter III two times platinum.[64] Pressure October 2008, Lil Wayne announced plans to MTV News foster re-release the album with new tracks, including a duet keep Ludacris and remixes of "A Milli".[65]
Carter also appeared on R&B singles "Girls Around the World" by Lloyd, "Love in That 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 Come out Us" by T.I., "Cutty Buddy" by Mike Jones, All Dejected Life (In the Ghetto) by Jay Rock and the remix to "Certified" by Glasses Malone; and pop single "Let Give rise to Rock" by new Cash Money artist Kevin Rudolf.
Throughout 2008, Carter performed at the Voodoo Experience in October in Original Orleans, which was described by Jonathan Cohen of Billboard restructuring his biggest hometown headlining set of his career.[66] He additionally performed at the Virgin Mobile Music Fest with Kanye Westbound, where they performed the remix of "Lollipop" and lip-synced prevent Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You".[67] Lil Wayne additionally performed at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards with Jolly Rock ("All Summer Long"), Leona Lewis ("DontGetIt (Misunderstood)") and T-Pain ("Got Money") and performed "Lollipop" and "Got Money" on representation season premiere of Saturday Night Live.[68] He later performed habit the homecoming rally at Vanderbilt University[69] and the 2008 Venture Hip Hop Awards, where he received 12 nominations.[70] He won eight awards at the BET Hip Hop Awards, one learn which included the "MVP" title.[71][72] After M.I.A. dropped out model performing on Carter's I Am Music Tour due to weaken pregnancy, Jay-Z performed "Mr. Carter" with Lil Wayne at expend shows.[73]
After Tha Carter III sold over 3 million copies celebrated became the best-selling record of 2008, Carter re-signed with Dissimilarity Money Records for a multi-album deal.[74] On November 11, 2008, Haulier became the first hip hop act to perform at representation Country Music Association Awards, playing "All Summer Long" alongside Coddle Rock, in which Carter inaudibly strummed guitar strings alongside say publicly guitarist in Kid Rock's band.[75] Shortly after, Wayne was chosen for eight Grammys – the most for any artist nominative that year.[76] He was then named the first MTV Gentleman of the Year at the end of 2008.[77] He won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for "A Milli", Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group choose his appearance on T.I.'s single "Swagga Like Us", and Decent Rap Song for "Lollipop". Tha Carter III won the furnish for Best Rap Album.[63] MTV News listed Carter number digit on their 2009 list of the Hottest MCs in say publicly Game.[78]
Prior to the 2009 Grammy Awards, Wayne was featured giving an interview with Katie Couric.[79] On February 7, 2009, he blaze the Top Ten List on CBS's Late Show with King Letterman.[80] On April 24, 2009, he appeared on The View, discussing his GED and addictions.[81] In September 2009, Carter was profiled in an episode of VH1's Behind the Music[82] and was a presenter of the 2009 MTV Movie Awards.[83] In ep, Carter produced and composed music for and starred in representation direct-to-video film Hurricane Season. A documentary of Carter, titled The Carter, was released at the Sundance Film Festival.[84]
On December 23, 2009, Carter released his label, Young Money's first compilation album, We Are Young Money, with its lead single being "Every Girl".[85] The second single was "BedRock", featuring Lloyd, with the tertiary being "Roger That". On May 24, 2010, the album was certifiable gold by the RIAA with over 500,000 copies sold.[86] Haulier is featured on the song, "Revolver", with Madonna for take five greatest hits album, Celebration (2009). He was also featured curb a Weezer song, "Can't Stop Partying", on Raditude (2009).[87] Shore late 2008, Carter announced plans to reissue Tha Carter III with leftover recordings, and was to be titled Rebirth, pioneer scheduled to be released on April 7, 2009, before being abeyant several times.[88]Rebirth instead became his sixth solo studio album, re-recorded with replaced material and later released on February 2, 2010. Interpretation album received negative reviews from fans and critics, considering mull it over Carter's worst album released since 500 Degreez (2002).[89]
To support hang over release and that of We Are Young Money, Carter was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone[90] and headlined depiction 'Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival', a Combined States and Canada–only concert tour which began on July 29, 2009. "Prom Queen", the first official single, debuted on January 27, 2009, immediately after a live Internet broadcast of his concert bland San Diego on Ustream (now IBM Cloud Video).[91][92] It sickly at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Board December 3, 2009, the second single, "On Fire", produced by Chill & Dre, was released.[93] Based on a sample of Amy Holland's "She's on Fire" from the soundtrack to the 1983 film, Scarface, "On Fire" peaked at number 33 on picture Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Drop the World", which features Eminem, was the album's third single; it was produced by a then-unknown Hit-Boy.[93]
In an interview on MTV's Mixtape Monday, Hauler hinted at the release of Tha Carter IV.[94] He subsequent announced that it would be released in late 2009 beforehand the holiday season.[95]Birdman had previously stated that Tha Carter IV would be packaged with Rebirth as a double disc album.[96] Carter denied this, saying that "Tha Carter IV deserves Tha Carter IV", adding that We Are Young Money may cast doubt on packaged with Rebirth.[97][98] These albums were eventually released separately.[citation needed]
Carter released his eighth album, I Am Not a Sensitive Being, on his 28th birthday, September 27, 2010. Unfortunately, the recording was released during Carter's incarceration on a weapon possession charge.[99] The album has sold over 953,000 copies in the U.S.[100] and spawned the successful single "Right Above It", which ailing at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The autograph album also debuted at number two, but later climbed to handful one on the Billboard 200, making Carter the first doorknocker while incarcerated (since Tupac Shakur's Me Against the World, unconfined in 1995) to have a number one album.[101][102]
Tha Carter IV was delayed into 2011, after Lil Wayne began recording evade scratch after his release from prison.[103] He described his rule song since his release as "a 2010 version of A Milli on steroids". The lead single from Tha Carter IV, "6 Foot 7 Foot" featuring Cory Gunz, was released retrieve December 15, 2010.[104] On March 8, Carter released another song, "We At this time Soon", though it was not included on the official boundary listing of Tha Carter IV.[105] The second single, "John", featuring Rick Ross, was released on March 24.[citation needed] In an question period on March 29, Carter announced that he would retire at discover 35; saying that "I would feel selfish still going craving the studio when it's such a vital point" in interpretation lives of his four children.[106] Throughout a two-year period in the middle of 2010 and 2012, Carter has been featured in many dig singles such as "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" offspring Kevin Rudolf, "Miss Me", "The Motto", and "HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)" by Drake, "No Love" by Eminem, "Hit say publicly Lights" by Jay Sean, "Look at Me Now" by Chris Brown, "Welcome to My Hood", "I'm on One", "Take Illustrate to the Head", and "No New Friends" by DJ Khaled, "Motivation" by Kelly Rowland, "Ballin'" by Young Jeezy, "Strange Clouds" by B.o.B, "I Can Only Imagine" by David Guetta, "Faded" by Tyga, "Pop That" by French Montana, and "Bandz a Make Her Dance" by Juicy J.
The artwork for Tha Carter IV was unveiled on April 20. Originally scheduled to fur released on May 16,[107] it was delayed several times until nature confirmed for release on August 29, 2011.[108] On May 26, picture album's third single, "How to Love", was released. He on the loose another track, "Dear Anne (Stan Part 2)", in June.[citation needed] In preparation for Tha Carter IV, Carter released a mixtape, Sorry 4 the Wait, in similarity to his mixtape No Ceilings (2009); the mixtape was re-released on streaming services clasp January 2022 with four additional tracks.[109]
Finally released on August 29, 2011, Tha Carter IV debuted at number one on picture Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 964,000 copies (overshadowing interpretation first-week sales of Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne),[110] making it Carter's third chart-topping album of his career. Favour January 8, 2012, according to Nielsen SoundScan, Carter was the oneseventh all-time best-selling artist for digital track sales with 36,788,000 billion to the end of 2011.[citation needed]
In October 2011, it was reported that Carter was working on sequels to both I Am Not a Human Being and Rebirth.[111] In January 2012, Birdman announced that he and Carter had finished recording Like Father, Like Son 2.[112] On November 22, 2012, Carter announced dump Tha Carter V would be his final album, as inaccuracy wanted to pursue other interests.[113][114]
After a one-year delay, I Association Not a Human Being II was released on March 26, 2013, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 selling 217,000 copies in its first week;[115] "My Homies Still", "Love Me", and "No Worries" were released as singles prior to fraudulence release. The album was met with generally mixed reviews, add together most critics noticing the declining quality of his releases. President toured North America with 2 Chainz and T.I. on representation second America's Most Wanted Festival.[116] On May 3, 2013, Pepsi dropped Carter, who was a spokesperson for Mountain Dew, due jump in before him performing offensive lyrics about civil rights icon Emmett Dig on the remix to rapper Future's single, "Karate Chop".[117] Chart September 1, 2013, Carter released Dedication 5, the fifth instalment star as the Dedication mixtape series. The mixtape featured 29 tracks, attain guest appearances from several members of Young Money.[118]
On October 18, 2013, former Cash Specie Records vice president of promotion Mel Smith, tweeted: "Happy Friday!! New YMCMB music coming soon!! Carter 5."[119] Nearly four months later, in an interview with The Griffin, released on February 14, 2014, Smith spoke on the upcoming album: "We're very launch to dropping the album. It's going to be a enormous surprise to everyone ... I can't release the date now he wants to surprise people."[119] On February 15, during Drake's bringing off at the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in New Orleans, Egyptologist appeared as a guest performer before announcing that Tha Hauler V would be released on May 5, 2014.[120][121] In March 2014, Carter again said during an interview at SXSW that Tha Carter V would be his last album.[122]
On March 27, 2014, Carter's manager Cortez Bryant announced that the album had been delayed.[123][124] Carter then serviced released a single "Believe Me", which layout vocals from Drake, to mainstream urban radio in the Merged States on May 6, 2014.[125] Three more singles, "Krazy", "Grindin'" (featuring Drake) and "Start a Fire" (featuring Christina Milian), were along with released, but ultimately scrapped from the album.[126][127][128]
Carter and Drake embarked on their joint tour, Drake vs. Lil Wayne (running escape August 8 to September 28, 2014), determining who is "the best rapper on tour and in the world".[129] The construct of the tour was based off of the Street Fighter franchise.[130][131] It was the third-largest grossing hip hop concert flex of 2014 behind Eminem and Rihanna's Monster Tour, and Jay-Z and Beyoncé's On the Run Tour.[132][133][134]
In late 2014, Carter claimed that the album's release was postponed due to his pecuniary disputes with Cash Money.[135][50]
On January 20, 2015, Carter self-released Sorry 4 the Wait 2, a sequel to his 2011 mixtape, toady to compensate for the continued delay of Tha Carter V.[136][137] Delight in February 2015, due to Tha Carter V's delay, Carter proclaimed that a free album would be released prior to rendering fifth installment in his popular series.[138] In June 2015, Haulier joined Jay-Z's TIDAL, as an artist owner, kicking off say publicly partnership by exclusively releasing a single on the service highborn "Glory".[139] He also announced plans on his own TIDAL X concert series.[140] On July 4, 2015, Carter released Free Weezy Album, exclusively through TIDAL, under Young Money and Republic Records.[141] Walk out January 27, 2016, when rapper 2 Chainz released his "Felt Aspire Cappin" EP, Carter is featured on the lead single highborn "Back on That Bullshit".[citation needed] On March 4, 2016, 2 Chainz released his third studio album, ColleGrove. The album was initially a collaborative effort between 2 Chainz and Carter, but in arrears to his record label issues, only 2 Chainz was credited as the primary artist.[citation needed] On June 28, 2016, Carter was one of several artists who appeared on the track "Sucker for Pain" for the film Suicide Squad.[142] In September 2016, Carter tweeted "I AM NOW DEFENSELESS and mentally DEFEATED", followed by stating "I'm done", hinting at a possible retirement. Patronize rappers responded with respect and encouragement.[143]
In 2017, Carter announced without fear had signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation,[144] although he later affirmed that there was no official paperwork that he signed round off the label.[145] On August 8, 2017, he released the song "Like a Man" with sound engineer Onhel.[146] On June 7, 2018, have over was announced that Carter had been released from Cash Hard cash Records and would be releasing Tha Carter V via Prepubescent Money and Republic Records.[147][148]
In September 2016, Carter's song, "No Mercy", debuted as the theme song for Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, a sports talk show on FS1.[149][150] On Christmas Day 2017, Carter released the mixtape Dedication 6, the sixth installment shop the "Gangsta Grillz" chronology. The second part was released play around with January 26, 2018.[151][152]
Tha Carter V was finally released on September 27, 2018, the day of Carter's 36th birthday, debuting at number give someone a ring on the U.S. Billboard 200 with 480,000 album-equivalent units, including 140,000 pure album sales. It is the second-largest streaming workweek for an album behind former Young Money labelmate Drake's Scorpion with 433 million streams. It is also Carter's fourth number-one Billboard 200 album.[153] Every song on the album charted tolerance the Billboard 100, while simultaneously charting 4 songs in description top 10, also becoming the first artist to debut bend in half songs in the top five.[154][155] One of the album's singles, "Uproar", produced by Swizz Beatz, was its leading, reaching distribution seven on the Billboard Hot 100; it features a model from rapper G. Dep's 2001 single, "Special Delivery".[156]Tha Carter V has since been certified 2× platinum by the RIAA.[157]
While Carter was working on Tha Hauler V, it was announced that his next album would suspect titled Funeral.[158] On January 23, 2020, he revealed the album's break date and album artwork.[159][160]Funeral was released on January 31, and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, with 139,000 album-equivalent units, becoming his fifth U.S. number-one album.[161] The release received generally mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics.[162] On February 2, 2020, Lil Wayne competed in season three of The Masked Singer after the Super Bowl LIV as "Robot". He was depiction first to be eliminated. Carter featured on Lil Baby's railway "Forever", a track from Baby's second studio album, My Turn, which was released on February 28, 2020.[163][164] The song's music videocassette was released on March 3, 2020.[165] This marked the second coaction for the two artists in 2020, with the first use on Carter's single, "I Do It".[163]
On April 24, 2020, Lil Actor, along with Litt Live (formerly at the time, Dash Radio), launched his own radio show, Young Money Radio, on Apple Music through its subdivision Apple Music 1. Wayne described representation show as having "heavyweights calling in discussing sports, music, funniness, everything!".[166] On July 3, Lil Wayne released his eleventh studio photo album, Free Weezy Album (2015) on streaming services to commemorate loom over five-year anniversary. The album charted at number 77 on depiction Billboard 200 the following week.[167] On May 29, Wayne released depiction deluxe edition of Funeral featuring artists such as Doja Bozo, Tory Lanez, Lil Uzi Vert, Benny The Butcher, Conway interpretation Machine and Jessie Reyez.[168] On August 28, Wayne released another notice project, his 2009 mixtape No Ceilings, for commercial release. Proceed also celebrated the release by collaborating with ASAP Ferg get rid of the song "No Ceilings".[169] Wayne was featured on YoungBoy Under no circumstances Broke Again's album Top on the track "My Window", unrestricted on September 11. His verse received praise from critics.[170][171][172][173] On September 25, he released the deluxe edition of his twelfth album Tha Carter V, to celebrate the album's second anniversary; it consists of songs that did not make the cut on depiction original album.[174]
On November 27, 2020, Lil Wayne released the mixtape, No Ceilings 3, while announcing the album, I Am Not a Human Being III, for 2021,[175] although it would not facsimile released that year due to delays. On October 1, 2021, Player and Rich the Kid released a collaborative mixtape titled Trust Fund Babies, along with a music video for the singular "Feelin' Like Tunechi". The mixtape took roughly a month cranium a half to record. On their working relationship, Wayne thought, "For me, it's the chemistry, it's the camaraderie because important of all, Rich like my little bro and me keep from Rich been rockin' for a minute".[176]
On March 31, 2023, Wayne dropped his first ever greatest hits album titled I Am Music.[177] It included the then-unreleased "Kant Nobody", featuring DMX, whose vent, "Niggaz Done Started Something" (1998), was sampled through.[178] Wayne esoteric DMX previously collaborated on "Dogs Out", a track from rendering latter's posthumous album, Exodus, which was released a month make sure of his death in 2021.[179] Wayne released a single titled "Kat Food" on September 1, 2023.[169] That October, Lil Wayne released a mixtape, Tha Fix Before Tha VI.[180] On November 3, 2023, General was featured on the remix to Ciara and Chris Brown's single "How We Roll".[181] That same month, he and 2 Chainz released a collaborative album, Welcome 2 Collegrove.[182][183] A supplement to 2 Chainz's 2016 album, ColleGrove, Wayne was credited bring in a co-leading artist as he was previously unable to collect 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 entitled I Can't Feel My Face with Harlem-based rapper Juelz Santana, that has been in production for several years.[184][185] In gray 2011, it was announced by Mack Maine that Carter most recent Juelz Santana had gone back to work on their company album I Can't Feel My Face, which had been abeyant for a few years due to "label politics".[186]
On June 19, 2008, Carter and T-Pain formed a duo called T-Wayne[187] with plans to release an album, titled He Raps, He Sings;[188] notwithstanding, those plans have died down due to much of description material recorded for the album being leaked.[189] T-Pain ultimately out T-Wayne as a mixtape in 2017.[190]
According to an interview interest Drake, in the December 2011 issue of XXL, plans primed an upcoming album with Carter had been scrapped for description time being because of the Jay-Z and Kanye West association album Watch the Throne (2011).[191][192]
In April 2012, on the debut of MTV's Hip Hop POV, Carter sat down with Amanda Seales and spoke briefly about an album he put organizer titled Devol (loved, backwards), an album full of "love songs" that he wrote during his imprisonment at Rikers Island. Amount May 2013, he confirmed the album will still be released.[193][194][195]
Carter's once ongoing litigation with Cash Money prevented numerous completed projects from being released. In January 2017, Young Money revealed rendering title of a planned Carter album called Velvet.[196] The scrap book ended up leaking online in November 2018.[197]
Known for his creative lyrical ability—which often uses punchlines, homonyms, discussion play—and braggadocio, Carter's music often deals with the subjects draw round wealth, drugs, and sex.[198][199]
Carter has cited rapper Missy Elliott chimp his biggest musical inspiration, saying "she's a huge influence admire everything I've ever done".[200] Another one of his major influences is American hip hop group Goodie Mob.[201] In an talk with Genius, Carter said "I've been listening to Goodie Give the impression that since I was in the 7th grade".[202] For his MTV Unplugged special, Carter paid tribute to Tupac by covering his music.[203] He also pulled inspiration from Tupac's "Keep Ya Head Up" for his 2011 single "How to Love".[10]
Additionally, he has mentioned T-Pain, Prince, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, and Lenny Kravitz as influences, stating "I viewed them seriously and was like, 'Wow, I could do that let alone being totally them."[204][205] Carter and rapper Calboy paid homage finish off Hill on their 2021 single "Miseducation" titled after Hill's 1998 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.[206]
According to American Songwriter, Egyptologist credits Jay-Z for inspiring him to freestyle rhymes while tape measure over an instrumental, as opposed to writing down his lyrics.[207] Carter also credits The Notorious B.I.G. as an influence.[208][209]
Lil General is claimed to be "one of the most influential artists in the 21st century" and is many times called makeover "the greatest rapper of his generation", as well as ambush of the greatest rappers of all time.[210][211] His musical variety and usage of autotune influenced modern sound of hip-hop penalization and its subgenres, especially the development of trap.[212]
Many rappers duct musicians have cited cited Lil Wayne as an influence verdict their careers and musical style, including Nicki Minaj,[213]Drake,[214]Fall Out Boy,[215]Kendrick Lamar,[216][217]2 Chainz,[217]Tyga,[217]Future,[218]Lil B,[217]Young Thug,[219]Trippie Redd,[220][217]Lil Skies,[221][217]Playboi Carti,[222]YoungBoy Never Broke Again,[223][217]Lil Baby,[224]DaBaby,[225]Polo G,[226]BlocBoy JB,[217]NLE Choppa,[227][228]Flo Milli,[229] and The Kid Laroi.[230] His lyrics have also been criticized for their controversial subject matter.[231][232]
In November 2024, Lil Wayne, during the Lil WeezyAna Fest, traditional a Key to the City from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. In the same tribute, Master P announced the making of the NOLA Walk of Fame and presented Wayne confront a fleur-de-lis plaque to mark this honor. Additionally, February 6–7 will now be celebrated as "Lil Wayne Day" in In mint condition Orleans.[233][234]
Carter has four children. His first little one, daughter Reginae, was born November 29, 1998, when he was 16,[235] to his high school sweetheart and later ex-wife Toya Writer. Internet rumors circulated in August 2008 that Carter's daughter difficult to understand died in an auto accident; he immediately dispelled them.[236] His second child, son Dwayne III, was born on October 22, 2008, at The Christ Hospital