Lil' Wayne Video: The History
| Tue 09 March 2010 |
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Lil' Wayne Video: The History |
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Lil' Wayne, The American Hip Hop rapper -- born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. -- was born on September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he grew up in the Hollygrove neighborhood. His last name, Carter, is taken from his step father, who died in tragic circumstances. Lil' Wayne is also known as Weezy, J.R., Raw Tune, Birdman, and Weezy F Baby. Lil' Wayne was enrolled in the gifted program of Lafayette Elementary School and in the drama club of Eleanor McMain Secondary School. At age eleven, he met Bryan Williams, rapper and owner of Cash Money Records. After developing a very keen interest in Rap music, Lil' Wayne began recording freestyle raps on Williams' answering machine and Williams eventually mentored the young Carter and included him in songs distributed by Cash Money Records. Lil' Wayne signed his first contract ever, with Cash Money Records, at the very tender age of 11. At age 14, Lil' Wayne dropped out of school but later earned his GED. At the age of 16 Lil' Wayne became a dad: he has a daughter -- Reginae Carter -- with Antonia "Toya" Johnson, his high school sweetheart. Lil' Wayne and Antonia were married on Valentines Day in 2004; they divorced in 2006. During his acceptance speech for "Lyricist of the Year" at the 2008 BET Awards, Lil' Wayne announced that he was about to become a dad for the second time. His newborn son, Dwayne Carter III, was born on Oct. 22 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. One of Lil' Wayne's favorite bands from childhood was the rock group Nirvana -- a group that has influenced his music. In 2005, Lil' Wayne was named president of Cash Money Records, and in the same year he founded Young Money Entertainment as an offshoot of Cash Money Records. However, Lil' Wayne reported that he has stepped down from the management of both labels and has handed management of Young Money Entertainment over to Cortez Bryant, a longtime friend. Lil' Wayne has a Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston in Texas.
[ Top of page ] Lil' Wayne & The Hot BoysIn 1997, Lil’ Wayne, Juvenile, Turk, and B.G. came together to form the rap group the Hot Boys. At 15 years of age, Lil’ Wayne was the youngest member at that time. The Hot Boys' debut album "Get It How U Live" was released the same year in 1997. This was Lil’ Wayne's first album with the Hot Boys. "Get It How U Live" was then followed in 1999 by the group's major-label debut album "Guerrilla Warfare", which reached #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #5 on the Billboard 200. During their career, the Hot Boys had two charting singles, "We On Fire" from the album "Get It How U Live" and "I Need a Hot Girl" taken from the album "Guerrilla Warfare". 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. "Let 'Em Burn", a compilation album of unreleased tracks recorded during 1999 and 2000, came out in 2003, several years after the group disbanded. It reached #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #14 on the Billboard 200.
[ Top of page ] Lil' Wayne's Solo CareerLil' Wayne's first solo album was "Tha Block is Hot", which came out in 1999 and debuted in the top ten of the American Billboard 200 chart. In the same year (1999) Lil' Wayne was nominated for "Best New Artist" by The Source magazine. After the success of his hit debut album, "Tha Block Is Hot", Lil' Wayne released two further albums: "Lights Out" which was released in 2000 and "500 Degreez" which was released in 2002. These two subsequent albums didn't achieve the level of success achieved by "Tha Block Is Hot", partly due to limited promotion. In 2004, Lil' Wayne reached higher levels of popularity with "Tha Carter". And the two follow-up albums, "Tha Carter II" (2005) and "Tha Carter III" (2008) in particular, made Lil' Wayne into a Hip Hop rap phenomenon, with "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal) winning the accolade of the best-selling album of 2008 after shifting a total of 2.88 million units. Lil' Wayne's Studio AlbumsTha Block Is Hot (1999)
Following his success with "Tha Block Is Hot", Lil' Wayne soon began featuring on other rappers' singles, including B.G.'s "Bling Bling" and Big Tymers' "#1 Stunna". Lights Out (2000)
The second single which received less attention was "Shine" featuring The Hot Boys. Just before 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. 500 Degreez (2002)
The title "500 Degreez" was a response to Juvenile's (estranged Hot Boys member at the time) recording of "400 Degreez". 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", Lil' Wayne was featured on the single, "Neva Get Enuf" with 3LW. Tha Carter (2004)
Lil' Wayne gained significant recognition for "Tha Carter", selling over 1 million copies in the United States, while the single "Go DJ" became a top five hit. After the release of "Tha Carter", Lil' Wayne was featured on 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. 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. Tha Carter II (2005)
Tha Carter III (2008)
"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. 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 ten single for Lil' Wayne as a solo artist, as well as his first #1 on the chart. His third single from "Tha Carter III", "Got Money" featuring T-Pain, peaked at #13 on the Billboard 100. After selling 2.88 million units of "Tha Carter III" and taking home first prize for the most albums sold in 2008 across all popular music genres, Lil' Wayne's place in history as one of the most successful rappers of his generation, is assured. [ Top of page ] Lil' Wayne's MixtapesIn 2006, following the release of "Tha Carter II", Lil' Wayne collaborated with rapper Birdman on the album "Like Father, Like Son". The first single from the album, "Stuntin' Like My Daddy", reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. Instead of a follow-up solo album to "Tha Carter II", Lil' Wayne reached his audience through mixtapes and guest appearances on a variety of pop and Hip Hop singles. Of his many mixtapes, "Dedication 2" and "Da Drought 3" received the most media exposure and critical review. "Dedication 2", released in 2006, saw Lil' Wayne team up with DJ Drama on the acclaimed socially conscious track "Georgia Bush" in which Lil' Wayne criticized US president George W. Bush's response to the crisis in New Orleans after the effects of Hurricane Katrina. "Da Drought 3" was released in 2007 and was available for free legal download. The album featured Lil' Wayne rapping over a variety of beats from recent hits by other musicians. Prominent Hip Hop magazines such as XXL and Vibe covered the mixtape. Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone magazine considered the mixtapes "Da Drought 3" and "The Drought Is Over Part 2" "among the best albums of 2007."
[ Top of page ] Hip Hop News: Lil' Wayne
Photos | Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne At America's Most Wanted Stop In Cincinnati
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Jay-Z Feels The Hometown Love At Madison Square Garden Show Jay gets some help from Young Jeezy, Trey Songz, Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj and other special guests.
NEW YORK — There is always palpable exhilaration whenever Jay-Z plays Madison Square Garden. Tuesday night (March 2) was another sold-out show at MSG as Hov's Blueprint 3 Tour arrived in town. After Trey Songz played up to the ladies with his set, there was a short intermission. Like lightning -- boom! The Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" video began playing on two big screens that hung over the stage, and a 10-minute countdown began perfectly in sync with the classic hip-hop track. Hova chants started several minutes prior to that.
Finally, with no time left on the clock, Jay's music began. He was greeted with a deafening roar of approval. "Feel it coming in the air," Rihanna's recorded voice from "Run This Town" blasted through the arena. Jay rose from underneath the stage, rolling his head around his shoulders like a young Mike Tyson getting ready for a prize fight. Jay, like Tyson in the '80s, knows he's a dominant force in any ring, any arena, but especially at the Garden, he's unstoppable. Jay then brought out Memphis Bleek and told his former neighbor in the Marcy Projects he wanted him to see something special. Like a wizard, Jigga waved his hand around the arena and made fans scream. "I wanna be careful how I phrase this, because it's one of my heroes," Jay said. "Madison Square Garden used to be Run's House. But 'Run's House' is now on MTV. Madison Square Garden is now 'The House That Hov Built.' " His assertion was backed up with triumphant showings of "On to the Next One," "U Don't Know," "99 Problems" and "Show Me What You Got."
"Empire State of Mind" felt special in the Garden. Jay's performance of the record filled the arena with hometown pride. It's the closest feeling the crowd at the Garden will get to the Knicks winning the championship ... at least until LeBron James signs with the team next year (fingers crossed). James was in attendance, along with his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Ross, Gwyneth Paltrow, Diddy and Cash Money Records CEO the Birdman. Birdman was on hand to cheer on his "son" Lil Wayne. Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj had the show-stealing moment as part of Young Jeezy's set. The Snowman also brought out Akon. Jeezy came out about 40 minutes into Jay's show, and the two did "Real as It Gets" from Blueprint 3. After handing Jeezy the keys to MSG for a while, Jay came back and traded rhymes with his Southern partner on the remixes of "Put On" and "My President." Trey Songz came out with Jay as well to help out on "Heart of the City" and "Already Home." The Blueprint 3 Tour stopped with an "overtime" session that saw Jay take his fans back as far as the Reasonable Doubt days with "Ain't No N---a" and "Can I Live." "Am I going too far back? This moment is only for us," he added of himself and fans of his first LP. Hov then brought it up a few years for "Big Pimpin'," with Jay urging everyone to wave whatever they had from rags to bandanas to hats in the air, Carnivale-style. "I don't take it for granted," Jay said of the fan love. "I appreciate everyone in the building tonight. Thank you, and I hope we return the love tenfold. The legendary MC then asked to do one more record: "Encore." Hov is going to be in the Tri-State Area with a few shows during these next two weeks. He plays Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel as well as the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island next week. Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsLil Wayne - Respect My Conglomerate
Lil Wayne - Down Lil Wayne Joins Young Jeezy Onstage During Jay-Z's NYC Show Weezy, who was supposed to be sentenced to prison Tuesday, was also joined by Young Money's Drake and Nicki Minaj.
Jay-Z has said that Madison Square Garden should be called "The House That Hovie Built," but on Tuesday night (March 2), Young Jeezy was the one who startled the sold-out Blueprint 3 Tour crowd by pulling the trump card that tore the roof off. The Snowman called out Young Money artists Nicki Minaj and Drake, as well as the label's CEO, Lil Wayne.
Jeezy came out about 45 minutes into Jay-Z's set to perform "Real as It Gets." Hov then turned the reins over to Jeezy, who threw out a few of his street-approved rhymes, like his verse on Shawty Lo's "Dey Know." Jeezy told the crowd that his friend Lil Wayne was supposed to go to jail that day, but a courthouse fire delayed his sentencing on weapons charges once again. Jeezy said he wanted to bring someone out to dedicate a record to him. Nicki Minaj then came out and did her verse from "Bedrock." After the song, Jeezy told Nicki to stay, and the beat for "I'm Goin' In" came on. Lil Wayne then emerged from the mini-stage where Jay's Roc Boys band was playing and jumped on the main stage with Jeezy. The concertgoers — who were already on their feet — gave the New Orleans native a phenomenal response. Wayne's face lit up as he rapped his verse.
Drake then came out, breaking the night's all-black dress code by wearing all white instead. The crowd gave Drizzy loud approval during his verse. Young Jeezy closed the song out, and all three men yelled the chorus: "I'm goin' in, I'm goin' in, and I'mma go hard!" "Jeezy, you a real n---a," Wayne said, saluting the Snowman. "We with you 100 percent," Young told Wayne. Jeezy told the fans to make some noise for Wayne and Young Money, which they were already doing. From there, the Atlanta rapper dug into his catalog with thumpers such as "Crazy World," "Go Crazy" and "Go Getta." Jeezy closed out his set by bringing out another guest, Akon, for "Soul Survivor." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists[ Top of page ] Hip Hop / Urban / Music Magazines[ Top of page ] Hip Hop News
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At age 17, Lil' Wayne's debut solo album 
Lil' Wayne's 2000 follow-up album 
Lil' Wayne's third album 
In the summer of 2004, Lil' Wayne's album 
"Tha Carter II"
"Tha Carter III"
