Lil Wayne Biography
Lil Wayne Biography – Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., famously recognized as Lil Wayne, is a renowned American hip hop artist who has garnered numerous accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious Grammy Award. He began his professional music journey at the age of nine with Cash Money Records and joined the teen rap duo The B.G.’z alongside Lil’ Doogie. A few years later, he became a member of the hip hop group Hot Boys with Young Turk, Juvenile, and Lil’ Doogie (now known as B.G.). The group gained massive popularity with hits like Bling Bling and the platinum-certified album Guerrilla Warfare.
Lil Wayne’s solo debut, Tha Block Is Hot, was also a commercial success, earning a platinum certification from the RIAA. He followed up with a series of successful albums that propelled him to global fame, securing his place among the elite in international hip hop. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, Lil Wayne ranks among the best-selling music artists of all time. His standout album, Tha Carter III, sold over a million copies in its first week in the U.S. and won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. He is also the founder of the label Young Money Entertainment.
Profile
- Full Name: Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
- Date of Birth: September 27, 1982
- Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Spouse: Toya Johnson (2004–2006)
- Parents: Dwayne Michael Turner (father), Jacida Carter (mother)
- Children: Reginae, Dwayne III, Cameron, Neal
- Hometown: Hollygrove, New Orleans
- Profession: Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Executive, Entrepreneur
- Genre: Hip Hop
- Estimated Net Worth: $150 Million
Lil Wayne Early Life
Born in New Orleans on September 27, 1982, Lil Wayne grew up in the Hollygrove neighborhood. After his parents separated when he was two, he was raised by his mother, a cook. Lil Wayne shared a close bond with his stepfather, Rabbit, who was later tragically killed, a loss Lil Wayne memorialized with a tattoo.
In an interview, he explained why he prefers “Wayne” over “Dwayne,” citing his absent biological father. He began writing rap lyrics at age eight and caught the attention of Bryan “Birdman” Williams, co-founder of Cash Money Records. Birdman mentored him, eventually developing a father-son dynamic.
He joined The B.G.’z with Lil’ Doogie and released True Story in 1995, marking his collaborative debut. At 12, he accidentally shot himself with a handgun and was rescued by an off-duty officer, Robert Hoobler. Lil Wayne attended Eleanor McMain Secondary School and later Marion Abramson Senior High but left school at 14 to focus on music.
Lil Wayne Career
In 1996, Lil Wayne joined the rap group Hot Boys. Their 1999 album Guerrilla Warfare topped R&B/Hip-Hop charts and reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200, gaining national attention.
His first solo album, Tha Block Is Hot, released in November 1999, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum. Although his next albums, Lights Out (2000) and 500 Degreez (2002), achieved gold status, they didn’t match the success of his debut.
In 2004, he released Tha Carter, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 100,000 copies in its first week, earning gold certification. The same year, he became president of Cash Money and launched Young Money Entertainment, though he stepped down from both roles by late 2007.
His 2005 release Tha Carter II debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and eventually went platinum. Then came Tha Carter III in 2008, a major success that sold over a million units in its first week and earned triple-platinum status. It also brought him four Grammy Awards in 2009, including Best Rap Album.
Other notable albums include Rebirth (2010), Tha Carter IV (2011), and Free Weezy Album (2015). He’s been featured on numerous collaborations and mixtapes such as Dedication 2 and Da Drought 3. Lil Wayne has also acted in films like Baller Blockin’ and Hurricane Season, and appeared on shows like SNL and The Boondocks.
Lil Wayne Personal Life & Legacy
Lil Wayne is a father of four, Reginae with his former wife Antonia “Toya” Johnson, Dwayne III with Sarah Vivan, Cameron with Lauren London, and Neal with Nivea. He has also dated Trina and Christina Milian.
After earning his GED, Lil Wayne enrolled at the University of Houston in 2005 but later dropped out. He continued his education online through the University of Phoenix, majoring in psychology.
In 2010, he served eight months of a one-year sentence at Rikers Island for weapons and drug charges. He later chronicled the experience in his memoir, Gone ‘Til November, published in 2016.
Lil Wayne Breakthrough and Mainstream Recognition
Lil Wayne’s rise began with his debut album Tha Block Is Hot in 1999 under Cash Money Records. Its success made him a standout new voice in hip hop. In 2004, Tha Carter began a critically acclaimed series that defined his career. Each sequel further solidified his legacy, with Tha Carter III marking a commercial and artistic peak.
Lil Wayne Artistic Style and Impact
Known for his clever lyricism, freestyle prowess, and distinctive voice, Lil Wayne stands out for his boundary-pushing artistry. He frequently experiments across genres and collaborates with a wide range of artists, making him a key cultural influencer.
As the founder of Young Money Entertainment, he played a pivotal role in launching the careers of artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj.
Lil Wayne Awards and Recognition
Lil Wayne is one of the most celebrated artists of his generation. His award history includes:
- Grammy Awards: 5 wins from 24 nominations
- Billboard Music Awards: 4 wins out of 9 nominations
- MTV Video Music Awards: 2 wins from 13 nominations
- BET Awards: 11 wins from 33 nominations
- BET Hip Hop Awards: 16 wins out of 52 nominations
- American Music Awards: 1 win from 8 nominations
- Soul Train Awards: 4 wins from 12 nominations
Lil Wayne Social Media Presence
Lil Wayne maintains a strong online presence, engaging millions of fans with regular posts and selfies. His official social handles include:
- Instagram: @liltunechi
- Twitter: @LilTunechi
- Facebook: Lil Wayne
Discography
- Notable Singles:
I Get Crazy - I Get Money (Birdman song)
- I Know (B.G. song
- Glory (Lil Wayne song)
- Go D.J.
- Gold (Kiiara song)
- Gonorrhea (song)
- Good Form (song)
- Good Time (Paris Hilton song)
- Gossip (Lil Wayne song)
- Got Money
- See You in My Nightmares
- Shawty Say
- She Doesn’t Put It Down
- She Will
- Shine (Lil Wayne song)
- Shoot Me Down (Lil Wayne song)
- Shooter (song)
- Ready to Go (Limp Bizkit song)
- Red Nation
- Respect My Conglomerate
- Respect Us
- Revolver (song)
- Pick Up Your Heart
- Pillowtalk (song)
- 3 Peat (song)
- 4 My Town (Play Ball)
- 6 Foot 7 Foot
- 9 Piece
- 9mm (song)
- 100 Million
- Back That Thang Up
- Ball (song)
- Ballin’ (Young Jeezy song)
- Bandz a Make Her Dance
- Bang Bang Pow Pow
- He’s Dead
- Heard ’em All
- On Fire (Lil Wayne song)
- Only (Nicki Minaj song)
- Hello (Stafford Brothers song)
- Karate Chop (song)
- Knockout (Lil Wayne song
- Know What I’m Doin’
- Krazy (Lil Wayne song)
- High School (song)
- Hit the Lights (Jay Sean song)
- Holla at Me
- Pop Bottles
- Pop That
- Post Bail Ballin’
- Prom Queen (Lil Wayne song)
- Psycho (Lil Wayne song)
- Pull Up (Lil Wayne song)
- Push (Enrique Iglesias song)
- Rich As Fvck
- Rich Sex
- Right Above It
- Roger That (song)
- Roman Reloaded (song)
- Roman’s Revenge
- Sleazy Remix 2.0: Get Sleazier
- Smuckers (song)
- So Good (Electrik Red song)
- So Sharp (Mack 10 song)
- Soldier (Destiny’s Child song)
- Official Girl
- Hollywood Divorce
- Hot Girls
- Hot Revolver
- How Many Times (DJ Khaled song)
- How to Love
- Hustle Hard
- Be Like Me
- BedRock
- Believe Me (Lil Wayne song)
- Beware (Big Sean song)
- Bling Bling (song)
- Tha Block Is Hot (song)
- Blunt Blowin
- Bottles & Rockin’ J’s
- Bottom of the Bottle
- Earthquake (Lil Wayne song)
- Enough of No Love
- Every Girl (Young Money song
- Bow Chicka Wow Wow
- Bring It Back
- Da Da Da (Lil Wayne song)
- Death Wish (song)
- Dirty Dancer
- Don’t Cry (Lil Wayne song)
- Don’t Trip
- Down (Jay Sean song)
- Drop the World
Studio Albums
- Tha Block Is Hot (1999)
- Lights Out (2000)
- 500 Degreez (2002)
- Tha Carter (2004)
- Tha Carter II (2005)
- Tha Carter III (2008)
- Rebirth (2010)
- I Am Not a Human Being (2010)
- Tha Carter IV (2011)
- I Am Not a Human Being II (2013)
- Free Weezy Album (2015)
- Tha Carter V (2018)
- Funeral (2020)
- I Am Not a Human Being III (2021)
Filmography
Lil Wayne has appeared in various films and shows, including:
- Baller Blockin’ (2000)
- Hurricane Season (2009)
- Freaknik: The Movie (2010)
- The Boondocks, SNL, Wild ‘n Out, The Masked Singer, and Loiter Squad
Lil Wayne Net Worth
With a net worth of around $150 million, Lil Wayne enjoys a luxurious lifestyle. He owns a $17 million mansion in Miami Beach and drives high-end cars like a Bugatti Veyron and Rolls Royce Phantom. Known for his lavish taste, he has been seen wearing a $1 million diamond-encrusted Beats headphone and a matching diamond watch.