Lil Wayne Biography and Profile

Lil Wayne Profile
Name: Lil Wayne
Birth Name: Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
Height: 5' 6"
Sex: M
Nationality: American
Birth Date: September 27, 1982
Birth Place: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Profession: Singer, Songwriter
Education: University of Houston in Houston, Texas (attended since early 2005, began studying political science but switched into psychology)
Relationship: Trina (rapper; born on December 3, 1978; dated 2005-March 2006)
Step Father: Reginald 'Rabbit' Carter
Claim to fame: His lead single 'Fireman' from his solo album 'Tha Carter II' (2005)

Lil Wayne Biography

Charismatic Southern rapper Lil Wayne began his industry ascendance as one of the Hot Boys, a short-lived Cash Money Records all-star group, and after establishing himself as a successful solo artist, he grew to become a critical favorite, known especially for his entertainting underground mixtapes. Born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., on September 27, 1979, in New Orleans, LA, Lil Wayne grew up in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans' 17th Ward. There he became acquainted with the Cash Money Records collective, which he eventually joined as a teenager. Get It How U Live! (1997), a Hot Boys album also featuring Juvenile, B.G., and Turk, marked Lil Wayne's album debut; at age 18, he was the youngest group member.

A second Hot Boys album, Guerrilla Warfare (1999), preceded Lil Wayne's solo debut, Tha Block Is Hot (1999). The album went double platinum, peaking at number three on Billboard's album chart and spawning a Top Ten hit with the title track. Lil Wayne's second album, Lights Out (2000), failed to match the success of its predecessor, nor did 500 Degreez (2002), his third album. By this point in time, Lil Wayne was the only remaining Hot Boy on Cash Money -- all other members had defected -- and the future didn't seem promising for him or the label. Consequently, he purportedly scrapped work on his fourth album and instead released the recordings as an underground mixtape, Da Drought (2003), his first of many to follow.

Tha Carter (2004) signaled a change in direction for Lil Wayne. The album itself wasn't a huge departure from Lil Wayne's past three -- it's filled to the brim with tracks produced by Cash Money in-house producer Mannie Fresh, some of which could well have been left on the cutting room floor -- yet it showcased a more measured and mature performance by the rapper, who seemed newly emboldened and sported a new look on the album cover (i.e., dreadlocks). The change in direction was commercial as well as musical, as Tha Carter featured Lil Wayne's biggest hit in years, "Go DJ"; moreover, the album itself was a Top Five hit. Also in 2004, Lil Wayne began to be featured regularly, starting with Destiny's Child's "Soldier," a Top Three hit.

A pair of popular 2005 mixtapes, Dedication (with DJ Drama) and Suffix (DJ Khaled), further established Lil Wayne as a dexterous freestyle rapper. Plus, they helped garner additional interest in his music among listeners who weren't part of the usual Cash Money constituency. By the end of the year, Lil Wayne's reputation was such that Tha Carter, Vol. 2, his next Cash Money album, debuted at number two on Billboard's album chart upon its December release, and did so without the benefit of a smash hit ("Fireman" stalled at number 32) or the productions of workhorse Mannie Fresh, who had left Cash Money.

In the wake of Tha Carter, Vol. 2, which was a critical favorite as well as a strong seller, Lil Wayne continued to bolster his reputation and increase his fan base via the mixtape circuit. Of the myriad mixtapes bearing his name from 2006 onward, Dedication, Vol. 2 (DJ Drama, 2006) is a standout; like Tha Carter, Vol. 2, it was a critical favorite, making many end-of-year lists. The Carter, Vol. 2, Pt. 2: Like Father, Like Son (DJ Khaled, 2006) was notable, too, as some of its material was revived for Like Father, Like Son (2006), a major-label collaboration with Baby, aka Birdman, that spawned the hit "Stuntin' Like My Daddy." Lil Wayne also collaborated regularly with Dipset member Juelz Santana during this period. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

Lil Wayne Discography
Studio albums
* 1999: Tha Block Is Hot
* 2000: Lights Out
* 2002: 500 Degreez
* 2004: Tha Carter
* 2005: Tha Carter II
* 2008: Tha Carter III
* 2009: Rebirth[49]
* 2009: Tha Carter IV[59]
EPs
* 2007: The Leak
Official mixtapes
* 2003: Da Drought
* 2004: Da Drought 2
* 2004: The Prefix
* 2005: Dedication
* 2005: The Suffix
* 2006: Dedication 2
* 2006: Blow: The I Can't Feel My Face Prequel (with Juelz Santana)
* 2006: Lil Weezyana
* 2007: Da Drought 3
* 2008: Dedication 3
Collaboration albums
* 2006: Like Father, Like Son (with Birdman)
* 2009: T-Wayne (with T-Pain)[85]
* 2009: I Can't Feel My Face (with Juelz Santana)

Lil Wayne Filmography
* 2000: Baller Blockin as Iceberg Shorty
* 2007: Who's Your Caddy? as Himself
* 2009: Hurricane Season as Lamont
* 2009: The Carter as Himself
* 2009: Like Father, Like Son

Lil Wayne Gossip, News & Trivia
* MOBO awards: Best Hip Hop, (2008)
* Arrested on charges of possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. (August 14, 2006)
* Arrested after his first New York City show at the Beacan theater for illegal gun possession. (July 22, 2007)
* Had been linked to female rapper Trina since around the time of the 2005 NBA All-Star Game at Pepsi Center in Denver. rumors.
* Was once a member of the group the Hot Boys.
* Records for Ca$h Money/Universal Records.
* Has a record label called Young Money Records.
* Refused to curse on his first album, 'Tha Block is Hot,' even though it bears a standard RIAA explicit-lyrics sticker.
* Always refers to Birdman/Baby (Brian Williams)as his Pa.
* Is CEO of Young Money records and president of Ca$h Money Records.
* Grew up as an only child (he now has a younger brother) in the poverty-stricken and crime-ridden Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans' 17th Ward.
* Would draw some media and fan attention with the leak of a picture of himself and Bryan Baby Williams (a.k.a. Birdman) kissing. It was explained as a father-son kiss, and Williams later claimed it was a black variation of Mafia affection.
* In the single Know What I'm Doin' Lil Wayne claims to have been shot. During Wayne's childhood, he mistakenly shot himself with his stepfather's gun.
* Appears on DJ Khaled's hit single We Takin Over alongside Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, and Baby.
* Appears on R&B singer Mya's hit single Lock U Down.
* Bought a sky box at the Louisiana Superdome with Birdman.
* Was recruited by Boyz N Da Hood.
* Went solo at age 17.
* Nickname: Lil' Wheezy / Baby Jr. / Weezy F. Baby / BM Jr.
* Trade Mark: Red Bandana in his right pocket or tied on his right arm or leg