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He plays guitar and can freestyle. Both proven facts.
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{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = Lil Wayne
| Img = Lil Wayne.jpg
| Img_capt =
| Img_size =
| Background = solo_singer
| Birth_name = Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.
| Born = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1982|9|27}}<ref name="allmusicguide"/>
| Instrument = Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
| Alias =
| Origin = [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]], Louisiana, United States
| Genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[Pop music|pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll|title=allmusic ((( Lil Wayne > Overview )))|last=Jeffries|first=David|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[Macrovision|Macrovision Corporation]]|accessdate=2009-10-21}}</ref>
| Musical_style =
| Occupation = [[Rapping|Rapper]], [[Actor]], [[CEO]], [[Designer]]<ref name="Celebrity Clothing Line">{{cite web|title=Rapper Lil' Wayne Double W and Foreign Money Clothing Line|url=http://www.celebrityclothingline.com/celebrity-clothing-line/rapper-lil-wayne-double-w-and-foreign-money-clothing-line//articles/14757.aspx|work=Celebrity Clothing Line}}</ref>
| Years_active = 1993–present
| Label = [[Cash Money Records|Cash Money]], [[Young Money Entertainment|Young Money]], [[Universal Records|Universal]]
| Associated_acts = [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], [[Aubrey Graham|Drake]], [[Young Money Entertainment|Young Money]], [[Mack Maine]], [[Hot Boys]]
| URL=[http://www.lilwayne-online.com/ www.lilwayne-online.com]
}}
'''Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.''' (born September 27, 1982), better known by his [[stage name]] '''Lil Wayne''', is an American [[Grammy Award]]-winning [[Rapping|rapper]]. Formerly a member of the rap group the [[Hot Boys]], he joined the [[Cash Money Records]] collective as a teenager. ''[[Get It How U Live!]]'', released in 1997, was Lil Wayne's first album with Hot Boys, and ''[[Tha Block Is Hot]]'', his solo debut, came out in 1999.

After gaining fame with two other albums in the early 2000s, Lil Wayne reached higher popularity with 2004's ''[[Tha Carter]]'' and its two subsequent albums ''[[Tha Carter II]]'' (2005) and ''[[Tha Carter III]]'' (2008). He earned various accolades following ''Tha Carter III'', including eight Grammy Awards nominations. He has had two number one singles on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] ("[[Lollipop (Lil Wayne song)|Lollipop]]" featuring [[Static Major]] and "[[Down (Jay Sean song)|Down]]" with [[Jay Sean]]). He will release a rock album titled ''[[Rebirth (Lil Wayne album)|Rebirth]]'' in 2010.

==Early life==
Lil Wayne was born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. to Jacida "Cita" Carter and Dwayne Michael Turner on September 27, 1982 and grew up in the [[Hollygrove, New Orleans|Hollygrove]] neighborhood of [[New Orleans]], Louisiana. <ref name="allmusicguide">{{cite web|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|title=Lil Wayne - Biography|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0nfoxqejldke~T1|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|date=2008|accessdate=2009-03-29}}</ref> Carter enrolled in the gifted program of Lafayette Elementary School and in the drama club of Eleanor McMain Secondary School.<ref name="blender">{{cite web|last=Weiner|first=Jonah|title=Best Rock Star Alive: Lil Wayne|url=http://www.blender.com/BestRockStarAliveLilWayne/articles/14757.aspx|work=Blender|date=2008-02-20|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone Best MC"/> He wrote his first rap song at age eight.<ref name="AP Respect"/> At age eleven, he met [[Birdman (rapper)|Bryan Williams]], rapper and owner of [[Cash Money Records]]. Lil Wayne recorded freestyle raps on Williams' answering machine; Williams would eventually mentor the young Carter and include him in Cash Money-distributed songs.<ref name="new yorker">{{cite news|last=Frere-Jones|first=Sasha|title=High and Mighty|url=http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2007/08/13/070813crmu_music_frerejones?currentPage=all|work=The New Yorker|date=2007-08-13|accessdate=2008-03-28}}</ref> When he was 12, he played the part of the [[Tin Man]] in his middle school drama club's production of ''[[The Wiz]]''.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news|last=Tyrangiel|first=Josh|title=Lil Wayne: The Best Rapper Alive|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1820148,00.html|work=Time|date=2008-07-03|accessdate=2008-11-17}}</ref> He claims that he accidentally shot himself with a .44 caliber gun at that age.<ref name="blender"/> He dropped out of school at age 14.<ref name="blender"/>

==Music career==
===Hot Boys===
{{Main|Hot Boys}}
In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group [[Hot Boys]] along with rappers [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]], [[Turk (rapper)|Turk]], and [[B.G. (rapper)|B.G.]]; at age 15, Wayne was the youngest member at that time. Hot Boys' debut album ''Get It How U Live!'' was released the same year, followed in 1999 by the group's major-label debut ''[[Guerrilla Warfare (album)|Guerrilla Warfare]]'',<ref name="allmusicguide"/> which reached #1 on the ''Billboard'' magazine Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #5 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="Hot Boys Album Charts"/> During their career, the Hot Boys had two charting singles, "[[We on Fire]]" from ''Get It How U Live!'' and "I Need a Hot Girl" from ''Guerrilla Warfare''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Hot Boys - Billboard Singles|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wbftxquhld0e~T51|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0jfpxqq5ldhe~T51 Juvenile - Billboard Singles]. allmusic</ref> ''Let 'Em Burn'', a compilation album of unreleased tracks recorded during 1999 and 2000, came out in 2003, several years after the group disbanded.<ref>{{cite web|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|title=Let 'Em Burn - Overview |url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fzftxqwaldte|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref> It reached #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #14 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="Hot Boys Album Charts">{{cite web|title=The Hot Boys - Billboard Albums|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wbftxquhld0e~T5|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref>

===Early solo career (1999–2003)===
Lil Wayne's debut solo album ''[[Tha Block Is Hot]]'' at age 17 featured significant contributions from the [[Hot Boys]] and went double platinum, climbing to #3 on the Billboard album charts.<ref name="allmusicguide"/> The album earned him a 1999 ''[[The Source (magazine)|Source]]'' magazine award nomination for "Best New Artist",<ref name="cash money">{{cite web|title=Lil Wayne - Tha Carter II|url=http://www.lilwayne-online.com/bio.asp|publisher=[[Cash Money Records]]|date=2005|accessdate=2008-03-29}}</ref> and also became a Top Ten hit.<ref name="allmusicguide"/> The lead single was "[[Tha Block Is Hot]]". After the release of ''Tha Block is Hot'', Lil Wayne was featured on the single, "[[Bling Bling]]", with [[B.G. (rapper)|B.G.]], Juvenile, Turk, and Big Tymers.

His 2000 follow-up album ''[[Lights Out (Lil Wayne album)|Lights Out]]'' failed to attain the level of success achieved by his debut<ref name="allmusicguide"/> but was certified gold by RIAA.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|title=Gold and Platinum - Lil Wayne|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Lil%20Wayne&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=on&before=on&startMonth=1&endMonth=4&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50|publisher=RIAA|date=2007-12-11|accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> Critics pointed to the lack of coherent narratives in his verses as evidence that he had yet to mature to the level of his fellow Hot Boys.<ref>{{cite web|last=Juon|first=Steve|title=Lil Wayne - "Lights Out"|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2001_01_lightsout.html |work=RapReviews.com|date=2001-01-06|accessdate=2008-04-15}}</ref> The lead single was "Get Off The Corner" which was noticed for an improvement in lyrical content and style, it also received a music video. The second single which received less attention was "Shine" featuring The ''[[Hot Boys]]''. Near the release of ''Lights Out'', Lil Wayne was featured on the single, "1# Stunna" with [[Big Tymers]] and [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]], which rose to 24th place on the [[Hot Rap Tracks]] charts.

In 2001, Lil Wayne was shot in the chest in Florida after "some groupies" fired two shots through his tour bus window. He recalled the incident in 2008 interview: 'It [the bullet] 'didn’t go all the way in, ’cause the window slowed it down.'<ref name="blender"/>

Lil Wayne's third album ''[[500 Degreez]]'', released in 2002, followed the format of his previous two, with significant contributions from the [[Hot Boys]] and [[Mannie Fresh]]. While certified Gold like its predecessor,<ref name="riaa"/> it too failed to match the success of his debut.<ref name="allmusicguide"/> The title was a reference to the recently estranged Hot Boys member Juvenile's recording, ''[[400 Degreez]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title="500 Degreez" - Overview|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fjfoxqy0ldte|publisher=Allmusic|date=2002|accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> 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, he was featured in the single "[[Neva Get Enuf]]" by [[3LW]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Moss|first=Corey|title=Remaining 3LW Pair Too Busy To Hold Auditions For New Member|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457967/20021004/3lw.jhtml|work=MTV News|date=2002-10-04|accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref>

===''Tha Carter'' and ''Tha Carter II'' (2004–05)===
In the summer of 2004, Wayne's album ''[[Tha Carter]]'' came out, marking what critics considered advancement in his rapping style and lyrical themes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|title=Tha Carter > Overview|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3jfixqealdse|publisher=allmusic|date=2004-06-29|accessdate=2008-09-13}}{{cite web|last=Hoard|first=Christian|title=Lil Wayne: Tha Carter|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lilwayne/albums/album/6041342/review/6294718/tha_carter|work=Rolling Stone|date=2004-08-05|accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref> In addition, the album's cover art featured the debut of Wayne's now-signature [[dreadlocks]].<ref name="allmusicguide"/> ''[[Tha Carter]]'' gained Wayne significant recognition, selling over 1 million copies in the United States, while the single "Go DJ" became a Top 5 Hit.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hope|first=Clover|title=Lil Wayne Nabs Kurupt, Lil' Mo For New CD|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001433632|work=Billboard|date=2005-11-03}}</ref> After the release of ''Tha Carter'', Lil Wayne was featured in [[Destiny's Child|Destiny's Child's]] single "[[Soldier (Destiny's Child song)|Soldier]]" with [[T.I.]], which peaked at #3 on the [[U.S. Hot 100]] and the U.S. [[R&B]] Charts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Destiny's Child - Billboard Singles|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wbfyxquhldke~T51|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|date=2006|accessdate=2008-03-28}}</ref> 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.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14BN0WadHCM</ref>

''[[Tha Carter II]]'', the follow-up to the original ''Tha Carter'' album, was released in December 2005, this time without production by longtime [[Cash Money Records]] producer [[Mannie Fresh]], who had since left the label. ''Tha Carter II'' sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at No. 2 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] albums chart, and went on to sell 2,000,000 copies world wide. The lead single, "Fireman," became a hit in the US, peaking at 32 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] chart. Other singles included "Grown Man", "Hustler Muzik", and "Shooter" (featuring R&B singer [[Robin Thicke]]). Lil Wayne also appeared on a remix of [[Bobby Valentino|Bobby Valentino's]] "[[Tell Me (Bobby Valentino song)|Tell Me]]", which rose to #13 on the U.S. [[R&B]] Charts.

In 2005, Lil Wayne was named president of Cash Money, and in the same year he founded [[Young Money Entertainment]] as an imprint of Cash Money.<ref>[http://www.mp3.com/artist/lil-wayne/summary/ Lil Wayne - MP3.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However, as of late 2007, Lil Wayne reported that he has stepped down from the management of both labels and has handed management of Young Money over to Cortez Bryant.<ref>[http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/lil_wayne_excerpts/ ''Vibe.com'' - Weezy F. Baby: Uncut (October 2, 2007)]</ref>

===Collaborations and mixtapes (2006–07)===
[[Image:Lil Wayne cropped.jpg|thumb|178px|Performing at the [[Beacon Theatre]] on July 23, 2007.]]
In 2006, Lil Wayne collaborated with rapper [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] for the album ''[[Like Father, Like Son]]'', whose first single "[[Stuntin' Like My Daddy]]", reached #21 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]]. Instead of a follow-up solo album, Lil Wayne reached his audience through a plethora of mixtapes and guest appearances on a variety of pop and hip-hop singles.<ref name="allmusicguide"/> Of his many mixtapes, ''[[Dedication 2]]'' and ''[[Da Drought 3]]'' received the most media exposure and critical review. ''Dedication 2'', released in 2006, paired Lil Wayne with [[DJ Drama]] and contained the acclaimed socially conscious track "Georgia Bush," in which Lil Wayne critiqued former US president [[George W. Bush]]'s response to the effects of [[Hurricane Katrina]] on the city of [[New Orleans]]. ''Da Drought 3'' was released the following year and was available for free legal download. It contained Lil Wayne rapping over a variety of beats from recent hits by other musicians. Numerous of features in prominent hip-hop magazines such as ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Hope|first=Clover|title=Lil Wayne: Last Time I Checked|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=16889|work=XXL|date=2007-12-03}}</ref> and ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]''<ref name=fireman>{{cite web|last=Fennessey|first=Sean|title=The 77 Best Lil' Wayne Songs of 2007|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/weezy_da_fireman/|work=Vibe|date=2007-10-03}}</ref> covered the mixtape. Christian Hoard of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine considered the mixtapes ''Da Drought 3'' and ''The Drought Is Over 2'' "among the best albums of 2007."<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoard|first=Christian|title=Best MC: Lil Wayne|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lilwayne/articles/story/20274122/best_mc_lil_wayne|work=Rolling Stone|date=2008-05-01}}</ref>

Despite no album release for two years, Lil Wayne appeared in numerous singles as a featured performer, including "[[Gimme That]]" by [[Chris Brown (entertainer)|Chris Brown]], "[[Make It Rain]]" by [[Fat Joe]], "[[You (Lloyd song)|You]]" by [[Lloyd (singer)|Lloyd]], and "[[We Takin Over]]" by [[DJ Khaled]] (also featuring [[Akon]], [[T.I.]], [[Rick Ross (rapper)|Rick Ross]], Fat Joe, and Birdman), "[[Duffle Bag Boy]]" by [[Playaz Circle]], "[[Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)]]" by [[Wyclef Jean]] (also featuring [[Akon]]), and the remix to "[[I'm So Hood]]" by [[DJ Khaled]] (also featuring [[T-Pain]], [[Young Jeezy]], [[Ludacris]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Big Boi]], Fat Joe, Birdman, and Rick Ross). All these singles charted within the top 20 spots on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]], [[Hot Rap Tracks]], and [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] charts. On Birdman's 2007 album ''[[5 * Stunna]]'', Lil Wayne appeared on the singles "[[100 Million]]" and "[[I Run This]]" among several other tracks. Wayne also appeared on tracks from albums ''[[Getback]]'' by [[Little Brother]], ''[[American Gangster (album)|American Gangster]]'' by [[Jay-Z]], and ''[[Graduation (album)|Graduation]]'' by [[Kanye West]] and ''[[Insomniac (Enrique Iglesias album)|Insomniac]]'' by [[Enrique Iglesias]]. "Make it Rain", a [[Scott Storch]] production that peaked at number 13 on the Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Rap Tracks chart,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dzfixq9rld0e~T31|title=Me, Myself and I - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles|date=2006|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=2009-02-05}}</ref> was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]] for 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1567466_20010832_20164511,00.html|title=The Grammy Nominees Are... |date=2007-12-05|work=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=2009-02-05}}</ref>

''Vibe'' magazine ranked a list of 77 of Lil Wayne's songs from 2007 and ranked 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 You Got]]") from ''Da Drought 3'' the second song.<ref name=fireman /> At the end of 2007, an [[MTV]] poll selected Lil Wayne as "Hottest MC in the Game",<ref>{{cite web|title=Lil Wayne - Can't Front on Fire|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2007/hottest/index12.jhtml|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=2007|accessdate=2008-03-28}}</ref> ''The New Yorker'' magazine ranked him "Rapper of the Year",<ref name="new yorker"/> and ''GQ'' magazine named him "Workaholic of the Year".<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1574723&pid=2674268 Lil Wayne: Workaholic of the year]. MTV.</ref> In 2008 he was named "Best Rock Star Alive" by ''[[Blender Magazine|Blender]]'' magazine<ref name="blender"/> and "Best MC" by ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref name="Rolling Stone Best MC">{{cite web|last=Hoard|first=Christian|title=Best MC: Lil Wayne|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20274122/best_mc_lil_wayne/print|work=Rolling Stone|date=2008-05-01|accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref>

===''Tha Carter III'' (2008)===
{{Main|Tha Carter III}}
Initially planned to be released in 2007, ''[[Tha Carter III]]'''s largest delay came after the majority of the tracks were leaked and distributed on mixtapes, such as "The Drought Is Over Pt. 2" and "The Drought Is Over Pt. 4". Lil Wayne initially decided to use the leaked tracks, plus four new tracks, to make a separate album, titled ''The Leak''. ''The Leak'' was to be released December 18, 2007, with the actual album being delayed until March 18, 2008,<ref name=carterrelease>MTV News Staff (January 17, 2008). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579833/20080117/blige_mary_j.jhtml Mary J. Blige 'Lives' Again On TV Soap; Plus Remy Ma, Lil Wayne, Nelly, Amy Winehouse, Scarlett Johansson, Zac Efron & More, In For The Record]. MTV. Accessed January 17, 2008.</ref> The release of ''The Leak'' in this format never came to fruition, but an official [[Extended play|EP]] titled ''The Leak'' and containing five tracks was released digitally on December 25, 2007.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

''[[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.<ref>Mayfield, Geoff. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003817568 Lil Wayne Cracks 1 Million With 'Tha Carter III']. ''Billboard'': June 17, 2008</ref> The first single "[[Lollipop (Lil Wayne song)|Lollipop]]", featuring [[Steve "Static" Garrett|Static]] became the rapper's most commercially successful song at that point, topping the [[Billboard Hot 100]], making it the first Top 10 single for Lil Wayne as a solo artist, as well as his first #1 on the chart. His third single from ''Carter III''', "[[Got Money]]" featuring T-Pain, peaked at #13 on the Billboard 100. Along with his album singles, Lil Wayne appeared on R&B singles "[[Girls Around the World]]" by Lloyd, "[[Love In This Club|Love In This Club, Part II]]" by [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]], "[[Official Girl]]" by [[Cassie (singer)|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 (The Game song)|My Life]]" by [[The Game (rapper)|The Game]], "Shawty Say" by [[David Banner]], "[[Swagga Like Us]]" by [[T.I.]], "Cutty Buddy" by [[Mike Jones (rapper)|Mike Jones]], and "Haterz" and the remix to "Certified" by [[Glasses Malone]]; and pop single "[[Let It Rock (Kevin Rudolf song)|Let It Rock]]" by new [[Cash Money]] artist [[Kevin Rudolf]]. On July 14, 2008, the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] certified ''Tha Carter III'' two times platinum.<ref>[http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Tha%20Carter,%20Vol.%203&artist=Lil%20Wayne&format=ALBUM&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 Lil Wayne - Tha Carter, Vol. 3 - Gold & Platinum]. RIAA</ref> In an October 2008 interview with MTV News, Lil Wayne announced plans to re-release this album with all new tracks, including a duet with [[Ludacris]] and remixes of "A Milli".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597594/20081021/lil_wayne.jhtml|title=Lil Wayne Calls His Carter III Do-Over 'The Birth Of A New Beginning'|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=2008-10-21|publisher=MTV News|accessdate=2009-01-31}}</ref>
[[File:Lil Wayne (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|150px|Lil Wayne performing at [[General Motors Place]] concert in Vancouver in January 2009.]]

The lineup for New Orleans' 2008 [[Voodoo Experience]] concert, held in October, featured Lil Wayne. Jonathan Cohen of ''Billboard'' magazine reported that the event would mark his biggest hometown headlining set of his career.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|title=Lil Wayne Suits Up For Voodoo Experience|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003821150|work=Billboard|date=2008-06-26}}</ref> Lil Wayne will be reuniting with Hot Boys alongside Juvenile, Turk, and B.G. They plan to release an album after B.G.'s solo album ''[[Too Hood to Be Hollywood]]'' is completed.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jason|title=Turk Confirms Hot Boys Reunion From Behind Bars|url=http://www.rapbasement.com/news/lil-wayne/turk-confirms-hot-boys-reunion-from-behind-bars.html|work=Rap Basement|date=2007-09-27}}{{cite web|last=Bennett|first=Miles|title=B.G., Lil Wayne Confirm Hot Boys Reunion|url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/news/2007/10/3218/|work=Baller Status}}{{cite web|last=Dallas|first=Krush|title=BG Speaks of HotBoyz Reunion|url=http://www.defsounds.com/news/Bg_speaks_of_hotboyz_reunion|work=Def Sounds|date=2007-10-09}}{{cite web|author=Jason|title=Hot Boys Reunion Canceled After Shooting|url=http://www.rapbasement.com/news/lil-wayne/hot-boys-reunion-canceled-after-shooting.html|work=Rap Basement|date=2008-02-19}}</ref> Wayne also performed as the 2008 [[Virgin Mobile|Virgin Mobile Music Fest]] with [[Kanye West]], performing the remix of "Lollipop" with West and also lip-syncing to [[Whitney Houston]]'s "[[I Will Always Love You]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592577/20080811/lil_wayne.jhtml|title=Kanye West Joins Lil Wayne, Bemoans Nine Inch Nails Face-Off At Virgin Fest|last=Upmalis|first=Jordan|date=2008-08-11|publisher=MTV News|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> Lil Wayne also performed at the [[2008 MTV Video Music Awards]] with [[Kid Rock]] ("[[All Summer Long (Kid Rock song)|All Summer Long]]"), [[Leona Lewis]] ("DontGetIt (Misunderstood)") and [[T-Pain]] ("[[Got Money]]"). On the season premiere of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', he performed "Lollipop" and "Got Money".<ref>{{cite episode |title= Michael Phelps/Lil Wayne|episodelink= |url= |series= Saturday Night Live |serieslink= |credits= |network=NBC |airdate= 2008-09-13 |season=34 |number=1}}</ref> He later performed at the [[homecoming]] rally at [[Vanderbilt University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/vpb/homecomingschedule.html|title=Homecoming Schedule|date=2008|publisher=Vanderbilt University|accessdate=2009-01-08}}</ref> and the 2008 [[BET Hip Hop Awards]] with 12 nominations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sohh.com/2008/10/lil_wayne_the_game_young.html|title=Lil Wayne, The Game, & Young Jeezy to Perform at the BET Hip Hop Awards|last=Langhorne|first=Cyrus|date=2008-10-08|work=SOHH|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> He won the "MVP" title at the BET Hip Hop Awards and seven others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597431/20081020/lil_wayne.jhtml|title=Lil Wayne Named MVP At BET Hip-Hop Awards; T-Pain Fills In For Katt Williams As Host|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=2008-10-20|publisher=MTV News|accessdate=2009-02-07}}{{cite web|last=Adaso|first=Henry|title=2008 BET Hip Hop Awards Nominees and Winners|url=http://rap.about.com/od/awards/a/HipHopAwards08.htm|publisher=About.com|date=2008|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> It was revealed that [[M.I.A. (artist)|M.I.A.]] dropped out of performing on the tour due to her pregnancy, however [[Jay Z]] is expected to perform with Wayne on the song "Mr. Carter" at select shows.<ref>[http://www.mtv.ca/news/article.jhtml?id=11625
Lil Wayne To Perform 'Mr. Carter' With Jay-Z For The First Time, Hitting The Studio With Hot Boys.] ''MTV.com.'' Accessed October 31, 2008.</ref>

On November 11, 2008, Wayne became the first hip-hop act to ever perform at the [[CMA]] awards. He played alongside [[Kid Rock]] for the song, "[[All Summer Long (Kid Rock song)|All Summer Long]]", in which Wayne did not rap but instead inaudibly strummed guitar strings alongside the guitarist in Kid Rock's band.<ref>http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599254/20081113/lil_wayne.jhtml</ref> Shortly after, Wayne was nominated for eight [[Grammy Award|Grammys]] - the most for any artist nominated that year.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/arts/music/05arts-GRAMMYSLIKEL_BRF.html?ref=music</ref> Wayne was then named the first ever [[MTV|MTV Man of the Year]] at the end of 2008.<ref>http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601619/20081218/lil_wayne.jhtml</ref> He won the [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance]] for "[[A Milli]]", [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group|Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]] for his appearance in [[T.I.]]'s single "[[Swagga Like Us]]", and [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Song|Best Rap Song]] for "Lollipop". ''Tha Carter III'' won the award for [[Best Rap Album]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx|title=The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List|date=2009|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>

[[DJ Drama]] stated that there would be a [[Dedication 3|third installation]] of the ''Dedication'' mixtape series with Lil Wayne,<ref name="dedication 3 drama">{{cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Allen|title=DJ Drama Confirms Lil Wayne Dedication 3|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6212/title.dj-drama-confirms-lil-wayne-dedication-3|work=HipHopDX.com|date=2008-01-12|accessdate=2008-03-28}}</ref> who insisted that it will would be a full album under the title.<ref>[http://youtube.com/watch?v=DColjAszSjA YouTube - Lil Wayne Interview Pt 1<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However despite the fact Wayne wanted to release ''Dedication 3'' as an album, it was released as a mixtape on November 14, 2008.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

===''Rebirth'' (2010)===
Wayne stated that he would release a debut rock album titled ''[[Rebirth (Lil Wayne album)|Rebirth]]''. The album was originally scheduled for a April 7, 2009 release, however after numerous delays, the album is now to be released on February 1, 2010. "[[Prom Queen (song)|Prom Queen]]", the first buzz single, debuted on January 27 immediately after a live Internet broadcast on [[Ustream]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1100465|title=Lil Wayne unveils "Prom Queen" live on Ustream|date=2009-01-27}}</ref> of his concert in [[San Diego]].<ref name=mtvrebirth>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1603446/20090123/lil_wayne.jhtml|title=Lil Wayne's Rock LP, Rebirth, Due April 7|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=2009-01-23|publisher=MTV News|accessdate=2009-01-23}}</ref> "Prom Queen" peaked at #15 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] charts.<ref>http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+Hot+100&pageNumber=Top+11-50&g=Singles</ref> "[[Hot Revolver]]", the second buzz single, debuted on iTunes on March 17 and peaked at #33 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] charts. For the anticipation of Rebirth, Wayne was featured on the cover of [[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]].<ref>http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622981/20091003/story.jhtml</ref>

[[MTV]] listed Lil Wayne number two on their 2009 list of the Hottest MCs In The Game.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622981/20091003/lil_wayne.jhtml Lil Wayne Rocks The Hottest MCs In The Game At #2!] ''MTV News.''</ref>

On December 3, 2009 Lil Wayne's 2nd single "On Fire" was released on iTunes. "On Fire" was produced by [[Cool & Dre]] with Lil Wayne playing the guitar.<ref>http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1627696/20091204/lil_wayne.jhtml</ref> This is the second single because "Hot Revolver" will not be featured on the album.<ref>http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1627696/20091204/lil_wayne.jhtml</ref>

===Future work===
He has announced several possible upcoming projects, including a collaboration album ''[[I Can't Feel My Face]]'' with rapper [[Juelz Santana]] that has been in production for several years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Lil Wayne, Juelz Santana May Turn Upcoming Mixtape Into Full LP|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1535532/20060630/lil_wayne.jhtml|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=2006-07-05|accessdate=2008-03-28}}</ref><ref name="cant feel">{{cite news|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=
Lil Wayne Plans His Own Leak; Cassidy's Live-From-Jail Rhymes |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/061107/|work=Mixtape Monday|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=2007-06-11|accessdate=2008-03-28}}</ref> On the website ''HipHopDX.com'', he has discussed a possible [[R&B]] album titled ''Luv Sawngz'', for which he will heavily rely on a [[vocoder]].<ref name="luv">{{cite web|last=Tardio|first=Andres|title=Lil Wayne Speaks On Addiction, R&B Album & More|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6448/title.lil-wayne-speaks-on-addiction-r-b-album-more|work=HipHopDX.com|date=2008-02-26|accessdate=2008-02-28}}</ref> He has also talked with singer [[Lloyd (singer)|Lloyd]] about doing a collaboration album in the future.<ref name="best of young">{{cite web|last=Chase|first=Alexis|title=Lil' Wayne & Lloyd To Drop Best Of Both Worlds Album?|url=http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/13975|work=SOHH.com|date=2008-03-04|accessdate=2008-03-04}}</ref> On June 19, 2008, Lil Wayne and [[T-Pain]] formed a duo called T-Wayne<ref>{{cite web|author=Jason|title=Lil Wayne And T-Pain Form Supergroup|url=http://www.rapbasement.com/lil-wayne/lil-wayne-and-t-pain-form-supergroup.html|work=Rap Basement|date=2008-06-18}}</ref> and planned to release an album.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jason|title=T-Pain talk Collab Album With Lil Wayne|url=http://www.rapbasement.com/t-pain/072208-t-pain-talks-collab-album-with-lil-wayne.html|work=Rap Basement|date=2008-07-22}}</ref>

In an interview on MTV's Mixtape Monday, Wayne asserted the possibility of an album titled ''Tha Carter IV''.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1594678/20080912/lil_wayne.jhtml Lil Wayne Preps Mixtape And Tha Carter IV; Juelz Santana Plans Skull Gang Takeover: Mixtape Monday.] ''MTV.com.'' Accessed September 15, 2008.</ref> Following Tha Carter III's achievement of selling over 2 million copies, becoming 2008's best record, Wayne re-signed with [[Cash Money Records]] for a multi-album deal.<ref>http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/cash-money-re-signs-lil-wayne/story.aspx?guid=%7B5E81F8AA-E197-47FD-8358-FBFD461CF4EA%7D&dist=hppr</ref> Wayne said ''Tha Carter IV'' will be released in 2009 just before the holidays.<ref name=2009rebirthc4>[http://www.rap-up.com/2009/02/12/lil-wayne-to-release-two-albums-this-year/ Lil Wayne to Release Two Albums This Year.] ''Rap-Up.'' Accessed February 12, 2009.</ref> [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] had confirmed that ''[[Tha Carter IV]]'' will be packaged with ''[[Rebirth (Lil Wayne album)|Rebirth]]'' as a double disc album.<ref>[http://www.rap-up.com/2009/10/09/lil-wayne-to-drop-3-albums-this-year/ Lil Wayne to Drop 3 Albums This Year?] ''Rap-Up.''</ref> However, Wayne denied this idea saying that "''Tha Carter IV'' deserves ''Tha Carter IV''". He went on to say that ''[[Young Money Fam]]'' may be packaged with ''Rebirth''.<ref>[http://www.rap-up.com/2009/10/10/lil-wayne-denies-double-album-reports-discusses-retirement/ Lil Wayne Denies Double Album Reports, Discusses Retirement.] ''Rap-Up.'' Accessed October 13, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1623871/20091014/lil_wayne.jhtml Lil Wayne Says Rebirth, Young Money LP May Be A Double Album.] ''MTV News.''</ref>
It has also been confirmed that Wayne will be releasing a [[collaboration]] album with Young Money, with the first single confirmed as "[[Every Girl (Young Money song)|Every Girl]]".<ref>http://realtalkny.uproxx.com/2009/02/topic/topic/pictures/lil-wayne-on-the-set-of-every-girl-1st-single-off-of-young-money-album/</ref>

Wayne is featured on the song, "Revolver", with [[Madonna]] for her 2009 greatest hits album, ''[[Celebration (Madonna album)|Celebration]]''. He will also feature on a [[Weezer]] song, "Can't Stop Partying", on their forthcoming album, ''[[Raditude]]''.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622477/20090928/weezer.jhtml Exclusive: Weezer Team Up With Lil Wayne For 'Can't Stop Partying'.] ''MTV News.''</ref>

==Television and film career==
Lil Wayne was a guest debater going up against [[Skip Bayless]] on the "1st & 10" segment on the January 6, 2009 edition of ''[[ESPN First Take]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3814076|title=Lil Wayne Debates Skip|date=2008-01-09|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2009-01-17}}</ref> On February 10, 2009 he also appeared on ESPN's [[Around The Horn]] and beat out veterans [[Woody Paige]], [[Jay Mariotti]] and fellow New Orleanian [[Michael Smith (sports reporter)|Michael Smith]] to win that show's episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2839445|title=Around The Horn Archived Podcasts|date=2009-02-10|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref> Wayne is set to produce and compose music for the film ''[[Hurricane Season (film)|Hurricane Season]]''.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Superstar Rapper Lil Wayne to Write and Record Song for Upcoming Film 'Hurricane Season'|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/superstar-rapper-lil-wayne-write-record-song-upcoming-film-hurricane-season/|publisher=Dimension Films|date=2008-06-06}}</ref> A documentary titled ''Tha Carter'' is also in production and was released at the [[Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ford|first=Tracey|title=Lil Wayne Documentary in the Works|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2008/07/09/lil-wayne-documentary-in-the-works/|work=The Boombox|date=2008-07-09}}</ref> Prior to the 2009 Grammy Awards, Wayne was featured in an interview with [[Katie Couric]].<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/02/06/lil-wayne-laughs-for-letterman-cries-for-couric-as-grammys-near/</ref> On February 7, 2009, he presented the [[Top Ten List]] on CBS's ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Show #3060|url=http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/video_player/index/php/977522.phtml|series=Late Show with David Letterman|network=CBS|airdate=2009-02-05}}</ref> He then appeared on an April 24 episode of [[The View]] - talking about his GED and addictions.<ref>http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1610007/20090424/lil_wayne.jhtml</ref> In September 2009, Wayne appeared in an episode of [[VH1]]'s ''[[Behind the Music]]''.<ref>http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1607377/20090319/lil_wayne.jhtml</ref> and was a presenter of the [[2009 MTV Movie Awards]].<ref>http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1611016/20090511/story.jhtml</ref>
Just recently, QD3 released a DVD called "The Carter Documentary" which is over a hour-long documentary featuring Lil' Wayne, his manager Tez Poe, and list of others featuring this DVD. It gives details of the long road Lil' Wayne took to become the greatest rapper and the ups and downs of his life.

==Personal life==
===Family===
Lil Wayne has four children. His first child, daughter Reginae, was born when he was 15,<ref name="AP Respect"/> to his high school sweetheart [[Antonia "Toya" Carter]] (née Johnson). Wayne and Johnson married on [[Valentine's Day]] of 2004 and divorced in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/toya_carter_2/|title=Toya Carter Speaks Out (Part 2)-|last=Odum|first=Shanel|date=2007-10-01|work=Vibe|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> His second child, Dwayne III, was born on October 22, 2008 at Christ Hospital in [[Cincinnati]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597681/20081022/lil_wayne.jhtml|title=Lil Wayne Welcomes A Baby Boy|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=2008-10-22|publisher=MTV News|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> His third child, Lennox Samuel Ari, was born to actress [[Lauren London]] on September 9, 2009.<ref>http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/09/14/lauren-london-and-lil-wayne-welcome-a-son/</ref> He had his fourth child on November 30, 2009 with singer [[Nivea (singer)|Nivea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americansuperstarmag.com/news/lil-wayne-expecting-baby-with-nivea|title=Lil Wayne Expecting Baby with Nivea|last=Bunker|first=Chloe|date=2009-10-15|work=American Superstar Magazine|accessdate=2009-10-15}}</ref>

In a [[CBS]] interview with [[Katie Couric]], Wayne described why he goes by the name of "Wayne" instead of his given name, Dwayne. Carter explained, "I dropped the D because I'm a junior and my father is living and he's not in my life and he's never been in my life. So I don't want to be Dwayne, I'd rather be Wayne." Couric asked Wayne if his father knew of this and Wayne replied with a smile, "He knows now."

===Education===
After earning his [[GED]], Wayne enrolled at the [[University of Houston]] in January 2005 with plans to major in political science.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496842/20050211/lil_wayne.jhtml|title=Lil' Wayne Hits The Books In H-Town, Stays With His Cash Money Crew|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=2005-02-11|publisher=MTV News|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> To earn his degree, he had been taking [[online courses]].<ref name="AP Respect">{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12992671/|title=Lil’ Wayne wants respect for Southern rap|date=2006-05-31|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> An article in ''Urb'' magazine in March 2007 asserted that Wayne had been earning high grades at Houston,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.urb.com/features/59/LilWayneIndustrialPsychology.php|title=Lil Wayne: Industrial Psychology|last=Perkins|first=Brandon|date=2007-03-28|work=Urb|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> and by the end of the year Wayne discontinued his education there.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/content/printVersion/675047|title=Lil Wayne and High School Musical|last=Westhoff|first=Ben|date=2007-12-18|work=HoustonPress|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref>

===Sports and musical interests===
In an interview with ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' magazine, Lil Wayne revealed one of his favorite bands from childhood to be rock group [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], and cites them as a major influence in his music.<ref>{{cite web|last=Springer|first=Anthony Jr.|title=Lil Wayne Talks 50 Cent, Cocaine & Rock Music|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6908/title.lil-wayne-talks-50-cent-cocaine-rock-music|work=HipHopDX.com|date=2008-05-09}}</ref>

On September 24, 2008, Lil Wayne published his first blog for [[ESPN]] in their issue, [[ESPN The Magazine]]. Wayne revealed he was a fan of tennis, the [[Green Bay Packers]], the [[Boston Bruins]], the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] and the [[Boston Red Sox]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/448365-lil-wayne-talks-sport|title=Lil Wayne Talks Sport|date=2008-09-26|publisher=MTV News UK|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> Wayne has continued writing for ESPN, notably reporting at the ESPN [[Super Bowl]] party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3878291|title=From Super Bowl XLIII: Lil Wayne and Rick Reilly|author1=Lil Wayne|last2=Reilly|first2=Rick|date=2009-02-02|work=ESPN the Magazine|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref>

Lil Wayne made his debut on ESPN's daily sports round table show "Around The Horn" on February 10, 2009.<ref>http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/02/lil_wayne_wears_a_lil_wade_aid.php</ref>

Along with [[Mack Maine]], Wayne was in attendance of Game 3 of the opening round [[2009 NBA Playoffs|NBA playoff series]] between the [[Denver Nuggets]] and the home team [[New Orleans Hornets]] on April 25, 2009.

===Drug use and arrests===
Wayne told ''[[CBS Evening News]]'' anchor [[Katie Couric]] on her ''All Access Grammy Special'' in 2009 that he enjoys smoking marijuana recreationally. He also stated that he is "not addicted" to drinking [[purple drank]] ([[codeine]] cough syrup) any longer.<ref name="Couric">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/04/entertainment/grammy2009/main4775952.shtml|title="All Access:" Lil' Wayne|last=Couric|first=Katie|date=2009-02-04|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> He has been arrested for use or possession of marijuana and other drugs.

In the latter half of 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested twice. On July 22, 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested in New York City following a performance at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]]; the [[New York City Police Department]] discovered Lil Wayne and another man smoking [[marijuana]] near a tour bus. After taking Lil Wayne into custody, police discovered a pistol on his person, and he was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shepherd|first=Julianne|title=Lil Wayne, Ja Rule Arrested After NY Performance|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/07/wayne_ja_rule_arrested/|work=Vibe|date=2007-07-23}}</ref> Another arrest was on October 5, 2007, following a performance at [[Qwest Arena]] in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], Idaho, on felony fugitive charges after [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] authorities accused the rapper of possessing a controlled substance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lil Wayne Arrested After Idaho Concert|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=3698232|work=ABC News|publisher=AP|date=2007-10-06}}</ref> The incident was later described as a "mix-up" and the fugitive charges were dropped.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|title=Lil Wayne Arrest Mostly A Paperwork Mix-Up, Lawyer Says|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571373/20071008/lil_wayne.jhtml|work=MTV News|date=2007-10-08}}</ref>

On January 23, 2008, Lil Wayne was arrested alongside two others. His tour bus was stopped by [[Border Patrol]] agents near [[Yuma, Arizona]]. A K-9 Unit recovered 105 grams of marijuana (3.7 ounces), almost 29 grams of cocaine (1.02 ounces), 41 grams of [[MDMA]] (1.4 ounces) and $22,000 in cash. Lil Wayne was charged with four felonies: possession of narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was granted permission to travel outside of the state and remain out of custody on the $10,185 bond he posted.<ref>[http://lil-wayne-news.newslib.com/story/10288-556/ YumaSun.com]</ref> On May 6, 2008, Wayne returned to court in Arizona to plead not guilty to the charges.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587007/20080507/lil_wayne.jhtml MTV.com]</ref>

In February 2009, production company RMF Productions filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against Wayne, following a $100,000 advance payment for three shows, all of which were cancelled by the artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idiomag.com/peek/65262/lil_wayne|title=Lil Wayne Sued 1.3 Million Over Canceled NY Shows|accessdate=2009-02-19|date=2009-02-17|publisher=[[idiomag]]}}</ref>

On October 22, 2009, Wayne pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He is due for sentencing in February 2010 and is expected to receive a one-year jail sentence.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/22/new.york.lil.wayne/index.html Lil Wayne pleads guilty to weapons charge]</ref>

===Public References by President Obama===
Lil Wayne has been referenced in public speeches by [[President Obama]] on at least two occasions, in mixed contexts. Speaking to a largely [[African-American]] audience during a [[United States presidential election, 2008#General_election_campaign|general election campaign]] town hall speech in [[Georgia]], Obama exhorted children to stay in school and achieve their dreams through education and perseverance instead of hoping for shortcuts to fame and riches, stating: "You are probably not that good a rapper. Maybe you are the next Lil Wayne, but probably not, in which case you need to stay in school."<ref name="ABCBlog">[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/obama-slams-hoo.html Sunlen Miller, ''Obama Slams Hoop Dreams for High School Diplomas'', ABC News - The Radar blog, July 8, 2008]</ref>

After assuming the Presidency, Obama later echoed this theme of personal and familial responsibility—and the difficulty of achieving Lil Wayne's lyrical skills or success—during an address to a meeting commemorating the 100th anniversary of the [[NAACP]], telling the audience:{{quote|They might think they’ve got a pretty jump shot or a pretty good flow, but our kids can’t all aspire to be [[LeBron James|LeBron]] or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be a [[Supreme Court justice]]. I want them aspiring to be president of the United States of America.<ref name="NYT">[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/us/politics/17obama.html Sheryl Gay Stolberg, ''Obama Gives Fiery Address at N.A.A.C.P.'', New York Times, July 16, 2009]</ref>}}

==Discography==
{{Main|Lil Wayne discography}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Studio Albums
*1999: ''[[Tha Block Is Hot]]''
*2000: ''[[Lights Out (Lil Wayne album)|Lights Out]]''
*2002: ''[[500 Degreez]]''
*2004: ''[[Tha Carter]]''
*2005: ''[[Tha Carter II]]''
*2008: ''[[Tha Carter III]]''
*2010: ''[[Rebirth (Lil Wayne album)|Rebirth]]''<ref name=mtvrebirth/>
*2010: ''[[Tha Carter IV]]''<ref>[http://www.lilwaynehq.com/2009/11/06/lil-waynes-full-billboard-interview-speaks-about-rebirth-young-money-more/ Lil Wayne’s Full Billboard Interview; Speaks About Rebirth, Young Money & More.] Accessed November 18, 2009.</ref>

;Collaboration Albums
*2006: ''[[Like Father, Like Son]]'' <small>(with [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]])</small>
*2009: ''[[We Are Young Money]]'' <small>(with [[Young Money Entertainment]])</small>
*TBA: ''[[I Can't Feel My Face]]'' <small>(with [[Juelz Santana]])</small>

{{col-2}}
;Official Mixtapes
*2003: ''SQ1-SQ7'' <small>(with Sqad Up)</small>
*2003: ''Da Drought''
*2004: ''Da Drought 2''
*2004: ''The Prefix''
*2005: ''The Suffix''
*2005: ''[[Dedication (Gangsta Grillz)|Dedication]]'' <small>(with [[DJ Drama]])</small>
*2006: ''[[Dedication 2]]'' <small>(with DJ Drama)</small>
*2007: ''[[Da Drought 3]]''
*2008: ''[[Dedication 3]]''
*2009: ''[[No Ceilings]]''
<!-- *TBA: ''Dedication 4'' <small>(with [[DJ Drama]])</small> -->

{{col-end}}

==Filmography==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

;Film
* 2000: ''[[Baller Blockin]] <small>as Iceberg Shorty</small>''
* 2007: ''[[Who's Your Caddy?]] <small>as Himself</small>''
* 2009: ''[[The Carter Documentary]] <small>as Himself</small>''
* TBA: ''[[Hurricane Season (film)|Hurricane Season]] <small>as Lamont</small>''

;Television
* 2007: ''[[Access Granted]] <small>as Himself</small>''
* 2007: ''[[The Boondocks (TV series)|The Boondocks]]
* 2009: ''[[1st and 10 (ESPN TV series)|1st and 10]]''
* 2009: ''[[Around the Horn]]
* 2009: ''[[Behind The Music]]
* 2009: ''[[All Access]] with [[Katie Couric]]
{{col-2}}
;Commercials
* 2008: [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] Zoom VI [[LeBron James]] - Chalk Commercial (appearance)
* 2009: [[Gatorade]] commercial (narrator)
{{col-end}}

==Awards==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Lil Wayne}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Lil Wayne}}
* [http://www.lilwayne-online.com Official website]
* {{myspace|lilwayne}}
* {{imdb name|id=1211443|name=Lil Wayne}}
* [http://www.cashmoney-records.com/ Cash Money Records]

{{Navboxes
|title=''Lil Wayne'' related articles
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{{Lil Wayne}}
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{{Hot Boys}}
{{Cash Money Records}}
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<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME= Lil Wayne
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Carter, Dwayne Michael, Jr.
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= [[Rapper]]
|DATE OF BIRTH= 1982-9-27
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[New Orleans]], Louisiana
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
[[Category:African American rappers]]
[[Category:American shooting survivors]]
[[Category:University of Houston alumni]]
[[Category:Cash Money Records artists]]
[[Category:21st-century hip hop musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Rappers from New Orleans, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Universal Records artists]]
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:MTV Europe Music Awards winners]]
[[Category:World Music Awards winners]]

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[[zh:小韋恩]]

Revision as of 18:33, 12 December 2009

He plays guitar and can freestyle. Both proven facts.

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