View source for Lil Wayne

{{short description|American rapper (born 1982)}}
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{{redirect-multi|2|Dwayne Carter|Weezy|the racecar driver|Duane Carter|the similarly named record producer|Wheezy}}
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{{Infobox person
| name               = Lil Wayne
| image              = Lil Wayne Feb. 2020.jpg
| caption            = Lil Wayne in 2020
| birth_name         = Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1982|9|27}}
| alias              = {{flatlist|
* Shrimp Daddy
* Birdman Jr.
* Tunechi
* Weezy
* Weezy F. Baby{{efn|Weezy F. Baby and the F is for: Fornicate, A Bunch of Sh*t, Phenomenal, Ain’t for FEMA, Forever, Front Door, and more.}}
* President Carter
}}
| birth_place        = [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, U.S.
| title              = {{indented plainlist|
* Founder of [[Young Money Entertainment]]
* Co-founder of Trukfit Clothing
}}
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Rapper
* singer
* songwriter
* record executive
* entrepreneur
* actor
* record producer
}}
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Lil Wayne|Full list]]
| education          = [[University of Phoenix]]
| years_active       = 1991–present
| works              = {{hlist|[[Lil Wayne albums discography|Albums]]|[[Lil Wayne singles discography|singles]]|[[Lil Wayne videography|videography]]}}
| parents            = 
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Toya Johnson]]|2004|2006|reason=div}}
| partner            = {{plainlist|
* [[Nivea (singer)|Nivea]] (2002–2003, 2009–2010; ex-fiancée)
* La'Tecia Thomas (2019–2020; ex-fiancée)
* [[Denise Bidot]] (2020–2022)
}}
| children           = 4
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre        = {{hlist|[[Southern hip hop]]|[[gangsta rap]]|[[bounce music|bounce]]|[[trap music|trap]]|[[pop rap]]}}
| label        = {{flatlist|
* [[Universal Records (defunct record label)|Universal]]
* [[Young Money Entertainment|Young Money]]
* [[Republic Records|Republic]]
* [[Cash Money Records|Cash Money]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ogdenpayne/2018/06/08/lil-wayne-frees-tha-carter-v-with-a-settlement-from-cash-money/ | title=Lil Wayne Frees 'Tha Carter V' Via a Settlement from Cash Money| website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref>
}}
| current_member_of = [[Hot Boys|Hot Boyz]]
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Cash Money Millionaires]]
* [[B.G. (rapper)|The B.G.'z]]
* [[Sqad Up]]
}}
| website = {{URL|thacarterv.com}}<br />{{URL|lilwayneofficial.com}}
| module = {{Infobox
| embed           = yes|child=yes
}}}}
| signature          = Lil Wayne sig.svg
}}

'''Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.''' (born September{{spaces}}27, 1982),<ref>{{cite news|title=Monitor|newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=Sep 20–27, 2013|issue=1277/1278|page=37}}</ref> known professionally as '''Lil Wayne''', is an American rapper. He is often regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, as well as one of the greatest rappers of all time.<ref>
*{{cite web |last1=Coleman II |first1=C. Vernon |date=August 22, 2019 |title=A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/history-rappers-paying-homage-lil-wayne/ |access-date=August 5, 2020 |website=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]}}
*{{cite magazine |date=November 12, 2015 |title=The 10 Best Rappers of All Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/6723017/the-10-best-rappers-of-all-time |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 5, 2020}}
*{{cite web |last1=Kostidakis |first1=Perry |date=June 11, 2018 |title=Lil Wayne Is the Forefather of Modern Rap |url=https://www.revolt.tv/2019/9/27/20886015/5-lil-wayne-accomplishments |access-date=August 5, 2020 |website=[[Complex Networks]]}}</ref> Born and raised in [[New Orleans]], he was discovered by hometown rapper [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] in 1993 and signed with his record label, [[Cash Money Records]], at age eleven.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://afrotech.com/lil-wayne-describes-signing-at-the-tender-age-of-11/|title=Lil Wayne Reflects on Living Out His Dreams Ever Since Inking A Record Deal at Age 11 – 'I've Never Had A Real Job' |date=July 23, 2023|website=Afrotech.com}}</ref><ref name="Vibe">{{cite web|first=Preezy|last=Brown|url=https://www.vibe.com/2017/10/what-millennials-should-know-about-hot-boys-get-it-how-u-live|title=What Millennials Should Know About... Hot Boys' 'Get It How U Live!'|work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=October 27, 2017|access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref> He emerged as the label's [[Wikt:flagship|flagship]] artist until his departure in 2018.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/lil-waynes-cash-money-settlement-lawyer-confirms/|title=Lil Wayne's Lawyer Confirms Cash Money Settlement, Rapper Now 'Owns His Assets, His Music and Himself'|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

Carter was first placed in a duo with Cash Money labelmate [[B.G. (rapper)|B.G.]] in 1994—known collectively as the B.G.'z—and they released the album ''True Story'' that year, although Carter (at the time known as Baby D) appeared on only three of its tracks.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 6, 2019|title=The B.G.'z – True Story [Album Review]|url=https://newtralgroundz.com/2019/02/06/the-b-g-z-true-story-album-review-cmr/|access-date=June 26, 2020|website=Newtral Groundz|last1=Lee|first1=Stephen|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030054/https://newtralgroundz.com/2019/02/06/the-b-g-z-true-story-album-review-cmr/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Carter and B.G. then formed the Southern hip-hop group [[Hot Boys]] with labelmates [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]] and [[Turk (rapper)|Turk]] in 1997, and released their debut album, ''[[Get It How U Live!]]'' that year. The Hot Boys gained mainstream success after the release of their second album ''[[Guerrilla Warfare (album)|Guerrilla Warfare]]'' (1999) and their appearance on B.G.'s single, "[[Bling Bling (song)|Bling Bling]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kramer |first1=Kyle |last2=Smith |first2=Trey |date=July 27, 2017 |title=Nothing Was Hotter Than the Hot Boys' 'Guerrilla Warfare' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/nothing-was-hotter-than-the-hot-boys-guerrilla-warfare/ |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=Vice}}</ref> The group briefly disbanded after the album due to each member (besides Carter) parting ways with the label, although one further album—''[[Let 'Em Burn]]'' (2003)—was released.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Alyson |date=August 18, 2022 |title='Bling Bling': How B.G.'s 'Chopper City in the Ghetto' Became Famous |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/b-g-chopper-city-in-the-ghetto-bling-bling-feature/ |access-date=April 13, 2023 |website=uDiscover Music}}</ref>

Carter's debut studio album, ''[[Tha Block Is Hot]]'' (1999), was his breakthrough as a solo artist, quickly achieving commercial success. It was followed by ''[[Lights Out (Lil Wayne album)|Lights Out]]'' (2000) and ''[[500 Degreez]]'' (2003). Carter is credited with revolutionizing the [[mixtape]] scene with his innovative approach in the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/13-ways-lil-wayne-revolutionized-hip-hop#:~:text=He%20revolutionized%20the%20mixtape%20era&text=Wayne%20revolutionized%20the%20mixtape%20scene,quality%20content%20directly%20to%20fans. | title=13 ways Lil Wayne changed Hip Hop forever }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lilwaynehq.com/2024/10/fabolous-reflects-lil-wayne-influence-hip-hop-mixtape-culture/ | title=Fabolous Reflects on Lil Wayne's Hip-Hop & Mixtape Influence | date=October 22, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=freezepeachnow |date=2020-11-20 |title=How The Late 2000's Hip Hop Mixtape Movement Became Immortalized |url=https://freezepeachnow.com/2020/11/20/how-the-2000s-hip-hop-mixtape-movement-became-immortalized/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Freezepeach |language=en-US}}</ref> His fourth and fifth albums, ''[[Tha Carter]]'' (2004) and ''[[Tha Carter II]]'' (2005), both debuted within the top five of the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and received critical acclaim. His sixth album, ''[[Tha Carter III]]'' (2008), yielded the pinnacle of Wayne's career, with first-week sales of over one million units domestically. It won the [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|Best Rap Album]] at the [[51st Annual Grammy Awards]] and was supported by his first [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]-number one single "[[Lollipop (Lil Wayne song)|Lollipop]]" (featuring [[Static Major]]), and the top-ten singles "[[A Milli]]" and "[[Got Money]]" (featuring [[T-Pain]]). 

Carter's seventh studio album, ''[[Rebirth (Lil Wayne album)|Rebirth]]'' (2010), experimented with [[rap rock]] and was released to generally negative critical reception. A month after its release, he began serving an 8-month jail sentence for criminal possession of a weapon stemming from an incident in 2007. His eighth album, ''[[I Am Not a Human Being]]'' (2010), was released during his incarceration, while his ninth album, ''[[Tha Carter IV]]'' (2011), followed months after his release from prison. Despite mixed reviews, ''Tha Carter IV'' sold 964,000 units in its first-week in the U.S.<ref name="Carter IV totally done">{{cite web|last=Markman |first=Rob |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667052/lil-wayne-tha-carter-iv.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712232935/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667052/lil-wayne-tha-carter-iv.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2011 |title=Lil Wayne's Carter IV 'Totally Done' |publisher=MTV |date=July 11, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> His twelfth studio album, ''[[Tha Carter V]]'' (2018)—preceded by ''[[I Am Not a Human Being II]]'' (2013) and ''[[Free Weezy Album]]'' (2015)—was released following long-term delays and label disputes, and was met with 480,000 in first-week sales. His thirteenth album, [[Funeral (Lil Wayne album)|''Funeral'']] (2020), became his fifth non-consecutive number one album. He released his fourteenth album, ''[[Tha Carter VI]]'', in June 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/lil-wayne-funeral-tracklist-release-date/|title=Lil Wayne's New Album 'Funeral' Contains a Kobe Bryant Tribute|date=January 31, 2020|website=Highsnobiety.com|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref>

Carter has sold over 120 million records worldwide, including over 25 million albums and 95 million digital tracks in the U.S, making him one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|world's best-selling music artists]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|title=Gold & Platinum|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.arabnews.jp/en/arts-culture/article_5211/|title=Lil Wayne, Tyga to hit the stage at Diriyah Season concert|work=[[Arab News|Arab News Japan]]|date=November 20, 2019|access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-july-14-2013-albums-jay-z-030009697.html |title=Week Ending July 14, 2013. Albums: Jay-Z Back On The Throne |first=Paul |last=Grein |work=Chart Watch |publisher=Yahoo |date=July 17, 2013 }}</ref> He has won five [[Grammy Awards]], eleven [[BET Awards]], four [[Billboard Music Award|''Billboard'' Music Awards]], two [[MTV Video Music Award]]s and eight [[NAACP Image Awards]]. On September{{spaces}}27, 2012, he became the first male artist to surpass [[Elvis Presley]] with the most entries on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], with 109 songs.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-lilwayne-billboard/rapper-lil-wayne-breaks-elvis-presleys-billboard-record-idUSBRE88Q1XP20120927 Rapper Lil Wayne breaks Elvis Presley's Billboard record] Reuters. September 27, 2012.</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/drake-breaks-hot-100-records-most-hits-solo-artists-more-life-songs/|title=Drake Breaks Hot 100 Records: Most Hits Among Solo Artists & Most Simultaneously Charted Songs|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Carter founded the record label [[Young Money Entertainment]] in 2005, which has signed artists including [[Drake (musician)|Drake]], [[Tyga]] and [[Nicki Minaj]].

==Early life==
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born on September{{spaces}}27, 1982. He spent his first few years in the impoverished [[Hollygrove, New Orleans|Hollygrove]] neighborhood of [[Uptown New Orleans]], Louisiana's [[17th Ward of New Orleans|17th Ward]].<ref name="AllMusicguide">{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|title=Lil Wayne&nbsp;– Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p384397|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=AllMusic|year=2010|access-date=June 18, 2010}}</ref> His mother, a [[cook (profession)|cook]], gave birth to him when she was 19 years old. His parents divorced when he was two years old, and his father permanently abandoned the family. In a 2009 interview, [[CBS News]] anchor [[Katie Couric]] asked the rapper why he used the name Wayne instead of his given name. Carter replied, "I'll tell you why I dropped the D right here on TV. I dropped the D because I am a junior. My father, he’s livin', and he is not in my life and he’s never been in my life. So I don't wanna be Dwayne. I’d rather be Wayne." Couric asked if his father knew that, and Carter, chuckling, said, "He knows it now."<ref name="Couric2">{{cite news|last=Couric|first=Katie|author-link=Katie Couric|date=February 4, 2009|title="All Access:" Lil' Wayne|publisher=[[CBS News]]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/all-access-lil-wayne/|access-date=February 7, 2009}}</ref> Carter has said that he considers his deceased stepfather Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald to be his real father. Carter has a tattoo dedicated to McDonald.<ref name="AP Respect2">{{cite news|date=October 28, 2011|title=Lil Wayne on his Biological Father: 'He Don't Give A Sh*t About Me & I Don't Give A Sh*t About Him'|website=Hot107.9|url=http://hotspotatl.com/2599792/lil-wayne-on-his-biological-father-he-dont-give-a-sht-about-me-i-dont-give-a-sht-about-him/|access-date=March 16, 2013}}</ref>

Carter was enrolled in the gifted program at Lafayette Elementary School. He later attended [[Eleanor McMain Secondary School]] for two years, where he was an honor student and a member of the drama club, playing the [[Tin Woodman|Tin Man]] in the school's production of ''[[The Wiz]]''.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite magazine|last=Tyrangiel|first=Josh|date=July 3, 2008|title=Lil Wayne: The Best Rapper Alive|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1820148,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704172726/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1820148,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 4, 2008|access-date=November 17, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Best MC2">{{cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|date=May 1, 2008|title=Best MC: Lil Wayne|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20274122/best_mc_lil_wayne/print|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506084617/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20274122/best_mc_lil_wayne/print|archive-date=May 6, 2008|url-status=dead|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Maria C.|last1=Montoya|first2=Keith|last2=Spera|url=http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2008/02/lil_wayne_goes_back_to_school.html|title=Lil Wayne goes back to school|newspaper=[[New Orleans Times Picayune]]|date=February 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018122119/http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2008/02/lil_wayne_goes_back_to_school.html|archive-date=October 18, 2012|access-date=March 16, 2013}}</ref> Despite matriculating to [[Marion Abramson Senior High School]], Carter left during his tenth grade year to pursue a GED. Carter's mother made the decision to remove him from school for his safety. At 15, Carter was already finding success in the music industry; his mother decided he needed to leave high school after discovering the gun he packed in his school bag for protection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crabtree |first=Erin |date=2022-03-24 |title=Stars Who Never Graduated High School: Jennifer Lawrence, More |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/stars-who-never-graduated-high-school/# |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Us Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref>

Carter wrote his first rap song at age eight.<ref name="autogenerated32">{{cite news|date=May 31, 2006|title=Lil' Wayne wants respect for Southern rap|website=Today.com|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/lil-wayne-wants-respect-southern-rap-wbna12992671|access-date=February 7, 2009}}</ref> In the summer of 1991, he met rapper and [[Cash Money Records]] co-founder [[Birdman (rapper)|Bryan "Baby" Williams]] (known currently as Birdman), who mentored him and encouraged his love of hip-hop; Birdman included Carter on several Cash Money tracks, and he (in return) would often record freestyle raps on Williams' answering machine.<ref name="new yorker">{{cite magazine|last=Frere-Jones|first=Sasha|title=High and Mighty|url=https://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2007/08/13/070813crmu_music_frerejones?currentPage=all|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=August 13, 2007|access-date=March 28, 2008|archive-date=April 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403211750/http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2007/08/13/070813crmu_music_frerejones?currentPage=all|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1994, at age 12, Carter suffered a near-fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|last=Vargas|first=Ramon Antonio|date=April 9, 2009|title=Lil Wayne saved by alert off-duty cop|newspaper=[[New Orleans Times-Picayune]]|url=http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/how_a_big_cop_saved_a_young_li.html|access-date=April 24, 2011}}</ref> At the time, he said the injury was accidental. However, in September 2018, Carter claimed in interviews that it was a [[suicide attempt]] after he was told by his mother that he would have to end his rap-related associations.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lil Wayne tells 'Billboard': I attempted suicide at 12 years old|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/09/13/lil-wayne-reveals-he-attempted-suicide-12/1296868002/|date=September 13, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018}}</ref> Carter credits off-duty police officer Robert Hoobler (1956–2022),<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mamo |first=Heran |date=2022-07-25 |title=Lil Wayne Mourns 'Uncle Bob,' Former Cop Who Saved Rapper's Life Following Suicide Attempt |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-mourns-uncle-bob-saved-rappers-life-following-suicide-attempt-1235117716/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Wayne Pays Tribute to New Orleans Cop Who Saved His Life as a Child: 'Refused to Let Me Die' |url=https://people.com/music/lil-wayne-pays-tribute-new-orleans-cop-who-saved-his-life-as-a-child/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref> who he calls "Uncle Bob", with saving his life by insisting the dying child be driven immediately to hospital in a police car rather than waiting for an ambulance to become available.<ref>{{cite web|last=Scott|first=Katie|date=October 13, 2016|title=Lil Wayne clarifies what he meant by saying there's 'no such thing as racism'|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3000598/lil-wayne-clarifies-what-he-meant-by-saying-theres-no-such-thing-as-racism/|access-date=August 5, 2020|website=Global News}}</ref> Other accounts indicate that several officers played a part in deciding on and implementing that course of action.<ref name=":1" />

==Career==
===1994–1999: Career beginnings and Hot Boys===
After recovering from his self-inflicted gunshot wound, Carter linked with Christopher Dorsey, a local New Orleans rapper known as [[B.G. (rapper)|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. being named "Lil Doogie" and Carter being "Baby D".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2011-06-30 |title=FACT OF THE DAY: Lil Wayne & B.G. Were Once A Group Called The B.G.'Z |url=https://foxync.com/2391162/fact-of-the-day-lil-wayne-b-g-was-once-a-group-called-the-b-g-z/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Foxy 107.1-104.3 |language=en-US}}</ref> They only released one album under the group name, ''True Story'' (1995).<ref name=":2" />

In 1997, Carter and Dorsey then joined the hip-hop quartet, the [[Hot Boys]], along with rappers and labelmates, [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]], and [[Turk (rapper)|Turk]]. Having joined at age 14, Carter was the youngest member at the 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 respectively reached number one on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart and number five on the [[Billboard 200|''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&nbsp;– Billboard Singles|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p278459|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref> The group shared a track, "[[Bling Bling (song)|Bling Bling]]", alongside another Cash Money group, duo [[Big Tymers]] (consisting of Birdman and producer [[Mannie Fresh]]). Carter's verse appeared only on the radio version of the song, while on the album version he performed on the chorus. "Bling Bling" appeared on Hot Boys member B.G.'s solo album, ''[[Chopper City in the Ghetto]]'', released in April 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Alyson |date=2024-04-20 |title='Bling Bling': How B.G.'s 'Chopper City In The Ghetto' Became Famous |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/b-g-chopper-city-in-the-ghetto-bling-bling-feature/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}</ref> Carter was also featured on Juvenile's single "[[Back That Azz Up]]", which reached number eighteen on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p92107|pure_url=yes}} Juvenile – Billboard Singles]. AllMusic</ref>

''[[Let 'Em Burn]]'', a compilation album of unreleased tracks recorded by the quartet during 1998 and 2000, was released in March 2003, several years after the group disbanded.<ref>{{cite web|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|title=Let 'Em Burn – Overview |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r633952|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref> It reached number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, but underperformed on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number fourteen.<ref name="Hot Boys Album Charts">{{cite web|title=The Hot Boys – Billboard Albums|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p278459|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref>

===1999–2004: ''Tha Block Is Hot'', ''Lights Out'', and ''500 Degreez''===
Carter's debut solo album, ''[[Tha Block Is Hot]]'', was released on November 2, 1999, when he was 17 and featured significant contributions from the [[Hot Boys]]. It debuted at number three on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and was later certified platinum by the [[RIAA]] in December 1999, less than a month after its release.<ref>{{cite web |title=Complete Lil Wayne Discography (Mixtapes, Albums, Singles, and Features) – Tea & Weed |url=https://teaandweed.com/lil-wayne-discography-mixtapes-albums-singles-and-features/#tha-block-is-hot |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=teaandweed.com|date=January 8, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="AllMusicguide"/> The album earned Carter a 1999 ''[[The Source (magazine)|Source]]'' magazine 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]]|year=2005|access-date=March 29, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080322174356/http://www.lilwayne-online.com/bio.asp |archive-date = March 22, 2008}}</ref> and also became a Top Ten hit.<ref name="AllMusicguide"/> The lead single was [[Tha Block Is Hot (song)|the album's title track]], which its chorus was performed by Carter's former Hot Boys cohort, Juvenile and B.G.

His second album, ''[[Lights Out (Lil Wayne album)|Lights Out]]'', was released on December 19, 2000. It failed to attain the level of success achieved by his debut,<ref name="AllMusicguide"/> but was certified gold by RIAA in June 2001, nearly six months after its release.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|title=Gold and Platinum – Lil Wayne|url=https://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=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=June 18, 2010}}</ref> Critics noted 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=January 6, 2001|access-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref> The lead single was "Get Off the Corner", which was noticed for an improvement in its lyrical content and style. The second single, which received less attention, was "Shine" featuring the Hot Boys. Near the release of ''Lights Out'', Carter was featured on the single, "[[Number One Stunna]]" with [[Big Tymers]] and Juvenile, which peaked at number 24 on the [[Hot Rap 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 album, ''[[500 Degreez]]'', was released in August 2002. It followed the format of his previous two, with significant contributions from the Hot Boys and [[Mannie Fresh]]. While being certified gold like its predecessor,<ref name="riaa"/> it also 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 debut solo studio album, ''[[400 Degreez]]'' (1998).<ref name="500 Degreez">{{cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title="500 Degreez" – Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r597992|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|year=2002|access-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=For Lil' Wayne, Bling Bling Still A 'Way Of Life'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453944/05132002/lil_wayne.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=May 14, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021104053834/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453944/05132002/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-date=November 4, 2002|access-date=June 29, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its lead single was "Way of Life", featuring Birdman and singer [[TQ (singer)|TQ]] with narration by its producer, Mannie Fresh; it reached number 71 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] and number 23 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] charts.<ref name="chart history">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lil-wayne/chart-history/|title=Chart History: Lil Wayne|publisher=Billboard|access-date=June 29, 2024}}</ref> The single featured a sample of [[Tupac Shakur]]'s [[Diss (music)|diss track]] towards the [[The Notorious B.I.G.|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 party hit".<ref name="500 Degreez"/> After the release of ''500 Degreez'', Carter was featured on the single "[[Neva Get Enuf]]" by [[3LW]], and later appeared on his future girlfriend, singer [[Nivea (singer)|Nivea]]'s single, "Ya Ya Ya".<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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017212936/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457967/20021004/3lw.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2002|publisher=MTV News|date=October 4, 2002|access-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref>

===2004–2006: ''Tha Carter'', ''Tha Carter II'', and ''Like Father, Like Son''===
On June 29, 2004, Carter's fourth studio album, ''[[Tha Carter]]'', was released, marking what critics considered advancement in his rapping style and lyrical themes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|title=Tha Carter > Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r694680|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|date=June 29, 2004|access-date=September 13, 2008}}{{cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|title=Lil Wayne: Tha Carter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lilwayne/albums/album/6041342/review/6294718/tha_carter|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 5, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113085401/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lilwayne/albums/album/6041342/review/6294718/tha_carter|archive-date=November 13, 2007}}</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 878,000 copies in the United States, while the single "[[Go DJ]]" became a top five hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hope|first=Clover|title=Lil Wayne Nabs Kurupt, Lil' Mo For New CD|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60816/lil-wayne-nabs-kurupt-lil-mo-for-new-cd|magazine=Billboard|date=November 3, 2005}}</ref> After the release of ''Tha Carter'', Lil Wayne was featured on [[Destiny's Child]]'s single "[[Soldier (Destiny's Child song)|Soldier]]" alongside [[Atlanta]] rapper [[T.I.]], which peaked at number three on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] charts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Destiny's Child – Billboard Singles|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p278369|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|year=2006|access-date=March 28, 2008}}</ref>

In 2005, Carter appeared on a remix of singer [[Bobby V]]alentino's "[[Tell Me (Bobby Valentino song)|Tell Me]]", which rose to number thirteen on the U.S. Hot R&B Songs chart. That same year, Carter was named the president of Cash Money Records, but was later granted his own label; he founded [[Young Money Entertainment]] as an imprint of Cash Money and [[Universal Music Group]].<ref name="Lil Big Man">{{cite web |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |date=July 24, 2006 |title=Lil Wayne: Lil Big Man |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/l/lil_wayne/qa_feature_072406/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026041154/http://www.mtv.com/bands/l/lil_wayne/qa_feature_072406/ |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |access-date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref> However, as of late 2007, Carter reported having stepped down from the management of both labels and handed management of Young Money over to his longtime manager, Cortez Bryant.<ref name="Weezy F Baby Uncut">{{cite web |last=Checkoway |first=Laura |date=October 2, 2007 |title=Weezy F. Baby: Uncut |url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/lil_wayne_excerpts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611145950/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/lil_wayne_excerpts/ |archive-date=June 11, 2008 |work=Vibe}}</ref>

''[[Tha Carter II]]'', the sequel to 2004's ''Tha Carter'', was released on December 6, 2005. Mannie Fresh was not involved in the production of the album, as he had left the label prior, due to financial issues.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Rys |first=Dan |date=2015-03-30 |title=The History of Cash Money's Internal Beefs Through the Years - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/cash-money-internal-beef-history/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=In Mannie Fresh's 2005 Cover Story, The Super-Producer Finds Freedom After Cash Money |url=https://www.thefader.com/2015/09/18/mannie-fresh-2005-cover-story |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref> ''Tha Carter II'' sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number two on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]; the album went on to sell two million copies worldwide. The lead single, "[[Fireman (song)|Fireman]]", became a hit in the U.S., peaking at 32 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. Other singles included "Grown Man" with [[Currensy]], "[[Hustler Musik]]", and "[[Shooter (song)|Shooter]]" with R&B singer [[Robin Thicke]].

In 2006, Carter collaborated with his label boss, [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], for the album, ''[[Like Father, Like Son (Birdman and Lil Wayne album)|Like Father, Like Son]]'', which its first single "[[Stuntin' Like My Daddy]]", reached number 21 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].

===2006–2007: Mixtapes and collaborations===
[[File:LIL' WAYNE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Lil Wayne performing at Voodoo Music Experience in 2008]]
Instead of a follow-up solo album, Carter began to reach his audience through a plethora of mixtapes and guest appearances on a variety of pop, R&B 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 Carter with [[DJ Drama]] and contained the acclaimed socially conscious track, "Georgia Bush", a remix of [[Field Mob]] and [[Ludacris]]' "[[Georgia (Field Mob and Ludacris song)|Georgia]]", in which Carter critiqued former U.S. 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 Carter rapping over a variety of beats from recent hits by other musicians. A number of 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=December 3, 2007}}</ref> and ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]''<ref name="Vibe Nov 20072">{{cite web |last=Checkoway |first=Laura |date=November 2007 |title=The Art of Storytelling |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mSYEAAAAMBAJ |work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |pages=116–123 |volume=15 |issue=11}}</ref> covered the mixtape. Christian Hoard 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".<ref name="Best MC">{{cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|title=Best MC: Lil Wayne|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20274122/best_mc_lil_wayne/print|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 1, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506084617/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20274122/best_mc_lil_wayne/print|archive-date=May 6, 2008}}</ref>

Despite no album release for 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 (Fat Joe song)|Make It Rain]]" by [[Fat Joe]] and "[[You (Lloyd song)|You]]" by [[Lloyd (singer)|Lloyd]], and in 2007 with "[[We Takin' Over]]" by [[DJ Khaled]] (also featuring [[Akon]], [[T.I.]], [[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'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]], Hot Rap Tracks, and [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] charts. On Birdman's 2007 album, ''[[5 * Stunna]]'', Carter appeared on the singles "[[100 Million]]" and "[[I Run This]]" among several other tracks. Carter also appeared on tracks from albums, ''[[Getback]]'' by [[Little Brother (band)|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" (2006), a [[Scott Storch]] production that peaked at number thirteen on the Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Rap Tracks chart,<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r930481|pure_url=yes}}|title=Me, Myself and I – Charts & Awards – Billboard Singles|year=2006|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=February 5, 2009}}</ref> was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]] for 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1567466_20010832_20164511,00.html|title=The Grammy Nominees Are...|date=December 5, 2007|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 5, 2009|archive-date=January 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125140302/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1567466_20010832_20164511,00.html|url-status=dead}}</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''.<ref name="Vibe Nov 20072"/> At the end of 2007, an MTV poll selected Lil Wayne as "[[MTV's Annual Hottest MC List|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]] |year=2007 |access-date=March 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316054025/http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2007/hottest/index12.jhtml |archive-date=March 16, 2008 }}</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>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1574723&pid=2674268 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104121240/http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1574723&pid=2674268 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 4, 2009 |title=Lil Wayne: Workaholic of the year |publisher=MTV |access-date=May 22, 2011}}</ref> In 2008, he was named "Best MC" by ''Rolling Stone''.<ref name="Best MC"/> Another article, built around Lil Wayne's 2007 mixtape work, cites his creative practice as an example of post-performance creative practice.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Matthew D. |last=Thibeault |url=https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/handle/2142/43341 |title="Hip-Hop, Digital Media, and the Changing Face of Music Education". ''General Music Today''. October 2010 24: 46–49|journal=General Music Today |year=2010 |volume=24 |issue=1 |doi=10.1177/1048371310379097 |publisher=Gmt.sagepub.com |s2cid=145580033 |access-date=October 26, 2010 | issn = 2752-7646|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===2007–2010: ''Tha Carter III'', ''We Are Young Money'', and ''Rebirth''===
[[File:Lil Wayne (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Lil Wayne performing in concert at [[Rogers Arena]] in Vancouver, Canada, January 2009|left]]
In 2007, Carter stated that he would reunite with Hot Boys, with plans to release an album after B.G.'s solo album ''[[Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood|Too Hood to Be Hollywood]]'' was 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=September 27, 2007}}{{cite web|last=Bennett|first=Miles|title=B.G., Lil Wayne Confirm Hot Boys Reunion|url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2007/10/08/bg-lil-wayne-confirm-hot-boys-reunion/|work=Baller Status|date=October 8, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{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=October 9, 2007|access-date=July 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916173405/http://www.defsounds.com/news/Bg_speaks_of_hotboyz_reunion|archive-date=September 16, 2008|url-status=dead}}{{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=February 19, 2008}}</ref> ''[[Tha Carter III]]'' was originally scheduled to be released in 2007, but it was delayed after several recordings were leaked and distributed through mixtapes, including ''The Drought Is Over Pt. 2'' and ''The Drought Is Over Pt. 4''. Lil Wayne initially planned to release ''The Leak'', a separate album with leaked songs and four additional tracks, on December{{spaces}}18, 2007, with ''Tha Carter III'' delayed to March{{spaces}}18, 2008.<ref name=carterrelease>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119042148/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579833/20080117/blige_mary_j.jhtml|archive-date=January 19, 2008|title=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|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579833/20080117/blige_mary_j.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|access-date=June 29, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Instead, ''The Leak'' became an [[Extended play|EP]] with five songs and was released digitally on December{{spaces}}25, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lil' Wayne – The Leak EP|url=http://www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/lil-wayne-the-leak-ep/|publisher=The DJ Booth|access-date=May 28, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110802032700/http://www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/lil-wayne-the-leak-ep/|archive-date=August 2, 2011}}</ref>

''[[Tha Carter III]]'' was released on June{{spaces}}10, 2008, with first-week sales of over 1 million copies, the first to do so since [[50 Cent]]'s ''[[The Massacre]]'' (2005).<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003817568|title=Lil Wayne Cracks 1 Million With 'Tha Carter III'|magazine=Billboard|date= June 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622120945/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003817568|archive-date=June 22, 2008|access-date=June 29, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album's first single, "[[Lollipop (Lil Wayne song)|Lollipop]]", featuring [[Steve "Static" Garrett|Static Major]], became the Carter's most successful song at the time, topping the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and becoming his first top ten single as a solo artist and his first number one on the chart. The third single "[[Got Money]]", featuring T-Pain, peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard 100. ''Tha Carter III'' went on to win four Grammy Awards, including [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|Best Rap Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Song|Best Rap Song]], which he won for "Lollipop".<ref name="Grammy 2009"/> On July{{spaces}}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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818035230/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Tha%20Carter%2C%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 |date=August 18, 2013 }}. Recording Industry Association of America</ref> In October 2008, Lil Wayne announced plans to MTV News to re-release the album with 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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022210350/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597594/20081021/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2008|title=Lil Wayne Calls His Carter III Do-Over 'The Birth of a New Beginning'|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=October 21, 2008|publisher=MTV News|access-date=June 29, 2024}}</ref>

Carter also appeared on R&B singles "[[Girls Around the World]]" by Lloyd, "[[Love in This Club|Love in This Club, Part II]]" by [[Usher (musician)|Usher]], "[[Official Girl]]" by [[Cassie (singer)|Cassie]], "[[I'm So Paid]]" by [[Akon]], "[[Turnin Me On|Turnin' Me On]]" by [[Keri Hilson]], and "[[Can't Believe It (T-Pain song)|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]], [[All My Life (In the Ghetto)]] by [[Jay Rock]] and the remix to "Certified" by [[Glasses Malone]]; and pop single "[[Let It Rock (Kevin Rudolf song)|Let It Rock]]" by new [[Cash Money Records|Cash Money]] artist [[Kevin Rudolf]].

Throughout 2008, Carter performed at the [[Voodoo Experience]] in October in New Orleans, which was described by Jonathan Cohen of ''Billboard'' as his biggest hometown headlining set of his career.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|title=Lil Wayne Suits Up For Voodoo Experience|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044969/lil-wayne-suits-up-for-voodoo-experience|magazine=Billboard|date=June 26, 2008}}</ref> He also performed at the [[Virgin Mobile|Virgin Mobile Music Fest]] with [[Kanye West]], where they performed the remix of "Lollipop" and lip-synced to [[Whitney Houston]]'s "[[I Will Always Love You]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592577/20080811/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828040600/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592577/20080811/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2008|title=Kanye West Joins Lil Wayne, Bemoans Nine Inch Nails Face-Off at Virgin Fest|last=Upmalis|first=Jordan|date=August 11, 2008|publisher=MTV News|access-date=June 29, 2024}}</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]]") and performed "Lollipop" and "Got Money" on the season premiere of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite episode |title= Michael Phelps/Lil Wayne|series= Saturday Night Live |network=NBC |airdate= September 13, 2008 |season=34 |number=1}}</ref> He later performed at the [[homecoming]] rally at [[Vanderbilt University]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Paulson|first=Dave|title=Lil Wayne headlines Vandy homecoming|url=http://nashville.metromix.com/music/article/lil-wayne-headlines-vandy/697428/content|work=Metromix Nashville|access-date=April 24, 2011|date=October 20, 2008}}</ref> and the 2008 [[BET Hip Hop Awards]], where he received 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=October 8, 2008|work=SOHH|access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-date=February 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215154053/http://www.sohh.com/2008/10/lil_wayne_the_game_young.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He won eight awards at the [[BET Hip Hop Awards]], one of which included the "MVP" title.<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=October 20, 2008|publisher=MTV News|access-date=June 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023031211/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597431/20081020/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-date=October 23, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{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|year=2008|access-date=June 29, 2024|archive-date=September 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920044123/http://rap.about.com/od/awards/a/HipHopAwards08.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> After [[M.I.A. (artist)|M.I.A.]] dropped out of performing on Carter's [[I Am Music Tour]] due to her pregnancy, [[Jay-Z]] performed "Mr. Carter" with Lil Wayne at select shows.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Lil Wayne To Perform 'Mr. Carter' With Jay-Z For The First Time, Hitting The Studio With Hot Boys|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597799/20081023/lil_wayne.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=October 24, 2008|access-date=June 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105134105/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597799/20081023/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-date=January 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After ''Tha Carter III'' sold over 3 million copies and became the best-selling record of 2008, Carter re-signed with [[Cash Money Records]] for a multi-album deal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphoppress.com/2008/09/cash-money-re-s.html |title=Cash Money Re-Signs Lil Wayne to Multi-Album Deal |publisher=MarketWatch.com |date=September 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120406195000/http://www.hiphoppress.com/2008/09/cash-money-re-s.html |archive-date=April 6, 2012 }}</ref>
On November{{spaces}}11, 2008, Carter became the first hip hop act to perform at the [[Country Music Association Awards]], playing "[[All Summer Long (Kid Rock song)|All Summer Long]]" alongside [[Kid Rock]], in which Carter inaudibly strummed guitar strings alongside the guitarist in Kid Rock's band.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599254/20081113/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212170639/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599254/20081113/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2008 |title=Lil Wayne Performs With Kid Rock at CMA Awards – But Doesn't Say A Word|publisher=MTV News|date=November 13, 2008|access-date=December 29, 2009}}</ref> Shortly after, Wayne was nominated for eight [[Grammy Awards|Grammys]] – the most for any artist nominated that year.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/arts/music/05arts-GRAMMYSLIKEL_BRF.html | work=The New York Times | title=Grammys Like Lil Wayne | first=Dave | last=Itzkoff | date=December 5, 2008 | access-date=April 4, 2010}}</ref> He was then named the first MTV Man of the Year at the end of 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last=Montgomery |first=James |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601619/20081218/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220155418/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601619/20081218/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 20, 2008 |title=Lil Wayne's Response To Being MTV News' 2008 Man Of The Year: 'Happy Holidays!'|publisher=MTV |date=December 19, 2008 |access-date=December 29, 2009}}</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 on [[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 name="Grammy 2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx|title=The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List|year=2009|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105212925/http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/51st_show/list.aspx|archive-date=November 5, 2009}}</ref> MTV News listed Carter number two on their 2009 list of the Hottest MCs in the Game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Lil Wayne Rocks The Hottest MCs in the Game At #2!|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622981/20091003/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006060818/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622981/20091003/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 6, 2009|publisher=MTV News|access-date=April 22, 2011|author2=Rodriguez, Jayson |date=October 4, 2009}}</ref>

Prior to the 2009 Grammy Awards, Wayne was featured in an interview with [[Katie Couric]].<ref name="Couric">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/all-access-lil-wayne/|title="All Access:" Lil' Wayne|last=Couric|first=Katie|date=February 4, 2009|publisher=CBS News|access-date=February 7, 2009}}</ref> On February{{spaces}}7, 2009, he presented the [[Top Ten list (David Letterman)|Top Ten List]] on CBS's ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Show #3060|url=http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/video/?pid=9YMe_fye4T2ULMAdzewcG5fMDmqI27jk|series=Late Show with David Letterman|network=CBS|airdate=February 5, 2009}} (video) Text format: "[http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/top_ten/top_ten_popup.php?origin=&year=2009&month=02&day=05&elm=7&cat=content_top_ten Top Ten Reasons I'm Looking Forward To The Grammy Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012105431/http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/top_ten/top_ten_popup.php?origin=&year=2009&month=02&day=05&elm=7&cat=content_top_ten |date=October 12, 2011 }}"</ref> On April{{spaces}}24, 2009, he appeared on ''[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]'', discussing his GED and addictions.<ref name="The View">{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1610007/20090424/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427060740/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1610007/20090424/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 27, 2009 |title=Lil Wayne Charms The Ladies Of 'The View' |publisher=MTV News |date=April 24, 2009|access-date=December 29, 2009}}</ref> In September 2009, Carter was profiled in an episode of [[VH1]]'s ''[[Behind the Music]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Rodriguez |first=Jayson |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1607377/20090319/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320105744/http://www.mtv.com//news//articles//1607377//20090319//lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2009 |title=Lil Wayne To Appear in VH1's 'Behind The Music'|publisher=MTV News |date=March 19, 2009|access-date=December 29, 2009}}</ref> and was a presenter of the [[2009 MTV Movie Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ditzian |first=Eric |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1611016/20090511/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514123507/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1611016/20090511/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 14, 2009 |title=Lil Wayne, Will Ferrell Announced As MTV Movie Awards Presenters – Show Story {{pipe}} Headlines |publisher=MTV |date=May 11, 2009 |access-date=December 29, 2009}}</ref> In film, Carter produced and composed music for and starred in the direct-to-video film ''[[Hurricane Season (2009 film)|Hurricane Season]]''. A documentary of Carter, titled ''[[The Carter]]'', 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=July 9, 2008}}</ref>

On December{{spaces}}23, 2009, Carter released his label, Young Money's first compilation album, ''[[We Are Young Money]]'', with its lead single being "[[Every Girl (Young Money song)|Every Girl]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://realtalkny.uproxx.com/2009/02/topic/topic/pictures/lil-wayne-on-the-set-of-every-girl-1st-single-off-of-young-money-album/ |title=Lil Wayne on the Set Of, "Every Girl" (1st Single Off of Young Money Album) {{pipe}} RealTalkNY Brought To You By Nigel D |publisher=Realtalkny.uproxx.com |date=February 16, 2009 |access-date=December 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219163554/http://realtalkny.uproxx.com/2009/02/topic/topic/pictures/lil-wayne-on-the-set-of-every-girl-1st-single-off-of-young-money-album/ |archive-date=February 19, 2009 }}</ref> The second single was "[[BedRock (song)|BedRock]]", featuring [[Lloyd (singer)|Lloyd]], with the third being "[[Roger That (song)|Roger That]]". On May{{spaces}}24, 2010, the album was certified gold by the RIAA with over 500,000 copies sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |title=Gold & Platinum – October 26, 2010 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=October 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |archive-date=June 26, 2007 }}</ref> Carter is featured on the song, "[[Revolver (song)|Revolver]]", with [[Madonna]] for her greatest hits album, ''[[Celebration (Madonna album)|Celebration]]'' (2009). He was also featured on a [[Weezer]] song, "Can't Stop Partying", on ''[[Raditude]]'' (2009).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622477/20090928/weezer.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930222514/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622477/20090928/weezer.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2009|title=Exclusive: Weezer Team Up With Lil Wayne For 'Can't Stop Partying'|publisher=MTV News|date=September 28, 2009|access-date=July 10, 2010}}</ref> In late 2008, Carter announced plans to reissue ''Tha Carter III'' with leftover recordings, and was to be titled ''Rebirth'', originally scheduled to be released on April{{spaces}}7, 2009, before being delayed several times.<ref name="Reid">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597594/20081021/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022210350/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597594/20081021/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2008|title=Lil Wayne Calls His Carter III Do-Over 'The Birth of a New Beginning'|first=Shaheem|last=Reid|publisher=MTV News|date=October 21, 2008|access-date=July 5, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Rebirth (Lil Wayne album)|Rebirth]]'' instead became his sixth solo studio album, re-recorded with replaced material and later released on February{{spaces}}2, 2010. The album received negative reviews from fans and critics, considering it Carter's worst album released since ''500 Degreez'' (2002).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is Rebirth by Lil Wayne the worst rap rock album of all time? |url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/short/is-lil-wayne-rebirth-the-worst-rap-rock-album-of-all-time-not-even-close/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Loud And Quiet |language=en-US}}</ref>

To support its release and that of ''We Are Young Money'', Carter was featured on the cover of ''Rolling Stone''<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622981/20091003/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008001458/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622981/20091003/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Lil Wayne Rocks The Hottest MCs in the Game At #2!|publisher=MTV |date=October 4, 2009 |access-date=December 29, 2009}}</ref> and headlined the 'Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival', a United States and Canada–only concert tour which began on July{{spaces}}29, 2009. "[[Prom Queen (Lil Wayne song)|Prom Queen]]", the first official single, debuted on January{{spaces}}27, 2009, immediately after a live Internet broadcast of his concert in San Diego on Ustream (now [[IBM Cloud Video]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1100465 |title=Lil Wayne unveils 'Prom Queen' live on Ustream |date=January 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131032623/http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1100465 |archive-date=January 31, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=mtvrebirth>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1603446/20090123/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127042846/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1603446/20090123/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 27, 2009|title=Lil Wayne's Rock LP, Rebirth, Due April 7|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=January 23, 2009|publisher=MTV News|access-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref> It peaked at number fifteen on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] charts. On December{{spaces}}3, 2009, the second single, "[[On Fire (Lil Wayne song)|On Fire]]", produced by [[Cool & Dre]], was released.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1627696/20091204/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207015803/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1627696/20091204/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 7, 2009 |title=Lil Wayne's 'On Fire' Inspired By 'Scarface,' Producer Dre Says |publisher=MTV News |date=December 4, 2009 |access-date=December 29, 2009}}</ref> Based on a sample of [[Amy Holland]]'s "[[She's on Fire (Amy Holland song)|She's on Fire]]" from the soundtrack to the 1983 film, [[Scarface (1983 film)|''Scarface'']], "On Fire" peaked at number 33 on the ''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]].<ref name="autogenerated2"/>

===2010–2013: ''I Am Not a Human Being'' series and ''Tha Carter IV''===
In an interview on MTV's Mixtape Monday, Carter hinted at the release of ''[[Tha Carter IV]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080916022134/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. Retrieved September 15, 2008.</ref> He later announced that it would be released in late 2009 before the holiday season.<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''. Retrieved February 12, 2009.</ref> [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] had previously stated that ''Tha Carter IV'' would be packaged with ''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> Carter denied this, saying that "''Tha Carter IV'' deserves ''Tha Carter IV''", adding that ''[[We Are Young Money]]'' 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''. Retrieved October 13, 2009.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091017210849/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> These albums were eventually released separately.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Carter released his eighth album, ''[[I Am Not a Human Being]]'', on his 28th birthday, September{{spaces}}27, 2010. The album was released during Carter's incarceration on a weapon possession charge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Kyle |date=2016-11-29 |title=A Year of Lil Wayne: "I Am Not a Human Being" |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-year-of-lil-wayne-i-am-not-a-human-being/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref> The album has sold over 953,000 copies in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74408/week-ending-sept-5-2011-albums-weezy-does-it/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013084110/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74408/week-ending-sept-5-2011-albums-weezy-does-it/|url-status=dead|title=Week Ending Sept. 4, 2011. Albums: Weezy Does It - Chart Watch|archivedate=October 13, 2011|website=new.music.yahoo.com}}</ref> and spawned the successful single "[[Right Above It]]", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also debuted at number two, but later climbed to number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, making Carter the first rapper while incarcerated (since Tupac Shakur's ''[[Me Against the World]]'', released in 1995) to have a number one album.<ref>{{Cite magazine |agency=Associated Press |date=2010-11-01 |title=Lil Wayne Redefines Stardom Behind Bars |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lil-wayne-redefines-stardom-behind-bars-952126/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-11-01 |title=Lil Wayne Releases First Number One Album From Jail Since 2Pac |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.12816/title.lil-wayne-releases-first-number-one-album-from-jail-since-2pac |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref> [[File:Lil Wayne in Concert.jpg|thumb|Lil Wayne in 2011]]''Tha Carter IV'' was delayed into 2011, after Lil Wayne began recording from scratch after his release from prison.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kuperstein |first=Slava |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12277/title.lil-wayne-to-start-from-scratch-on-carter-iv |title=Lil Wayne To 'Start From Scratch' On "Carter IV"|magazine=HipHopDX |date=September 19, 2010 |access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref> He described his first 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 on December{{spaces}}15, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lil Wayne's '6 Foot, 7 Foot' Producer Bangladesh Says He Hasn't Been Compensated|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662974/lil-wayne-6-foot-7-foot-bangladesh.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501015743/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662974/lil-wayne-6-foot-7-foot-bangladesh.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 1, 2011|publisher=MTV News|access-date=May 27, 2011}}</ref> On March{{spaces}}8, Carter released another song, "We Back Soon", though it was not included on the official track listing of ''Tha Carter IV''.<ref name="We Back Soon">{{cite web|title=Lil Wayne – We Back Soon|url=http://www.lilwaynehq.com/2011/03/08/lil-wayne-we-back-soon/|publisher=Lil Wayne HQ|access-date=April 16, 2011|date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> The second single, "[[John (Lil Wayne song)|John]]", featuring [[Rick Ross]], was released on March{{spaces}}24.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} In an interview on March{{spaces}}29, Carter announced that he would retire at age 35; saying that "I would feel selfish still going to the studio when it's such a vital point" in the lives of his four children.<ref name="Lil Wayne on the Angie Martinez show">{{cite web |last=Martinez |first=Angie |date=March 29, 2011 |title=Weezy's first radio interview |url=http://www.hot97.com/Channels/newonhot/Story.aspx?ID=1393228 |access-date=April 1, 2011 |work=Lil Wayne on the Angie Martinez show [video] |publisher=Hot 97}}</ref>

Throughout a two-year period between 2010 and 2012, Carter has been featured in many hit singles such as "[[I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)]]" by [[Kevin Rudolf]], "[[Miss Me]]", "[[The Motto (Drake song)|The Motto]]", and "[[HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)]]" by [[Drake (musician)|Drake]], "[[No Love]]" by [[Eminem]], "[[Hit the Lights (Jay Sean song)|Hit the Lights]]" by [[Jay Sean]], "[[Look at Me Now (Chris Brown song)|Look at Me Now]]" by [[Chris Brown]], "[[Welcome to My Hood]]", "[[I'm on One]]", "[[Take It to the Head]]", and "[[No New Friends (DJ Khaled song)|No New Friends]]" by [[DJ Khaled]], "[[Motivation (Kelly Rowland song)|Motivation]]" by [[Kelly Rowland]], "[[Ballin' (Young Jeezy song)|Ballin']]" by [[Young Jeezy]], "[[Strange Clouds (song)|Strange Clouds]]" by [[B.o.B]], "[[I Can Only Imagine (David Guetta song)|I Can Only Imagine]]" by [[David Guetta]], "[[Faded (Tyga song)|Faded]]" by [[Tyga]], "[[Pop That]]" by [[French Montana]], and "[[Bandz a Make Her Dance]]" by [[Juicy J]]. [[File:Lil Wayne Camp Flog Gnaw 2012.jpg|thumb|Lil Wayne performing in 2012|left]]

The artwork for ''Tha Carter IV'' was unveiled on April{{spaces}}20. Originally scheduled to be released on May{{spaces}}16,<ref>{{cite web |date=March 17, 2011 |title=Lil Wayne Says Tha Carter IV Is Done & Announces Release Date! |url=http://www.lilwaynehq.com/2011/03/17/lil-wayne-says-tha-carter-iv-is-done-announces-release-date/ |access-date=May 22, 2011 |publisher=Lil Wayne HQ}}</ref> it was delayed several times until being confirmed for release on August 29, 2011.<ref name="new date">{{cite web|last=Markman|first=Rob|date=July 11, 2011|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667052/lil-wayne-tha-carter-iv.jhtml|title=Lil Wayne's Carter IV 'Totally Done' |publisher=MTV News|access-date=June 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712232935/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667052/lil-wayne-tha-carter-iv.jhtml|archive-date=July 12, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> On May{{spaces}}26, the album's third single, "[[How to Love]]", was released. He released another track, "Dear Anne (Stan Part 2)", in June.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} 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 in January 2022 with four additional tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shutler |first=Ali |date=2022-01-17 |title=Lil Wayne releases 'Sorry 4 The Wait' mixtape on streaming with four new tracks |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/lil-wayne-releases-sorry-4-the-wait-mixtape-on-streaming-with-four-new-tracks-3139353 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Finally released on August 29, 2011, ''Tha Carter IV'' debuted at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], with first-week sales of 964,000 copies (overshadowing the first-week sales of [[Jay-Z]] and [[Kanye West]]'s ''[[Watch the Throne]]''),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenburg |first=Zack O'Malley |title=Why Lil Wayne's 'Carter IV' Outsold Jay-Z and Kanye's 'Throne' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/09/07/why-lil-waynes-carter-iv-outsold-jay-z-and-kanyes-throne/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> making it Carter's third chart-topping album of his career. On January{{spaces}}8, 2012, according to [[Nielsen SoundScan]], Carter was the seventh all-time best-selling artist for [[Music download|digital track sales]] with 36,788,000 million to the end of 2011.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In October 2011, it was reported that Carter was working on sequels to both ''I Am Not a Human Being'' and ''Rebirth''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17267/title.lil-wayne-to-release-i-am-not-a-human-being-rebirth-sequels |title=Lil Wayne To Release 'I Am Not A Human Being' & "Rebirth" Sequels {{pipe}} Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120071549/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.17267/title.lil-wayne-to-release-i-am-not-a-human-being-rebirth-sequels |archive-date=November 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In January 2012, Birdman announced that he and Carter had finished recording ''Like Father, Like Son 2''.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.18436/title.lil-wayne-to-release-i-am-not-a-human-being-2-in-summer-2012 |title=Lil Wayne To Release 'I Am Not a Human Being II' In Summer 2012 {{pipe}} Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415084931/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.18436/title.lil-wayne-to-release-i-am-not-a-human-being-2-in-summer-2012 |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On November{{spaces}}22, 2012, Carter announced that ''[[Tha Carter V]]'' would be his final album, as he wanted to pursue other interests.<ref>{{cite web  | last =Markman  | first =Rob  | title = Lil Wayne: Tha Carter V Is 'My Last Album' | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697850/lil-wayne-tha-carter-v-last-album-mtv-first.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121127173323/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697850/lil-wayne-tha-carter-v-last-album-mtv-first.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 27, 2012 | publisher = MTV  | date = November 23, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lil Wayne Says He Will Retire After Releasing 'Tha Carter V' |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21976/title.lil-wayne-says-he-will-retire-after-releasing-tha-carter-v |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127172519/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21976/title.lil-wayne-says-he-will-retire-after-releasing-tha-carter-v |archive-date=November 27, 2012 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |work=HipHopDX}}</ref>

After a one-year delay, ''[[I Am Not a Human Being II]]'' was released on March{{spaces}}26, 2013, debuting at number two on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] selling 217,000 copies in its first week;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news09342 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411023013/http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news09342 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |title=News |publisher=HITS Daily Double |date=April 2, 2013 |access-date=April 11, 2013 }}</ref> "[[My Homies Still]]", "[[Love Me (Lil Wayne song)|Love Me]]", and "[[No Worries (Lil Wayne song)|No Worries]]" were released as singles prior to its release. The album was met with generally mixed reviews, with most critics noticing the declining quality of his releases. Carter toured North America with [[2 Chainz]] and [[T.I.]] on the second America's Most Wanted Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21292/title.lil-wayne-i-am-not-a-human-being-ii-release-date|title=Lil Wayne 'I Am Not A Human Being II' Release Date|work=HipHopDX|access-date=November 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124235332/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21292/title.lil-wayne-i-am-not-a-human-being-ii-release-date/|archive-date=November 24, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> On May{{spaces}}3, 2013, [[Pepsi]] dropped Carter, who was a spokesperson for [[Mountain Dew]], due to him performing offensive lyrics about [[Civil rights movement|civil rights]] icon [[Emmett Till]] on the remix to rapper [[Future (rapper)|Future]]'s single, "[[Karate Chop (song)|Karate Chop]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=PEPSICO CUTS TIES WITH LIL WAYNE OVER CRUDE LYRICS|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/pepsico-ending-ties-lil-wayne|agency=Associated Press|access-date=May 3, 2013|archive-date=May 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505093428/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/pepsico-ending-ties-lil-wayne|url-status=dead}}</ref> On September{{spaces}}1, 2013, Carter released ''[[Dedication 5]]'', the fifth instalment of the ''Dedication'' mixtape series. The mixtape featured 29 tracks, with guest appearances from several members of Young Money.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/09/lil-wayne-releases-new-mixtape-dedication-5/ |title=Lil Wayne Releases New Mixtape, 'Dedication 5' – XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=September 1, 2013 |access-date=December 5, 2013}}</ref>

===2014–2019: ''Free Weezy Album'' and ''Tha Carter V''===
[[File:Lil Wayne (23513397583).jpg|right|thumb|Wayne performing in 2015]]
On October{{spaces}}18, 2013, former Cash Money Records vice president of promotion Mel Smith, tweeted: "Happy Friday!! New YMCMB music coming soon!! Carter 5."<ref name="griffin">{{cite web |url=http://canisiusgriffin.com/lifestyle/tha-carter-v-almost-finished-surprise-drop-coming-soon |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140225002406/http://canisiusgriffin.com/lifestyle/tha-carter-v-almost-finished-surprise-drop-coming-soon |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 25, 2014 |title=canisiusgriffin.com |publisher=canisiusgriffin.com |access-date=October 14, 2015 }}</ref> Nearly four months later, in an interview with ''The Griffin'', released on February{{spaces}}14, 2014, Smith spoke on the upcoming album: "We're very close to dropping the album. It's going to be a huge surprise to everyone ... I can't release the date because he wants to surprise people."<ref name="griffin"/> On February{{spaces}}15, during Drake's performance at the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in New Orleans, Carter appeared as a guest performer before announcing that ''[[Tha Carter V]]'' would be released on May{{spaces}}5, 2014.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/02/lil-wayne-carter-v-may-5th-release-date-drake-all-star-weekend |title=Drake Announces a Release Date For Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter V" |magazine=Complex |date=February 15, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.illroots.com/read/lil-wayne-announces-carter-v-release-date |title=Lil' Wayne Announces 'Carter V' Release Date |publisher=Illroots |date=February 15, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref> In March 2014, Carter again said during an interview at [[SXSW]] that ''Tha Carter V'' would be his last album.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=August |date=March 14, 2014 |title=SXSW 2014: Lil Wayne, EDM and the future of African digital music |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-sxsw-2014-lil-wayne-edm-and-the-future-of-african-digital-music-20140314,0,4181172.story |access-date=March 21, 2014 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

On March{{spaces}}27, 2014, Carter's manager Cortez Bryant announced that the album had been delayed.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Harling |first=Danielle |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/m/index.php?s=news&id=28085 |title=Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter V" Not Dropping May 5 {{pipe}} Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |magazine=HipHopDX |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814194103/http://www.hiphopdx.com/m/index.php?s=news&id=28085 |archive-date=August 14, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Ortiz |first=Edwin |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/03/lil-wayne-manager-says-tha-carter-v-will-not-be-released-on-may-5 |title=Lil Wayne's Manager Cortez Bryant Says "Tha Carter V" Will Not Be Released on May 5 |magazine=Complex |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref> Carter then released the single "[[Believe Me (Lil Wayne song)|Believe Me]]", which features vocals from Drake, to [[mainstream urban]] radio in the United States on May{{spaces}}6, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://frequencynews.com/musiclibrary_detail.cfm?LabelID=180&ArtistID=278&AlbumID=1231&SingleID=4067 |title=Frequency News |publisher=Frequency News |date=May 6, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706155706/http://frequencynews.com/musiclibrary_detail.cfm?LabelID=180&ArtistID=278&AlbumID=1231&SingleID=4067 |archive-date=July 6, 2015 }}</ref> Three more singles, "[[Krazy (Lil Wayne song)|Krazy]]", "Grindin'" (featuring Drake) and "Start a Fire" (featuring [[Christina Milian]]), were also released, but ultimately scrapped from the album.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=2014-08-11 |title=Lil Wayne Goes 'Over the Cuckoo's Nest' in 'Krazy' Clip |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-wayne-goes-over-the-cuckoos-nest-in-krazy-clip-50425/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pelly |first=Jenn |date=2014-08-08 |title=Drake and Lil Wayne Team for "Grindin" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56236-drake-and-lil-wayne-team-for-grindin/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-24 |title=Lil Wayne – "Start A Fire" (Feat. Christina Milian) |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1720889/lil-wayne-start-a-fire-feat-christina-milian/news/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>

Carter and Drake embarked on their joint tour, [[Drake vs. Lil Wayne]] (running from August 8 to September 28, 2014), determining who is "the best rapper on tour and in the world".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aceto |first=Matt |date=2014-08-15 |title=Whose Side Are You On? "Drake Vs. Lil Wayne" Concert Recap |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/24247-whose-side-are-you-on-drake-vs-lil-wayne-concert-recap-news |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> The concept of the tour was based on the ''[[Street Fighter]]'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bristout |first=Ralph |title=The Lil Wayne vs. Drake show is now the biggest Hot 100 storyline |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2017-02-06/24037/the-lil-wayne-vs-drake-show-is-now-the-biggest-hot-100-storyline |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=REVOLT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Eric Sundermann and Kyle |date=2014-08-20 |title=Drake Vs. Lil Wayne: Everyone Won |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/drake-vs-lil-wayne-tour-review-1/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref> It was the third-largest grossing hip hop concert tour of 2014 behind [[Eminem]] and [[Rihanna]]'s [[The Monster Tour (Eminem and Rihanna)|Monster Tour]], and Jay-Z and [[Beyoncé]]'s [[On the Run Tour (Beyoncé and Jay-Z)|On the Run Tour]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=Jesse |title=Drake Vs. Lil Wayne Tickets On Pace To Be Top Price Hip-Hop Collaboration Tour |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2014/06/19/drake-vs-lil-wayne-tickets-on-pace-to-be-top-price-hip-hop-collaboration-tour/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=VIBE |date=2014-12-19 |title=Who Ran The World? A 2014 Joint Tour Ranking |url=https://www.vibe.com/gallery/2014-joint-tour-ranking/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=VIBE.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-29 |title=Top Billin': 10 Must See Tours Of 2014 |url=https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2484/title.top-billin-10-must-see-tours-of-2014 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref>

In late 2014, Carter claimed that the album's release was postponed due to his financial disputes with Cash Money.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |date=December 4, 2014 |title=Lil Wayne Blasts Cash Money: 'I Want Off This Label' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lil-wayne-blasts-cash-money-i-want-off-this-label-20141204 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205041822/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lil-wayne-blasts-cash-money-i-want-off-this-label-20141204 |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |access-date=December 4, 2014 |agency=[[Jann Wenner|Wenner Media]] [[Limited liability company|LLC]] |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=United States}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

On January{{spaces}}20, 2015, Carter self-released ''[[Sorry 4 the Wait 2]]'', a sequel to his [[Sorry 4 the Wait|2011 mixtape]], to compensate for the continued delay of ''Tha Carter V''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Minsker|first1=Evan|title=Lil Wayne Drops Sorry 4 the Wait 2|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/58108-lil-wayne-drops-sorry-4-the-wait-2/|website=Pitchfork|date=January 20, 2015|access-date=January 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Regan|first1=Helen|title=Lil Wayne Just Dropped His New Mixtape Sorry 4 the Wait 2|url=https://time.com/3675848/lil-wayne-mixtape-sorry-4-the-wait-2/|magazine=Time|access-date=January 21, 2015|archive-date=August 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806013903/https://time.com/3675848/lil-wayne-mixtape-sorry-4-the-wait-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2015, due to ''Tha Carter V''{{'}}s delay, Carter announced that a free album would be released prior to the fifth installment in his popular series.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lil-wayne-free-weezy-album-6465165/ |title=Lil Wayne Announces 'The Free Weezy Album' |magazine=Billboard |date=February 5, 2015 |access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref> In June 2015, Carter joined [[Jay-Z]]'s [[Tidal (service)|TIDAL]], as an artist owner, kicking off the partnership by exclusively releasing a single on the service titled "Glory".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-says-he-signed-a-deal-with-jay-z-news.15947.html |title=Lil Wayne Says He Signed A Deal With Jay Z |date=June 14, 2015 |publisher=Hotnewhiphop.com |access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref> He also announced plans on his own TIDAL X concert series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2015/06/04/lil-wayne-joins-tidal/ |title=Lil Wayne Joins TIDAL |publisher=BallerStatus.com |date=June 4, 2015 |access-date=June 4, 2015 |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701030602/https://www.ballerstatus.com/2015/06/04/lil-wayne-joins-tidal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On July{{spaces}}4, 2015, Carter released ''[[Free Weezy Album]]'', exclusively through TIDAL, under Young Money and Republic Records.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kreps |first=Daniel |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lil-wayne-drops-free-weezy-album-on-tidal-20150704 |title=Lil Wayne Drops 'Free Weezy Album' on Tidal |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 4, 2015 |access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref> On January{{spaces}}27, 2016, when rapper [[2 Chainz]] released his "Felt Like Cappin" EP, Carter is featured on the lead single titled "Back on That Bullshit".{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} On March{{spaces}}4, 2016, 2 Chainz released his third studio album, ''[[ColleGrove]]''. The album was initially a collaborative effort between 2 Chainz and Carter, but due to his record label issues, only 2 Chainz was credited as the primary artist.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} On June{{spaces}}28, 2016, Carter was one of several artists who appeared on the track "[[Sucker for Pain]]" for the film ''[[Suicide Squad (2016 film)|Suicide Squad]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slingerland |first=Calum |date=June 23, 2016 |title=Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/lil_wayne_wiz_khalifa_and_imagine_dragons-sucker_for_pain_ft_logic_ty_dolla_ign_x_ambassadors_video |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Exclaim! |language=en}}</ref> In September 2016, Carter tweeted "I AM NOW DEFENSELESS and mentally DEFEATED", followed by stating "I'm done", hinting at a possible retirement. Many rappers responded with respect and encouragement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Walker |first=Angus |date=September 3, 2016 |title=Lil Wayne hints at a retirement from rapping |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/artists-react-to-possibility-of-lil-waynes-retirement-news.23891.html|access-date=September 9, 2016 |website=Hotnewhiphop.com}}</ref>

In 2017, Carter announced he had signed with Jay-Z's [[Roc Nation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/04/lil-wayne-roc-nation|title=Lil Wayne Announces He's a Member of Roc Nation – XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=April 11, 2017 |access-date=November 23, 2017}}</ref> although he later stated that there was no official paperwork that he signed to the label.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=April 21, 2017 |title=Lil Wayne denies being signed to Roc Nation: "We haven't done that yet" |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2017-04-21/26793/lil-wayne-denies-being-signed-to-roc-nation-we-havent-done-that-yet |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=REVOLT}}</ref> On August{{spaces}}8, 2017, he released the song "[[Like a Man (Onhel song)|Like a Man]]" with sound engineer Onhel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2017/08/lil-wayne-new-song-like-a-man/|title=Hear Lil Wayne's New Song 'Like a Man'|website=XXL Mag|date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=August 19, 2017}}</ref> On June{{spaces}}7, 2018, it was announced that Carter had been released from Cash Money Records and would be releasing ''Tha Carter V'' via Young Money and Republic Records.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-wins-lawsuit-cash-money-birdman-8459879/ |title=Lil Wayne Reaches Settlement in Lawsuit Against Cash Money |last=Penrose |first=Netisha |date=June 7, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-teases-tha-carter-v-release-date-8464108/ |title=Lil Wayne Teases Upcoming Release of 'Tha Carter V' |last=Saponara |first=Michael |date=July 5, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 29, 2018}}</ref>

In September 2016, Carter's song, "No Mercy", debuted as the theme song for ''[[Skip and Shannon: Undisputed]]'', a sports talk show on [[Fox Sports 1|FS1]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-07 |title=Check Out "No Mercy," Lil Wayne's Theme Song For 'Skip And Shannon: Undisputed' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/9/lil-wayne-no-mercy-theme-song-skip-and-shannon-undisputed |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Hypebeast}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Platon |first=Adelle |date=2016-08-31 |title=Lil Wayne Helms Theme Song for Fox Sports' 'Skip and Shannon: Undisputed': Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-no-mercy-theme-song-fox-sports-undisputed-skip-bayless-shannon-sharpe-7494680/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> On Christmas Day 2017, Carter released the mixtape ''[[Dedication 6]]'', the sixth installment of the "Gangsta Grillz" chronology. The second part was released on January{{spaces}}26, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-waynes-dedication-6-is-coming-news.20910.html|title=Lil Wayne's "Dedication 6" Is "Coming"|website=HotNewHipHop.com|last=Schwartz|first=Danny|date=April 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name=HHNH>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-waynes-d6-reloaded-drops-tomorrow-heres-the-tracklist-news.42872.html|title=Lil Wayne's "D6: Reloaded" Drops Tomorrow, Here's The Tracklist|website=HotNewHipHop.com|date=January 25, 2018}}</ref>

''[[Tha Carter V]]'' was finally released on September{{spaces}}27, 2018, the day of Carter's 36th birthday, debuting at number one on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] with 480,000 [[album-equivalent unit]]s, including 140,000 pure album sales. It is the second-largest streaming week for an album behind former Young Money labelmate [[Drake (musician)|Drake]]'s ''[[Scorpion (Drake album)|Scorpion]]'' with 433 million streams. It is also Carter's fourth number-one ''Billboard'' 200 album.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/lil-waynes-tha-carter-v-no-1-billboard-200/|title=Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter V' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With Second-Largest Streaming Week Ever for an Album|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=October 7, 2018|access-date=October 8, 2018}}</ref> Every song on the album charted on the ''Billboard'' 100, while simultaneously charting 4 songs in the top 10, also becoming the first artist to debut two songs in the top five.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lil Wayne Charts 22 Songs From 'Tha Carter V' on Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/lil-wayne-charts-22-songs-tha-carter-v-billboard-hot-100/ |magazine=Billboard|date=October 8, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Maroon 5 & Cardi B's 'Girls Like You' Leads Hot 100 for Third Week, Lil Wayne Is First to Debut Two Songs in Top Five |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/lil-wayne-carter-v-hot-100-debuts/ |magazine=Billboard|date=October 8, 2018 }}</ref> One of the album's singles, "[[Uproar (Lil Wayne song)|Uproar]]", produced by [[Swizz Beatz]], was its leading, reaching number seven on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100; it features a sample from rapper [[G. Dep]]'s 2001 single, "[[Special Delivery (song)|Special Delivery]]".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Da’Shan |title=Why Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz's "Uproar" is a meaningful single for the culture |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2018-10-05/99333/why-lil-wayne-and-swizz-beatzs-uproar-is-a-meaningful-single-for-the-culture |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=REVOLT}}</ref> ''Tha Carter V'' has since been certified 2× platinum by the RIAA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendez |first=Marisa |date=2019-01-14 |title=Lil Wayne Nicki Minaj's Newest Albums Go Platinum the Same Day - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/lil-wayne-nicki-minaj-tha-carter-5-platinum-queen-platinum-same-day/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}</ref>

===2020–2021: ''Funeral'' and ''Trust Fund Babies''===
While Carter was working on ''Tha Carter V'', it was announced that his next album would be titled ''[[Funeral (Lil Wayne album)|Funeral]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/11/lil-waynes-new-funeral-project-on-the-way/|title=Lil Wayne's New 'Funeral' Project Is on the Way – XXL|first=Peter A.|last=Berry|website=XXL Mag|date=November 28, 2016 }}</ref> On January{{spaces}}23, 2020, he revealed the album's release date and album artwork.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lil Wayne to Drop New Album Funeral Next Friday |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2020/01/lil-wayne-funeral-album-release-date/ |website=XXL |date=January 23, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lil Wayne Shares 'Funeral' Album Release Date |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-funeral-album-release-date-8548903/ |magazine=Billboard |date=January 24, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2020}}</ref> ''Funeral'' was released on January{{spaces}}31, and debuted at number one on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], with 139,000 [[album-equivalent unit]]s, becoming his fifth U.S. number-one album.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8550510/lil-wayne-funeral-fifth-no-1-billboard-200-album-chart|title=Lil Wayne Achieves Fifth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Funeral'|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=February 9, 2020|access-date=February 10, 2020}}</ref> The album received generally mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/funeral/lil-wayne|title=Funeral by Lil Wayne Reviews and Tracks -Metacritic|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=March 3, 2020}}</ref> On February{{spaces}}2, 2020, Lil Wayne competed in [[The Masked Singer (American TV series) season 3|season three]] of ''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'' after the [[Super Bowl LIV]] as "Robot". He was the first to be eliminated. Carter featured on [[Lil Baby]]'s track "Forever", a track from Baby's second studio album, [[My Turn (Lil Baby album)|''My Turn'']], which was released on February{{spaces}}28, 2020.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-baby-joins-lil-wayne-on-new-song-forever-new-song.1986342.html|title=Lil Baby & Lil Wayne Unite on New Song "Forever"|last=Findlay|first=Mitch|date=February 28, 2020|website=HotNewHipHop|access-date=March 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-baby-lil-wayne-forever-video-9327623/|title=Lil Baby & Lil Wayne Team Up for Dynamic 'Forever' Video|last=Aniftos|first=Rania|date=March 3, 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> The song's music video was released on March{{spaces}}3, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/music/lil-baby-lil-wayne-forever-video/|title=Lil Baby And Lil Wayne Defy The Devil in the Fiery 'Forever' Video|last=Williams|first=Aaron|date=March 3, 2020|website=[[UPROXX]]|access-date=March 3, 2020}}</ref> This marked the second collaboration for the two artists in 2020, with the first being on Carter's single, "I Do It".<ref name=":0" />

On April{{spaces}}24, 2020, Lil Wayne, 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 the show as having "heavyweights calling in discussing sports, music, comedy, everything!".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/hip-hop/9363199/lil-w|title=Lil Wayne Launching Young Money Radio|magazine=Billboard|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=April 22, 2020|access-date=July 15, 2020}}</ref> On July{{spaces}}3, Lil Wayne released his eleventh studio album, ''[[Free Weezy Album]]'' (2015) on streaming services to commemorate its five-year anniversary. The album charted at number 77 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] the following week.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Lil Wayne Drops Revamped 'Free Weezy Album' on Project's 5th Anniversary: Stream it Here|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-drops-revamped-free-weezy-album-on-projects-5th-anniversary-stream-it-here-9413357/|magazine=Billboard|date=July 3, 2020|access-date=July 15, 2020}}</ref> On May{{spaces}}29, Wayne released the deluxe edition of ''Funeral'' featuring artists such as Doja Cat, Tory Lanez, Lil Uzi Vert, Benny The Butcher, Conway the Machine and Jessie Reyez.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/lil-wayne-shares-deluxe-version-of-funeral-featuring-new-collaborations-with-doja-cat-lil-uzi-vert-and-more-2679175|title=Lil Wayne shares deluxe version of 'Funeral' featuring new collaborations with Doja Cat, Lil Uzi Vert and more|website=NME|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|date=May 30, 2020|access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref> On August{{spaces}}28, Wayne released another old project, his 2009 mixtape ''[[No Ceilings]]'', for commercial release. He also celebrated the release by collaborating with [[ASAP Ferg]] on the song "No Ceilings".<ref name="NC3">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/28/entertainment/lil-wayne-no-ceilings-trnd/index.html|title=Lil Wayne drops 'No Ceilings' mixtape on streaming services 11 years after its release|publisher=[[CNN]]|last= Respers France|first=Lisa|date=August 28, 2020|access-date=August 29, 2020}}</ref> Wayne was featured on [[YoungBoy Never Broke Again]]'s album ''[[Top (album)|Top]]'' on the track "[[My Window (YoungBoy Never Broke Again song)|My Window]]", released on September{{spaces}}11. His verse received praise from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2098270/youngboy-never-broke-again-top-review/franchises/columns/status-aint-hood/|title=NBA YoungBoy Is A Bleak Rap Star for a Bleak World|work=[[Stereogum]]|last=Breihan|first=Tom|date=September 16, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/nba-youngboy-and-lil-wayne-stay-protected-on-my-window-new-song.1988567.html|title=NBA Youngboy & Lil Wayne Stay Protected On "My Window|work=HotNewHipHop|last=Zidel|first=Alex|date=September 11, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/best-new-music-this-week-conway-the-machine-james-blake-nba-youngboy|title=Best New Music This Week: Conway the Machine, NBA YoungBoy, James Blake|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|last=McKinney|first=Jessica|date=September 11, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2020/09/album-review-youngboy-never-broke-again-top/|title=YoungBoy Never Broke Again's Top Hints at a Next Level: Review|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|last=Jones|first=Okla|date=September 13, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2020}}</ref> On September{{spaces}}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 the original album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2020/09/24/lil-wayne-tha-carter-v-deluxe-tracklist/|title=Lil Wayne Reveals 'Tha Carter V (Deluxe)' Tracklist|work=[[Rap-Up]]|date=September 24, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2020}}</ref>

On November{{spaces}}27, 2020, Lil Wayne released the mixtape, ''[[No Ceilings 3]]'', while announcing the album, ''I Am Not a Human Being III'', for 2021,<ref name="IANAHB3">{{cite web |title=LIL WAYNE DROPS 'NO CEILINGS 3,' ANNOUNCES 'I AM NOT A HUMAN BEING III' |url=https://2dopeboyz.com/2020/11/27/lil-wayne-no-ceilings-3-mixtape-stream/ |website=2dopeboyz}}</ref> although it would not be released that year due to delays. On October{{spaces}}1, 2021, Wayne and [[Rich the Kid]] released a collaborative mixtape titled ''[[Trust Fund Babies]]'', along with a music video for the single "[[Feelin' Like Tunechi]]". The mixtape took roughly a month and a half to record. On their working relationship, Wayne said, "For me, it's the chemistry, it's the camaraderie because first of all, Rich like my little bro and me and Rich been rockin' for a minute".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2021/09/30/lil-wayne-rich-the-kid-trust-fund-babies-stream/|title=Lil Wayne and Rich the Kid Drop Joint Mixtape 'Trust Fund Babies|work=[[Rap-Up]]|date=October 9, 2021|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref>

=== 2023–present: ''Welcome 2 Collegrove'' and ''Tha Carter VI'' ===
On March{{spaces}}31, 2023, Wayne dropped his first ever [[greatest hits album]] titled ''[[I Am Music (Lil Wayne album)|I Am Music]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/lil-wayne-i-am-music-compilation-stream|title=Lil Wayne Releases Career-Spanning 'I Am Music' Compilation|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|last=William Cowen|first=Trace|date=March 31, 2023|access-date=March 31, 2023}}</ref> It included the then-unreleased "[[Kant Nobody]]", featuring [[DMX]], whose song, "Niggaz Done Started Something" (1998), was sampled through.<ref>{{Cite web |last=II |first=C. Vernon Coleman IIC Vernon Coleman |date=2023-02-23 |title=Lil Wayne, DMX 'Kant Nobody' Lyrics |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/lil-wayne-dmx-kant-nobody-lyrics/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}</ref> Wayne and DMX previously collaborated on "Dogs Out", a track from the latter's posthumous album, [[Exodus (DMX album)|''Exodus'']], which was released a month after his death in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amorosi |first=A. D. |date=2021-05-14 |title=DMX's Posthumous Album, 'Exodus,' Features Guests Jay-Z, Nas, Bono, More |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/dmxs-album-exodus-jay-z-nas-bono-1234973748/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Wayne released a single titled "[[Kat Food]]" on September{{spaces}}1, 2023.<ref name="NC3" /> That October, Lil Wayne released a mixtape, ''[[Tha Fix Before Tha VI]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Westlake |first=Wyatt |date=2023-09-29 |title=Lil Wayne's "Tha Fix Before Tha VI" Mixtape Review |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/719015-lil-wayne-tha-fix-before-tha-vi-review |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> On November{{spaces}}3, 2023, Wayne was featured on the remix to [[Ciara (singer)|Ciara]] and [[Chris Brown]]'s single "[[How We Roll (Ciara and Chris Brown song)|How We Roll]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ratedrnb.com/2023/11/ciara-lil-wayne-chris-brown-how-we-roll-remix/|title=Lil Wayne Joins Ciara and Chris Brown on 'How We Roll (Remix)'|website=Rated R&B|last=Samuels|first=Keithan|date=November 3, 2023|access-date=November 3, 2023}}</ref> That same month, he and [[2 Chainz]] released a collaborative album, ''[[Welcome 2 Collegrove]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Inman |first=DeMicia |date=2023-11-14 |title=2 Chainz And Lil Wayne Share 'Welcome 2 ColleGrove' Trailer, Narrated By 50 Cent |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/50-cent-narrates-2-chainz-lil-wayne-welcome-2-collegrove-trailer-1234812561/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=VIBE.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rindner |first=Grant |date=2023-11-17 |title='Welcome 2 Collegrove' Reminds Us That Lil Wayne and 2Chainz Are #FriendshipGoals |url=https://www.gq.com/story/lil-wayne-and-2chainz-are-friendshipgoals |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref> A sequel to 2 Chainz's 2016 album, ''[[ColleGrove]]'', Wayne was credited as a co-leading artist as he was previously unable to receive credit for its predecessor, due to his prior legal issues involving his Cash Money dispute.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

On February 6, 2025, during an advert for [[Cetaphil]], Wayne announced that ''[[Tha Carter VI]]'' would be released on June 6, 2025.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Saponara |first=Micahel |date=February 6, 2025 |title=Lil Wayne Reveals 'Tha Carter VI' Release Date in New Ad |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-tha-carter-vi-teaser-release-cetaphil-ad-1235894574/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en-US }}</ref> On February 17, after being critical of his "Mona Lisa" collaborator Kendrick Lamar replacing him as the headliner of the [[Super Bowl LIX halftime show]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Adam |title=Lil Wayne Responds to Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show Remarks on 'GNX' |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10144500-lil-wayne-responds-to-kendrick-lamars-super-bowl-halftime-show-remarks-on-gnx |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=bleacherreport.com |language=en}}</ref> Carter performed for the [[Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special|''Saturday Night Live'' 50th anniversary special]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ardrey |first=Taylor |title=Lil Wayne's 'SNL 50' performance reignites Super Bowl discourse on social media |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2025/02/17/lil-wayne-snl-50-super-bowl/78964421007/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Future and unreleased projects===
[[File:Lil Wayne - Beacon Theatre.jpg|thumb|Lil Wayne at [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]] in 2007|left]]
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.<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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718134109/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1535532/20060630/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2006|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=July 5, 2006|access-date=March 28, 2008}}</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=June 11, 2007 |access-date=March 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412193956/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/061107/ |archive-date=April 12, 2008 }}</ref> In late 2011, it was announced by Mack Maine that Carter and [[Juelz Santana]] had gone back to work on their collaborative album ''I Can't Feel My Face'', which had been delayed for a few years due to "label politics".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lilwaynehq.com/2011/09/22/lil-wayne-back-working-on-collabo-album-with-juelz-santana/ |title=Lil Wayne Back Working on Collabo Album With Juelz Santana |date=September 22, 2011 |publisher=Lil Wayne HQ |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref>

On June{{spaces}}19, 2008, Carter 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=June 18, 2008|access-date=June 19, 2008|archive-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630220657/http://www.rapbasement.com/lil-wayne/lil-wayne-and-t-pain-form-supergroup.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> with plans to release an album, titled ''He Raps, He Sings'';<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/08/50-unreleased-albums-that-wed-kill-to-hear/twayne-he-raps-he-sings |title=T-Wayne He Raps, He Sings – 50 Unreleased Albums We'd Kill To Hear |magazine=Complex |date=August 8, 2012 |access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref> however, those plans have died down due to much of the material recorded for the album being leaked.<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=July 22, 2008|access-date=July 24, 2008|archive-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630205702/http://www.rapbasement.com/t-pain/072208-t-pain-talks-collab-album-with-lil-wayne.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> T-Pain ultimately released ''[[T-Wayne (album)|T-Wayne]]'' as a mixtape in 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Penrose |first=Nerisha |date=2017-05-18 |title=The Wait Is Over: Stream Lil Wayne & T-Pain's 'T-Wayne' Album Now |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-t-pain-t-wayne-album-7800896/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to an interview with [[Drake (musician)|Drake]], in the December 2011 issue of ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'', plans for an upcoming album with Carter had been scrapped for the time being because of the [[Jay-Z]] and [[Kanye West]] collaboration album ''[[Watch the Throne]]'' (2011).<ref name="Drake album scrapped">{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/11/lil-wayne-drake-scrap-joint-lp-because-of-jay-z-kanye-west/|title=Lil Wayne & Drake Scrap Joint LP Because of Jay-Z & Kanye West|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=November 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name="hiphopdx.com">{{cite web|last=Kuperstein |first=Slava |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12980/title.birdman-talks-lil-wayne-drake-collaboration-album |title=Birdman Talks Lil Wayne, Drake Collaboration Album|publisher=HipHop DX |date=November 14, 2010 |access-date=May 22, 2011}}</ref>

In April 2012, on the premiere of [[MTV]]'s ''Hip Hop POV'', Carter sat down with [[Amanda Seales]] and spoke briefly about an album he put together titled ''Devol'' (loved, backwards), an album full of "love songs" that he wrote during his imprisonment at [[Rikers Island]]. In May 2013, he confirmed the album will still be released.<ref>{{cite web|last=Markman |first=Rob |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682950/lil-wayne-devol-album.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413225552/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682950/lil-wayne-devol-album.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2012 |title=Lil Wayne Reveals New Album, Devol, On Way|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=April 11, 2012 |access-date=March 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/5-things-lil-wayne-should-avoid-doing-his-love-album-devol/?page=1 |title=5 THINGS LIL WAYNE SHOULD AVOID DOING ON HIS LOVE ALBUM, 'DEVOL' |magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=March 16, 2013 |archive-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115111934/http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/5-things-lil-wayne-should-avoid-doing-his-love-album-devol/?page=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/907189/lil-wayne-still-plans-on-dropping-devol.jhtml#id=1706973 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607080635/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/907189/lil-wayne-still-plans-on-dropping-devol.jhtml#id=1706973 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |title=Lil Wayne Still Plans on Dropping 'Devol' {{pipe}} News Video |publisher=MTV |date=May 8, 2013 |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

Carter's once ongoing litigation with Cash Money prevented numerous completed projects from being released. In January 2017, Young Money revealed the title of a planned Carter album called ''Velvet''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lil Wayne Is Prepping A New Project Called 'Velvet'  |url= https://theboombox.com/lil-wayne-prepping-new-project-velvet/ |website=The Boom Box|date= January 6, 2017 }}</ref> The album ended up leaking online in November 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Album's Worth of Unreleased Lil Wayne Music Has Hit the Internet |url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/10/lil-wayne-velvet-sessions-album-songs-surface |website=Hypebeast.com|date=October 26, 2018 }}</ref>

==Musical style and artistry==
Carter is known for his creative lyrical ability—which often uses [[Punch line|punchlines]], [[homonym]]s, [[word play]], and [[Braggadocio (rap)|braggadocio]]. His music often deals with the subjects of wealth, drugs, and sex.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2016/09/124164/lil-wayne-songs-crazy-lyrics | title=The 30 Grossest Things Lil Wayne Has Ever Said About Vaginas & Other Stuff }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/habdurraqib/best-lil-wayne-lines | title=Lil Wayne's 35 Best Lines | website=[[Complex Networks]] }}</ref> His lyrics have been criticized for their controversial subject matter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rapper Lil Wayne Says He Doesn't Feel Connected to the Black Lives Matter Movement |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/rapper-lil-wayne-doesnt-feel-connected-black-lives/story?id=43247469 |access-date=August 17, 2023 |publisher=ABC News|location=United States}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2013 |title=Stevie Wonder criticises Lil Wayne for controversial lyric about civil rights hero Emmett Till |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/stevie-wonder-15-1251746 |access-date=August 17, 2023 |website=NME}}</ref>

Carter has cited rapper [[Missy Elliott]] as his biggest musical inspiration, saying, "she's a huge influence of everything I've ever done".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Lil Wayne Calls Missy Elliott the Best Rapper Ever & She's Forever 'Grateful' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-missy-elliott-best-rapper-1235067608/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Another one of his major influences is American hip hop group [[Goodie Mob]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Lil Wayne names his top 5 rappers of all time |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/lil-wayne-names-his-top-5-rappers-of-all-time/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=BrooklynVegan}}</ref> In an interview with [[Genius (company)|Genius]], Carter said, "I've been listening to Goodie Mob since I was in the 7th grade".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Lil Wayne pay homage to a legend by spitting a classic verse |url=https://genius.com/a/watch-lil-wayne-spit-a-classic-verse-and-pay-homage-to-a-hip-hop-legend |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=genius.com}}</ref> For his ''[[MTV Unplugged]]'' special, Carter paid tribute to Tupac by covering his music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Markman|first=Rob|title=Lil Wayne Covers Tupac's 'Perfect Verse' On 'Unplugged' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1665279/lil-wayne-unplugged-tupac.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903152615/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1665279/lil-wayne-unplugged-tupac.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=June 29, 2024 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref> He also pulled inspiration from Tupac's "[[Keep Ya Head Up]]" for his 2011 single "[[How to Love]]".<ref name="Carter IV totally done"/>

Additionally, he has mentioned [[T-Pain]], [[Prince (musician)|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 without being totally them.'"<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Music: Lil Wayne – 'A Millie' |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2008/03/17/new-music-lil-wayne-a-millie/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=Rap-Up}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Lil Wayne Previews Exclusive New Song; Fat Joe Explains His Falling-Out With Kay Slay: Mixtape Monday|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1583394/20080314/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326001053/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1583394/20080314/lil_wayne.jhtml|date=March 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 26, 2008 |access-date=June 29, 2024 |publisher=MTV News }}</ref> Carter and rapper [[Calboy]] paid homage to Hill on their 2021 single "Miseducation" titled after Hill's 1998 album ''[[The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |date=March 22, 2021 |title=Calboy and Lil Wayne pay homage to Lauryn Hill in new song, 'Miseducation' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/calboy-and-lil-wayne-pay-homage-to-lauryn-hill-in-new-song-miseducation-2905731 |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=NME}}</ref>

According to ''[[American Songwriter]]'', Carter credits [[Jay-Z]] for inspiring him to freestyle rhymes while recording over an instrumental, as opposed to writing down his lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Galindo |first=Thomas |date=July 12, 2023 |title=Lil Wayne Stopped Writing Down Lyrics Because of Jay-Z |url=https://americansongwriter.com/lil-wayne-stopped-writing-down-lyrics-because-of-jay-z/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=American Songwriter}}</ref> Carter also credits [[The Notorious B.I.G.]] as an influence.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mamo |first=Heran |date=August 2, 2023 |title=Lil Wayne Reveals His Own Greatest Rappers List: See His Top Five |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/lil-wayne-greatest-rappers-list-top-5/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2022 |title=Lil Wayne's Top Five Rappers Include Biggie, Jay-Z, And Missy Elliott |url=https://uproxx.com/music/lil-waynes-top-five-rappers-biggie-jay-missy/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=UPROXX}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Lil Wayne is often described as "one of the most influential artists in the 21st century" and is many times called "the greatest rapper of his generation" as well as one of the greatest rappers of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=High |first=Kemet|date=September 26, 2022 |title=Inside the World of Lil Wayne's Influence |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/lil-wayne-influence/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=XXL Mag}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowser |first=Edward |date=September 2, 2020 |title=Is Lil Wayne the Most Influential Artist of This Era?: Head to Head with Edd |url=https://www.soulinstereo.com/2020/09/is-lil-wayne-the-most-influential-artist-of-this-era-head-to-head-with-edd.html |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=Soul in Stereo}}</ref> His musical style and usage of [[Auto-Tune|autotune]] influenced modern sound of hip-hop music and its subgenres, especially the development of [[Trap music|trap]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=High |first=Kemet|date=September 26, 2022 |title=Inside the World of Lil Wayne's Influence |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/lil-wayne-influence/ |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=XXL Mag}}</ref>

{{multiple image
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| image3            = Lil Skies Fillmore Auditorium 05.01.19 (47708563412).jpg
| footer            = Artists like [[Nicki Minaj]], [[Young Thug]] and [[Lil Skies]] have often mentioned Lil Wayne as their musical role model and inspiration.
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}}

Many rappers and musicians have cited Lil Wayne as an influence on their careers and musical style, including [[Nicki Minaj]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2011 |title=Nicki Minaj on Lil Wayne |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/nicki-minaj-on-lil-wayne |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=Interview}}</ref> [[Drake (musician)|Drake]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=September 13, 2016 |title=Lil' Wayne 'will tell fans if he's retiring' later today |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/lil-wayne-1200683 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=NME}}</ref> [[Fall Out Boy]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pete Wentz Says: Don't Expect A Fall Out Boy Album This Year |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/q4aijw/pete-wentz-says-dont-expect-a-fall-out-boy-album-this-year |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005195826/https://www.mtv.com/news/q4aijw/pete-wentz-says-dont-expect-a-fall-out-boy-album-this-year |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=MTV }}</ref> [[Kendrick Lamar]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2015 |title=Kendrick Lamar Wants To Rap With Jay-Z & Nas, Says He's "On Their Toes" {{!}} Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales {{!}} HipHopDX |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22299/title.kendrick-lamar-wants-to-rap-with-jay-z-nas-says-hes-on-their-toes |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403052738/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22299/title.kendrick-lamar-wants-to-rap-with-jay-z-nas-says-hes-on-their-toes |archive-date=April 3, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne – XXL">{{Cite web |last=II |first=C. Vernon Coleman IIC Vernon Coleman |date=August 22, 2019 |title=A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/history-rappers-paying-homage-lil-wayne/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=XXL Mag}}</ref> [[2 Chainz]],<ref name="A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne – XXL" /> [[Tyga]],<ref name="A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne – XXL" /> [[Future (rapper)|Future]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2019 |title=How Future Rewrote Rap in His Own Image |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/2010s-decade-in-future-rapper/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> [[Lil B]],<ref name="A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne – XXL" /> [[Young Thug]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Wayne's Influence on Young Thug |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2014/05/lil-waynes-influence-on-young-thug |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=Complex}}</ref> [[Trippie Redd]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weinstein |first=Max|date=July 22, 2017 |title=The Break Presents: Trippie Redd – XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/trippie-redd-interview-break/ |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=XXL Mag}}</ref><ref name="A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne – XXL" /> [[Lil Skies]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Schiller |first=Rebecca |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Get to Know 'Nowadays' Rapper Lil Skies |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-skies-interview-nowadays-rapper-video-8240344/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref name="A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne – XXL" /> [[Playboi Carti]],<ref>{{Cite web  |date=March 2, 2021 |title=Lil Wayne Inspired Playboi Carti To Freestyle All His Raps |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.60859/title.lil-wayne-inspired-playboi-carti-to-freestyle-all-his-raps |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=HipHopDX}}</ref> [[YoungBoy Never Broke Again]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Garvey |first=Meaghan |date=February 1, 2023 |title=The Secret Life, House Arrest and Rebirth of YoungBoy Never Broke Again |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/features/youngboy-never-broke-again-cover-story-interview-1235208827/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref name="A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne – XXL" /> [[Lil Baby]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gage |first=Dewayne |date=November 24, 2020 |title=Musicians on Musicians: Lil Wayne & Lil Baby |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/lil-wayne-lil-baby-musicians-on-musicians-1091166/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> [[DaBaby]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=DaBaby boom: meet the controversial rapper taking over America {{!}} Rap {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/10/dababy-boom-controversial-rapper-taking-over-america |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=The Guardian|date=January 10, 2020 |location=London}}</ref> [[Polo G]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=III |first=Robby Seabrook IIIRobby Seabrook |date=March 20, 2019 |title=Polo G Names Lil Wayne as One of His Biggest Rap Influences – XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/polo-g-interview-lil-wayne/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=XXL Mag}}</ref> [[BlocBoy JB]],<ref name="A History of Rappers Paying Homage to Lil Wayne – XXL" /> [[NLE Choppa]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Kyann-Sian |date=September 16, 2020 |title=NLE Choppa: Memphis rap hero with the golden touch |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/nle-choppa-memphis-rap-hero-with-the-golden-touch-2753578 |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=NME}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=P. |first=Milca |date=May 4, 2019 |title=NLE Choppa Returns On 'Blocc Is Hot' |work=hotnewhiphop.com |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1536625/pete-wentz-says-dont-expect-a-fall-out-boy-album-this-year/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723065130/http://www.mtv.com/news/1536625/pete-wentz-says-dont-expect-a-fall-out-boy-album-this-year/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2023}}</ref> [[Flo Milli]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexandria |first=Lavender |date=August 16, 2023 |title=Flo Milli Lists Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne Among Her Biggest Influences |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/703586-flo-milli-nicki-minaj-lil-wayne-biggest-influences-hip-hop-news |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=HotNewHipHop}}</ref> and [[The Kid Laroi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2021 |title=The Evolution of The Kid LAROI |url=https://vmagazine.com/article/vman47-kid-laroi/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |website=V Magazine}}</ref>

In November 2024, during the Lil WeezyAna Fest, Lil Wayne received a [[List of Keys to the City in the United States#Louisiana|Key to the City]] from New Orleans Mayor [[LaToya Cantrell]]. In the same tribute, [[Master P]] announced the creation of the [[New Orleans Walk of Fame|NOLA Walk of Fame]] and presented Wayne with a fleur-de-lis plaque to mark this honor. Additionally, February 6–7 will now be celebrated as "Lil Wayne Day" in New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ali |first1=Amina |title=Lil Wayne Honored With Key To New Orleans |url=https://www.hot97.com/news/lil-wayne-honored-with-key-to-new-orleans/# |website=Hot 97 |publisher=[[WQHT]] |access-date=5 November 2024 |date=4 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Reed |first1=Farrah |title=Lil Wayne to receive key to the city during Lil Weezyana Fest |url=https://www.wdsu.com/article/lil-wayne-to-receive-key-to-the-city-during-lil-weezyana-fest/62786085 |access-date=5 November 2024 |publisher=Hearst Television, Inc. |date=1 November 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Relationships and children===
Carter has four children. His first child, daughter Reginae, was born November{{spaces}}29, 1998, when he was 16,<ref name="kids">{{cite web|url=https://lilweezy.net/lil-waynes-children/|title=How Many Kids Does Lil Wayne Have?|publisher=lilweezy.net|date=June 24, 2016|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803081526/https://lilweezy.net/lil-waynes-children/|url-status=dead}}</ref> to his high school sweetheart and later ex-wife [[Toya Johnson]]. Internet rumors circulated in August 2008 that Carter's daughter had died in an auto accident; he immediately dispelled them.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lil Wayne Clears Up Daughter's Death Reports|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/lil-wayne-clears-up-daughters-death-reports_1077211|work=Contact Music|date=August 13, 2008|access-date=June 18, 2010}}</ref> His second child, son Dwayne III, was born on October{{spaces}}22, 2008, at [[The Christ Hospital]] in [[Cincinnati]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597681/20081022/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024093034/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597681/20081022/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 24, 2008|title=Lil Wayne Welcomes A Baby Boy|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=October 22, 2008|publisher=MTV News|access-date=February 7, 2009}}</ref> to former radio personality Sarah Vivan.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://thesource.com/2014/07/18/her-source-exclusive-sarah-vivan-dishes-on-her-radio-career-lil-wayne-and-her-kids/ |title=Her Source Exclusive {{pipe}} Sarah Vivan Dishes on Her Radio Career, Lil Wayne, And Her Kids |magazine=The Source |date= July 19, 2014|access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lilwaynehq.com/family/ |title=Lil Wayne's Family Members |date=September 6, 2013 |publisher=Lilwaynehq.com |access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref> His third child, son Kameron,<ref name="tvg">{{cite magazine|url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lauren-london/bio/279412/|title=Lauren London|magazine=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Wayne's 4 Kids: All About His Sons and Daughter |url=https://people.com/all-about-lil-wayne-kids-7502001 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref> was born to actress [[Lauren London]] on September{{spaces}}9, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/09/14/lauren-london-and-lil-wayne-welcome-a-son/ |title=Lauren London and Lil Wayne Welcome a Son |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=December 29, 2009|archive-date=September 22, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090922183917/http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/09/14/lauren-london-and-lil-wayne-welcome-a-son/|url-status=dead|quote=In a statement to 'People', a rep for the 24-year-old ... actress confirms the birth, revealing that a "healthy baby boy" arrived on Wednesday, September 9.}}</ref> His fourth child, son Neal, was born on November{{spaces}}30, 2009, to 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=October 15, 2009|work=American Superstar Magazine|access-date=October 15, 2009}}</ref>

Carter met his high school sweetheart, Toya Johnson, when he and she were 15 and 14 respectively. After dating [[On-again, off-again relationship|on and off]] for seven years, they married on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2004, and divorced in January 2006.<ref>{{cite news |last=Odum |first=Shanel |date=October 1, 2007 |title=Toya Carter Speaks Out (Part 2)- |url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/toya_carter_2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822030345/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/toya_carter_2/ |archive-date=August 22, 2008 |work=Vibe}}</ref> Johnson cited her inability to cope with his lifestyle and the fact he had communicated with his other former romantic partners prior. More specifically, his career kept him away from their home for long periods of time. Despite being divorced, the two have remained good friends and continued to jointly support their daughter, Reginae.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Lil Wayne Is Helping Ex Toya Wright Through Her Family's Tragedy: 'It Didn't Surprise Me That He Showed Up' |url=https://people.com/crime/how-lil-wayne-is-helping-ex-toya-wright-through-her-familys-tragedy-it-didnt-surprise-me-that-he-showed-up/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=All About Lil Wayne's Daughter Reginae Carter |url=https://people.com/all-about-lil-wayne-daughter-reginae-carter-8666555 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2002, after he first broke up with Johnson, Carter began dating singer Nivea.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=M |first=Sara |date=2022-12-24 |title=Lil Wayne's Dating History: The Woman He Nearly Married to His Slew of Exes and Rumored Romances |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2022/12/24/lil-waynes-dating-history-his-exes-and-rumored-romances/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Atlanta Black Star |language=en-US}}</ref> On the 2007 song "Something You Forgot", he explained his feelings for Nivea, whom he got engaged to in December 2002 but broke off the engagement with in August 2003. Nivea stated that Carter tried to make her quit doing music so that he could take care of her,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-13 |title=Nivea Says Lil Wayne Convinced Her To Quit Music After He Promised To Take Care Of Her |url=https://www.hot97.com/news/nivea-says-lil-wayne-convinced-her-to-quit-music-after-he-promised-to-take-care-of-her/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HOT 97 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-13 |title=Nivea Talks Same Lil Wayne Complaints The-Dream Predicted In His Songs |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.63170/title.nivea-talks-same-lil-wayne-complaints-the-dream-predicted-in-his-songs |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref> but she also acknowledged that the song was written about her.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKRmhhrfY50 |title=Nivea Reveals What Really Happened With Lil Wayne In #FindingBET Unseen Footage |date=2020-05-08 |last= |type=Video |publisher=[[BET|BET Networks]] ([[Paramount Global|Paramount]]) |access-date=2024-10-10 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

Previously having known each other since 1999, Carter and Lauren London reconciled following his divorce from Johnson in 2006. They broke up again in 2009 after London found out that she was pregnant at the same time as Carter's ex-girlfriend, Nivea.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Singer Nivea Says She and Lauren London Became 'Very Close' While Both Pregnant By Lil Wayne |url=https://people.com/music/nivea-lauren-london-friends-pregnant-by-lil-wayne/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref> In a May 2011 radio interview, London said of her relationship with Wayne and his fatherhood, "I met Wayne when I was 15 years old. I've known him a very long time, and we were in a relationship that didn't make it. We tried more than once to revive it, and we were engaged briefly years ago, but we eventually parted ways. People see the 'Lil Wayne' personality and think they know who he really is. My son's father is an intelligent, loving, and lovable person who will always be a dear friend. And that will never change. That is all."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-10 |title=NecoleBitchie |url=https://necolebitchie.com |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=NecoleBitchie |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Wayne and Lauren London: A Brief History {{!}} TicketX Magazine |url=https://ticketx.com/magazine/music/lil-wayne-and-lauren-london |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=ticketx.com}}</ref> On the ''500 Degreez'' track "Young'n Blues", Carter discussed his breakup with Toya Johnson and his issues with London, while he nicknamed the latter "Young [[California|Cali]] Sweet Thing".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Kyle |date=2017-06-10 |title=Looking Back at Lil Wayne's "Young N' Blues" |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/looking-back-at-lil-waynes-young-n-blues/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref>

Carter began dating rapper [[Trina]] in 2005 after featuring on her single "Don't Trip". The two were discussing future plans for engagement and moving to [[Florida]] to live together. However, in 2006, after Trina suffered a miscarriage from what was later confirmed to be her and Carter's unborn child, they have grown distant from one another. It was during that time when Trina developed an affair with Carter's would be rival, rapper [[Young Buck]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-11-12 |title=LINK: Young Buck On His Relationship With Trina - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/link-young-buck-on-his-relationship-with-trina/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Berrios |first=Martin |date=2013-10-16 |title=9 Celebrities Romantically Linked To Trina aka "Da Baddest B*tch" |url=https://hiphopwired.com/260068/10-celebrities-trina-romantically-linked/4/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Hip-Hop Wired |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2007, the relationship ended after Trina realized that it was not properly empathized.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trapp |first=Malcolm |title=Trina reveals Lil Wayne is one of the most honest men she's ever known |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2022-07-16/180715/trina-reveals-lil-wayne-is-one-of-the-most-honest-men-shes-ever-known |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=REVOLT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Cole |date=2022-07-17 |title=Trina Reflects On Lil Wayne Relationship: "I'm Always Gonna Speak Positively Of Him" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/427510-trina-reflects-on-lil-wayne-relationship-i-m-always-gonna-speak-positively-of-him-news |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref> According to her, it was the cause of the pair "being young and not knowing what [we were] doing".<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Trina Reveals Why She Broke It Off With Lil Wayne |url=https://www.bet.com/article/zaw7f2/trina-reveals-why-she-broke-it-off-with-lil-wayne |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=BET |language=en}}</ref> The two reunited to collaborate for the 2013 single "Wowzerz" and 2019's "Situation".<ref name=":7" /> They remain on good terms.

Carter and Nivea reconciled in early 2008 following Nivea's divorce from singer-songwriter [[The-Dream]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duncan-Smith |first=Nicole |date=2023-11-04 |title='I Love Your Girl': Fans Shook to Learn Messy Love Triangle With Nivea Led to The Dream's 2007 Smash Hit Actually Being a Diss Track to Lil Wayne |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2023/11/04/lil-wayne-the-dream-sending-shots-over-nivea/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Atlanta Black Star |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Love Jones: Stars Who Took Multiple Trips Down the Aisle |url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/hgjq09/love-jones-stars-who-took-multiple-trips-down-the-aisle/5ga7rd |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=BET |language=en}}</ref> Both were re-engaged in 2009, but Nivea decided to end her relationship with Carter while pregnant with their son; they called off their engagement for the second time in June 2010, during Carter's prison sentence.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tracy |first1=Brianne |title=Singer Nivea Says She and Lauren London Became 'Very Close' While Both Pregnant by Lil Wayne |url=https://people.com/music/nivea-lauren-london-friends-pregnant-by-lil-wayne/ |website=People}}</ref>

Carter dated model [[Karrine Steffans]] (on and off) from 2007 to 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Karrine Steffans Speaks On Dating Lil Wayne And Bow Wow While Being Married |url=https://nowdecatur.com/2022/05/19/karrine-steffans-speaks-on-dating-lil-wayne-and-bow-wow-while-being-married/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=NowDecatur.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Karrine Steffans Clears The Air About Lil Wayne's "Mona Lisa" |url=https://www.bet.com/article/dh7gv6/karrine-steffans-speaks-rumors-over-lil-wayne-s-mona-lisa |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=BET |language=en}}</ref> He briefly dated Dana Lee in 2012.<ref name=":5" />

He entered into an intimate relationship with glamour model Tammy Torres from 2009 to 2010.<ref name=":5" /> While imprisoned, Drake encouraged him not to rekindle his relationship with Torres due to his already having had an encounter with her.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Bryson "Boom" |date=2024-05-06 |title=Tammy Torres Resurface As Lil Wayne's Girlfriend Drake Slept With |url=https://www.hot97.com/news/tammy-torres-video-vixen-resurface-as-lil-waynes-girlfriend-drake-slept-with-during-battle/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HOT 97 |language=en-US}}</ref> After ending his relationship with Torres and mending over his falling out with Drake, Carter later got involved with Dhea Sodano from 2011 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-26 |title=5 Details About Lil' Wayne's Girlfriend Of 6 Years And Their Secretive Relationship |url=https://www.yourtango.com/2018317445/5-details-about-lil-wayne-girlfriend-dhea-sodano-their-secretive-relationship |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=YourTango |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

In July 2014, it was rumored that Carter was dating singer [[Christina Milian]], with whom he attended the [[ESPY Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |date=July 18, 2014 |title=Lil Wayne Attends The 2014 ESPY Awards With Christina Milian To Watch Stuart Scott Receive The Jimmy V Award |url=https://www.lilwaynehq.com/2014/07/lil-wayne-attends-2014-espys-christina-milian-watch-stuart-scott-jimmy-v-award/ |website=Lil Wayne Fansite {{pipe}} Weezy Blog}}</ref> They later confirmed their relationship in mid-2015,<ref>{{cite web |date=April 7, 2015 |title=Christina Milian Dating Lil Wayne: 'I Love Him' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/christina-milian-dating-lil-wayne-6524346/ |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> after which they received criticism from their interconnected exes, singer Nivea<ref>{{cite web |date=November 25, 2015 |title=Nivea Dishes about Her Feelings on Lil Wayne, Christina Milian (Watch) – EURweb |url=http://www.eurweb.com/2015/11/nivea-dishes-about-her-feelings-on-lil-wayne-christina-milian-watch/}}</ref> and songwriter The-Dream.<ref>{{cite web |title=The-Dream Addresses Rumored Lil Wayne, Christina Milian Relationship |url=https://www.bet.com/article/qrjf74/the-dream-talks-lil-wayne-christina-milian-rumor |website=BET.com}}</ref> They split in August 2015,<ref>{{cite web |date=September 15, 2015 |title=It's Over! Christina Milian, Lil Wayne Split |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/christina-milian-and-lil-wayne-split-after-dating-for-over-a-year-2015149}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tardio |first=Andres |title=Christina Milian Really Thought She Might Marry Lil Wayne |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2508647/christina-milian-lil-wayne-engagement-wish/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120035748/http://www.mtv.com/news/2508647/christina-milian-lil-wayne-engagement-wish/ |archive-date=November 20, 2015 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref> having collaborated on multiple singles, videos, and concert dates.

Wayne was engaged to model La'Tecia Thomas, but they called off the engagement in May 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=S. |first=Madusa |date=June 15, 2020 |title=Instagram Gallery: Lil Wayne's Girlfriend Denise Bidot |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/instagram-gallery-lil-wayne-s-girlfriend-denise-bidot-news.112568.html |access-date=June 17, 2020 |work=HotNewHipHop}}</ref> A month later, it was announced that Wayne had started dating [[Denise Bidot]], another model.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 23, 2020 |title=Lil Wayne Professes Love for Girlfriend Denise Bidot |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2020/06/23/lil-wayne-girlfriend-denise-bidot-in-love/ |website=Rap-Up}}</ref> In November 2020, they reportedly broke up over Wayne's [[List of Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign non-political endorsements|endorsement]] of [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Hunter |date=November 3, 2020 |title=Lil Wayne's Trump Endorsement Got Him Dumped |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/11/lil-wayne-dumped-trump-endorsement.html |access-date=November 3, 2020 |website=Vulture.com}}</ref> Shortly after, it was reported that the couple had reconciled.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 2020 |title=Lil Wayne & Denise Bidot Spent Thanksgiving Together: "Just Perfect" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-and-denise-bidot-spent-thanksgiving-together-just-perfect-news.122126.html |website=HotNewHipHop}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 2020 |title=Lil Wayne and girlfriend appear to reconcile post breakup due to political differences |url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lil-wayne-and-girlfriend-appear-to-reconcile-post-breakup-due-to-political-differences-346625 |publisher=WION}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 1, 2020 |title=Donald Trump Can't Keep Lil Wayne Away From His Love, Denise Bidot |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/donald-trump-lil-wayne-denise-bidot/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 1, 2020 |title=Is Denise Bidot back together with Lil Wayne? |url=https://us.hola.com/celebrities/20201201ftl1ietrf2/lil-wayne-back-together-denise-bidot |website=HOLA! USA}}</ref> Wayne and Bidot later broke up again in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2022 |title=Exclusive: Single, happy and with a new look, Denise Bidot moves back to New York! |url=https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20220124307514/denise-bidot-single-happy-new-look-new-york/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |website=HOLA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Is Lil Wayne's Ex-Girlfriend? All About Denise Bidot |url=https://people.com/music/who-is-denise-bidot-lil-wayne/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |website=Peoplemag}}</ref>

On October 18, 2024, Carter began dating chef LeahAngelie Murphy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schube |first=Will |date=2024-10-21 |title=Lil Wayne Reportedly Has A New Girlfriend: His Live-In Chef |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-wayne-new-girlfriend-chef |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref>

Carter's son, Neal Carter, currently performs music under the alias Lil Novi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Wayne Makes Surprise Cameo In His Son Lil Novi's Upcoming Music Video |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-01-27-lil-wayne-makes-surprise-cameo-in-his-son-lil-novis-upcoming-music-video/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=iHeart |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lil Wayne's Son Lil Novi Shares His Thoughts About His Dad's Best Album |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-12-03-lil-waynes-son-lil-novi-shares-his-thoughts-about-his-dads-best-album/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=iHeart |language=en}}</ref>

===Beliefs and interests===
In an interview with ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'', Carter said that one of his favorite bands from childhood was rock group [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]; he 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=May 9, 2008|access-date=May 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610104107/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6908/title.lil-wayne-talks-50-cent-cocaine-rock-music|archive-date=June 10, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Lil Wayne.jpg|thumb|Wayne in 2006]]
Carter got his first tattoo, of his father's name, at age 14. His second spelled "Cash Money" across his stomach.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/40-things-you-didnt-know-about-lil-wayne/|title=40 Things You Didn't Know About Lil Wayne|website=Complex.com}}</ref> His tattoos have grown to include a [[Jay-Z]] verse on his leg, "I Am Music" on his forehead and [[teardrop tattoo|teardrops]] on his cheeks among many others. His most recent one is "Baked" on his forehead stylized as the [[Baker Skateboards]] logo.{{As of?|date=December 2024}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/lil-wayne-got-the-word-baked-tattooed-on-his-face-1798235469|title=Lil Wayne got the word "BAKED" tattooed on his face|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=January 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name="New York Times">{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/arts/music/26wayn.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin|first=Kelefa|last=Sanneh|title=Savoring a Moment in the Sun, Despite a Court Date|work=The New York Times|quote=Lil Wayne had three things to explain. No. 1, a religious confession: "I believe in God and his son, Jesus. Do you?" He interpreted the roar as an affirmative response. No. 2, a professional confession: He said he was nothing without the fans, adding, "Make some noise for what you created!" Noise was made. No. 3: Same as No. 2. More noise.|access-date=December 2, 2010|date=February 26, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Weezy Thanx You" />

Carter identifies as a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=40 Things You Didn't Know About Lil Wayne |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/40-things-you-didnt-know-about-lil-wayne |access-date=February 7, 2023 |website=Complex}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ferrier |first=Morwenna |title=Lil Wayne : takin' the rap |date=2012 |isbn=9780857752796 |location=London |pages=100 |oclc=1245529994}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy Cross: Celebrities Who Are Catholic |url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/ai88my/holy-cross-celebrities-who-are-catholic/gyt5kl |access-date=February 7, 2023 |website=BET}}</ref> While playing in [[Newark Symphony Hall]], Carter professed his belief "in [[God]] and His son, [[Jesus]]".<ref name="New York Times" /> During his 2011 tour in Australia with [[Eminem]], before beginning his bracket, he proclaimed his belief in God.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/eminem-rap-inferno-lifts-roof-20111202-1oart.html |title=Eminem concert Australia {{pipe}} Melbourne {{pipe}} Sydney |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=December 2, 2011 |access-date=December 10, 2011}}</ref>

After earning his [[GED]], Carter enrolled at the [[University of Houston]] in January 2005. He dropped out in the same year due to his conflicting schedule.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/8-rappers-honorary-college-degrees/|title=9 Rappers With Honorary College Degrees – XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=February 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2009/04/24/lil-wayne-talks-god-higher-education-on-the-view/|title=Lil' Wayne Talks About Higher Education On "The View"|last=Ford|first=Tracy|date=April 24, 2009|publisher=The Boom Box|access-date=June 12, 2010}}</ref> He also stated on ''[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]'' that he switched to the [[University of Phoenix]] and majored in psychology taking [[online courses]].<ref name="The View"/> An article in ''Urb'' magazine in March 2007 asserted that Carter had been earning high grades at Houston.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.urb.com/2007/03/28/lil-wayne-industrial-psychology/|title=Lil Wayne: Industrial Psychology|last=Perkins|first=Brandon|date=March 28, 2007|work=Urb|access-date=April 22, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011113238/http://www.urb.com/2007/03/28/lil-wayne-industrial-psychology/|archive-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

In 2016, Carter purchased Player's Rep. Sports Agency, and became Young Money APAA sports, which hired the [[National Football League|NFL's]] first female sports agent, Nicole Lynn. She currently represents [[Seth Roberts (American football)|Seth Roberts]], [[Corey Nelson]], [[Jordan Evans (American football)|Jordan Evans]], [[Malik Jefferson]], [[Erik Harris]], [[Quinnen Williams]], as well as NCAA coaches, and two former No. 1 Pro Softball draft picks.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/wuEv7LPyL38 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200129044353/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuEv7LPyL38 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=From Poverty to Representing the # 3 Overall NFL Draft Pick: Nicole Lynn's Story| date=December 23, 2019 |via = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuEv7LPyL38|access-date=January 12, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On October{{spaces}}29, 2020, less than a week before the [[U.S. presidential election, 2020|presidential election]], Carter posted an image of him and President [[Donald Trump]] to [[Twitter]]. In the caption for the photo, Carter stated that he and Trump had recently met to discuss criminal justice reform and Trump's Platinum Plan, an initiative which aims to raise access to capital in Black communities by almost $500 billion. Carter claimed Trump "listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done".<ref>{{cite web|date=October 29, 2020 |title=Lil Wayne Meets with Donald Trump |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2020/10/29/lil-wayne-meets-with-donald-trump/|url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101183424/https://www.rap-up.com/2020/10/29/lil-wayne-meets-with-donald-trump/ |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |access-date= |work=[[Rap-Up]]}}</ref>

===Health problems===
On October{{spaces}}25, 2012, Carter's private jet, bound for [[Los Angeles]], made an [[emergency landing]] in [[Texas]] due to an in-flight medical episode. Lil Wayne was transferred to a local hospital upon arrival.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1696290/lil-wayne-seizure-like-symptoms-in-flight.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028162500/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1696290/lil-wayne-seizure-like-symptoms-in-flight.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 28, 2012|title=Lil Wayne 'Doing Better' After In-Flight Medical Scare|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=October 26, 2012|publisher=MTV |access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> [[TMZ (website)|TMZ]] and other media sources said that Carter had suffered a [[seizure]] aboard the plane.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2012/10/25/lil-wayne-hospitalized-seizure-mid-flight-texas/|title=Lil Wayne Hospitalized After In-Flight Med Emergency|date=October 25, 2012|work=TMZ|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> His publicist denied this, saying that he was in fact treated for "a severe [[migraine]] and [[dehydration]]".<ref name="spin2012">{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/10/lil-wayne-second-seizure-airplane-hospitalized/|title=Lil Wayne's Seizures Not Cooperating With His Reps' Denials|date=October 26, 2012|work=Spin)|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref>

The following day, while flying from Texas to Los Angeles, Carter's private jet was reportedly again forced to make an emergency landing, this time in [[Louisiana]], after he suffered a second seizure and required further hospitalization.<ref name="spin2012" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2012/10/26/lil-wayne-second-seizure-louisiana-hospital-flight-weezy-carter/|title=Lil Wayne Hospitalized – SECOND SEIZURE|date=October 26, 2012|work=TMZ|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> His representative said that the reports of Carter's condition had been exaggerated, and that he was resting at his Louisiana home.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ca.eonline.com/news/357815/lil-wayne-s-camp-shoots-down-second-seizure-report|title=Lil Wayne's Camp Shoots Down Second Seizure Report|first=Natalie|last=Finn|date=October 26, 2012|publisher=E!|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> In a November 2012 interview with [[MTV]], Carter stated that he was taking seizure medication, on doctors' orders, due to the aforementioned incidents.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697854/lil-wayne-seizure-medicine-mtv-first.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127173339/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697854/lil-wayne-seizure-medicine-mtv-first.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 27, 2012|title=Lil Wayne Taking Seizure Medication After Health Scare|first=Nadeska|last=Alexis|date=November 22, 2012|publisher=MTV |access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref>

On March{{spaces}}14, 2013, TMZ reported that Carter had been treated at [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]] in Los Angeles on the evening of March{{spaces}}12, after having seizures while on a music video set with Young Money rapper [[Nicki Minaj]]. He was reportedly released in the early hours of March{{spaces}}13.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2013/03/14/lil-wayne-hospitalized-seizures/|title=Lil Wayne – Hospitalized Again for Seizures|date=March 14, 2013|work=TMZ|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> On March{{spaces}}15, TMZ published a second story, claiming that hours after his release on March{{spaces}}13, Carter was found unconscious after experiencing further seizures, and was brought back to Cedars-Sinai, where he was admitted to the [[intensive care unit]] in [[critical condition]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2013/03/18/lil-wayne-intensive-care-unit-hospital-los-angeles/|title=Lil Wayne – Day 6 in Intensive Care|date=March 18, 2013|work=TMZ|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name="tmz2013march 15">{{cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2013/03/15/lil-wayne-seizures-hospitalized-drugs-sizzurp-critical-condition-icu/|title=Lil Wayne Hospitalized – In Critical Condition After More Seizures|date=March 15, 2013|work=TMZ|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lil-wayne-receives-hospital-visits-from-drake-nicki-minaj-and-more-20130318|title=Lil Wayne Receives Hospital Visits from Drake, Nicki Minaj and More|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> The article alleged the latest seizures were found to be linked to high amounts of [[codeine]] in Carter's system, possibly due to bingeing on [[purple drank]] after his initial hospital release.<ref name="tmz2013march 15" /><ref name="billlboardmarch2013">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1552435/lil-wayne-gets-hospital-visits-from-drake-birdman|title=Lil Wayne Gets Hospital Visits From Drake, Birdman|date=March 17, 2013|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/lil-wayne-is-not-close-to-death-but-drank-too-much-sizzurp-2013163|title=Lil Wayne Is "Not Close to Death," But "Drank Too Much Sizzurp"|work=Us Weekly|date=March 16, 2013|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> Multiple celebrities, including [[Drake (musician)|Drake]] and [[Birdman (entertainer)|Birdman]], were photographed on March{{spaces}}15 and 16 visiting Carter at Cedars-Sinai.<ref name="billlboardmarch2013" />

Several members of [[Young Money Entertainment]], including president [[Mack Maine]], criticized media reports on Carter's hospitalization, particularly those of TMZ, alleging that they exaggerated the severity of his condition and falsely implied that he was on his [[wikt: deathbed|deathbed]] (such as by saying that he was in a [[induced coma|medically induced coma]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703819/lil-wayne-hospital-visit-drake-birdman.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320015211/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703819/lil-wayne-hospital-visit-drake-birdman.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 20, 2013|title=Lil Wayne Gets Hospital Visits From Drake And Birdman|date=March 16, 2013|publisher=MTV |access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> triggering what the ''[[Washington Post]]'' called "the most overheated celebrity deathwatch in recent years".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2013/03/17/lil-wayne-survives-the-weekend-but-tone-loc-and-morrissey-arent-doing-so-well-either/|title=Lil Wayne survives the weekend, but Tone Loc and Morrissey aren't doing so well either|first=Amy|last=Argetsinger|date=March 17, 2013|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> In separate interviews on March{{spaces}}18, Mack Maine and Birdman disputed TMZ's reports; they stated that in fact there were not multiple seizures or multiple hospital visits. They explained that after Carter began seizing on the way to the music video shoot on March{{spaces}}12, an ambulance was called and he was transported to the hospital, where he was admitted and remained continuously thereafter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703910/lil-wayne-birdman-seizures-drugs.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321035614/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703910/lil-wayne-birdman-seizures-drugs.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2013|title=Lil Wayne's Seizures Not Drug-Related, Birdman Says|first=Rob|last=Markman|date=March 18, 2013|publisher=MTV |access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> They also refuted the claims that Carter's seizures are drug-induced, saying that they are an ongoing problem for which doctors have been unable to identify a cause.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/03/exclusive-mack-maine-is-not-sure-whether-lil-wayne-sent-out-post-seizure-tweet/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Mack Maine Is "Not Sure" Whether Lil Wayne Sent Out Post-Seizure Tweet|first=Sean|last=Ryon|date=March 18, 2013|work=XXL|access-date=March 18, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321060741/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/03/exclusive-mack-maine-is-not-sure-whether-lil-wayne-sent-out-post-seizure-tweet/|archive-date=March 21, 2013}}</ref>

Carter was released from the hospital late on March{{spaces}}18, following a six-day stay.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703919/lil-wayne-hospital-release.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322053945/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703919/lil-wayne-hospital-release.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2013|title=Lil Wayne Heads Home After Six-Day Hospital Stay|first=Rob|last=Markman|date=March 18, 2013|publisher=MTV |access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> He addressed his condition via a [[vlog]], on March{{spaces}}21 saying he was "more than good".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23305/title.lil-wayne-updates-health-status-in-video-confirms-summer-tour-with-t-i-|title=Lil Wayne Updates Health Status in Video, Confirms Summer Tour With T.I.|work=HipHopDX|access-date=March 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324201707/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23305/title.lil-wayne-updates-health-status-in-video-confirms-summer-tour-with-t-i-|archive-date=March 24, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Carter had two seizures in June 2016 during a cross-country flight from [[Wisconsin]] to [[California]], causing the plane to divert to [[Omaha, Nebraska]].<ref name="Two Seizures">{{cite web |url=https://www.tmz.com/2016/06/13/lil-wayne-seizure-emergency-landing/ |title=Lil Wayne receives two seizures on flight to California |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref> The second seizure occurred just two minutes after takeoff, forcing the plane to land in Omaha once again. Less than a month later, he had another seizure, supposedly due to his not taking his [[epilepsy]] medication.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-on-latest-reported-seizure-im-good-news.22810.html|title=Lil Wayne survives another seizure |last=Schwartz |first=Danny |website=HNHH |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref>

Carter canceled a Las Vegas show on September{{spaces}}3, 2017, after experiencing a seizure in a Chicago hospital earlier that day. He was taken there after being found unconscious in a hotel room.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lil-wayne-suffers-multiple-seizures-cancels-las-vegas-show-w501099 |title=Lil Wayne Hospitalized With Multiple Seizures, Cancels Las Vegas Show |last=Kreps |first=Daniels |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=September 3, 2017}}</ref>

In June 2023, Carter acknowledged that he now had trouble remembering his songs due to memory problems caused by his epilepsy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/lil-wayne-says-cant-remember-songs-due-memory-loss-rcna88828|title=Lil Wayne says he can't remember his own songs anymore due to memory loss|first=Becca|last=Wood|publisher=Today|date=July 12, 2023|accessdate=April 15, 2025}}</ref>

===Philanthropy===
On February{{spaces}}19, 2008, Carter and his manager, Cortez Bryant, revisited their [[alma mater]], McMain Secondary School, to recruit students to design an invitation to the gala introducing Carter's nonprofit One Family Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spera|first=Keith C.|title=Lil Wayne goes back to school (story and video)|url=http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2008/02/lil_wayne_goes_back_to_school.html|work=New Orleans Times-Picayune|access-date=June 18, 2010|date=February 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018122119/http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2008/02/lil_wayne_goes_back_to_school.html|archive-date=October 18, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Other ventures==
===Young Money Entertainment===
{{main|Young Money Entertainment}}

===Books===
Carter wrote a memoir of his experience in Rikers Island called ''[[Gone Til' November: A Journal of Rikers Island]]'' that was released October{{spaces}}11, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/new-excerpts-from-lil-waynes-memoir-detail-life-at-rikers-news.24317.html|title=Lil Wayne releases memoir about time in Rikers Island |last=Smith |first=Trevor |date=September 25, 2016 |website=Hotnewhiphop.com |access-date=September 25, 2016}}</ref>

===Cannabis industry===
In December 2019, Carter announced his own cannabis brand under the name GKUA Ultra Premium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allcitycanvas.com/en/lil-wayne-new-brand-of-cannabis|title=LIL WAYNE'S NEW CANNABIS BRAND|last=Zuriaga|first=David|date=December 6, 2019|website=AllCityCanvas.com|access-date=March 3, 2020}}</ref>

===Sports media===
On September{{spaces}}24, 2008, Carter published his first blog for [[ESPN]] in their issue, ''[[ESPN The Magazine]]''. Carter said that he was a fan of tennis, the [[Green Bay Packers]], the [[Boston Bruins]], the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] and the [[Boston Red Sox]]. To commemorate the Packers' appearance in [[Super Bowl XLV]], he parodied [[Wiz Khalifa]]'s hit song "[[Black and Yellow]]" (which were the colors of the Packers' opponents, the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]) in 2021 with a song titled "Green and Yellow".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lil-wayne/news/45468-lil-wayne-talks-sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303070139/http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lil-wayne/news/45468-lil-wayne-talks-sport|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2009|title=Lil Wayne Talks Sport|date=September 26, 2008|publisher=MTV News UK|access-date=April 24, 2011}}</ref> He released a second version of the song later that year, which was requested by the Packers and updated with the current roster.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 17, 2021|title=Lil Wayne releases new version of NFL anthem 'Green And Yellow'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/lil-wayne-releases-new-version-of-nfl-anthem-green-and-yellow-2858227|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=NME}}</ref> Carter has continued writing for ESPN, notably reporting at the ESPN [[Super Bowl]] party.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/espnmag/story?id=3878291|title=From Super Bowl XLIII: Lil Wayne and Rick Reilly|author1=Lil Wayne|last2=Reilly|first2=Rick|date=February 2, 2009|work=ESPN the Magazine|access-date=February 7, 2009}}</ref>

On January{{spaces}}6, 2009, Carter was a guest debater against [[Skip Bayless]] on the "1st & 10" segment of ''[[ESPN First Take]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3814076|title=Lil Wayne Debates Skip|date=January 6, 2009|publisher=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122021943/http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3814076|archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> On February{{spaces}}10, 2009, he 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=https://www.espn.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2839445|title=Around The Horn Archived Podcasts|date=February 10, 2009|publisher=ESPN|access-date=February 10, 2009}}</ref>

Carter made his debut on ESPN's daily sports round table show ''Around The Horn'' on February{{spaces}}10, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mooney |first=Michael J. |url=http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/02/lil_wayne_wears_a_lil_wade_aid.php |title=Lil Wayne Wears a Lil Wade, Aids in Heat Win |work=The Juice |publisher=BrowardPalmBeach.com |date=February 25, 2009 |access-date=December 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228165111/http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/02/lil_wayne_wears_a_lil_wade_aid.php |archive-date=February 28, 2010 }}</ref> Carter created the intro song "No Mercy" for the [[Fox Sports 1]] sports debate show ''[[Skip and Shannon: Undisputed|Undisputed]]''. After [[Shannon Sharpe]]'s departure from the show, Carter created a new theme song for ''Undisputed:'' "Good Morning".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/watch/play-69b0aa13800102c|title= 'Good Morning,' Undisputed's new theme song |work=[[Fox Sports]]|date=August 28, 2023|accessdate=August 28, 2023}}</ref> Carter also joined the series as a regular guest opposite Bayless.<ref>{{cite web|last=Griffin|first=Marc|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/lil-wayne-set-join-skip-161535852.html|title=Lil Wayne Set To Join Skip Bayless As 'Undisputed' Regular|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|date=August 4, 2023|accessdate=August 28, 2023}}</ref>

Carter has mentioned being a fan of Latvian tennis player [[Jeļena Ostapenko]]. He was extended an invite to the [[2024 US Open - Women's doubles|2024 US Open]]. Carter also thanked Ostapenko, who attended Drake's tour featuring Lil Wayne.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com/baseline/articles/quote-of-the-day-lil-wayne-accepts-jelena-ostapenko-s-tennis-invite-ima-have-to-pull-up|title=Quote of the Day: Lil Wayne accepts Jelena Ostapenko's tennis invite: "Ima have to pull up"|publisher=Tennis Channel|date=4 July 2024|accessdate=25 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4051183/is-rapper-lil-wayne-ostapenkos-biggest-fan-yes|title=Is rapper Lil Wayne Ostapenko's biggest fan? Yes.|publisher=Women's Tennis Association|date=9 July 2024|accessdate=25 January 2025}}</ref>

==Legal issues==
===Arrests, incarceration, and presidential pardon===
On July{{spaces}}22, 2007, Carter 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 Carter and another man smoking [[marijuana]] near a tour bus. After taking Carter into custody, police discovered a .40 caliber pistol near his person. The gun, which was registered to his manager, was in a bag located near the rapper.<ref name="sentence">{{cite web|first=Jayson |last=Rodriguez |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632931/20100301/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304005412/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632931/20100301/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2010 |title=Lil Wayne To Be Sentenced, Begin Jail Term Today |publisher=MTV News |date=March 2, 2010 |access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> 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=July 23, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415212128/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/07/wayne_ja_rule_arrested/|archive-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/23/rappers.arrested/index.html|title= 2 hip-hop stars arrested in New York after concert|last=Brunswick|first=Deborah|date=July 23, 2007|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 21, 2010}}</ref>

Following a performance at [[Qwest Arena]] in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], Idaho, Carter was arrested October{{spaces}}5, 2007, on felony fugitive charges after [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] authorities accused the rapper of possessing a controlled substance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/06/AR2007100601122.html|title=Lil Wayne Arrested After Idaho Concert|date=October 6, 2007|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 29, 2010|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The incident was later described as a "mix-up" and the fugitive charges were dropped.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571373/20071008/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011005213/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571373/20071008/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2007|title=Lil Wayne Arrest Mostly A Paperwork Mix-Up, Lawyer Says|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=October 8, 2007|publisher=[[MTV News]]}}</ref>

On January{{spaces}}23, 2008, Carter was arrested alongside two others. His tour bus was stopped by [[United States Border Patrol|Border Patrol]] agents near [[Yuma, Arizona|Yuma]], Arizona. A K-9 Unit recovered {{convert|105|g|oz}} of marijuana, almost {{convert|29|g|oz}} of cocaine, {{convert|41|g|oz}} of [[MDMA|ecstasy]], and $22,000 in cash. Carter 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>{{cite web|url=http://lil-wayne-news.newslib.com/story/10288-556/|title=YumaSun.com|publisher=Lil-wayne-news.newslib.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714174233/http://lil-wayne-news.newslib.com/story/10288-556/|archive-date=July 14, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref>

On May{{spaces}}6, 2008, Carter returned to court in Arizona to plead not guilty to the charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587007/20080507/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510113957/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587007/20080507/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 10, 2008|title=Lil Wayne Enters Not Guilty Plea in Arizona Drug Case|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=May 7, 2008|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=June 18, 2010}}</ref> A [[bench warrant]] was issued on March{{spaces}}17, 2010, when Carter did not show for a final trial management conference.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.yumasun.com/news/warrant-57015-yuma-court.html|title=Warrant issued for Lil' Wayne in Yuma case|last=Gilbert|first=James|date=March 16, 2010|newspaper=[[Yuma Sun]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105162121/http://www.yumasun.com/news/warrant-57015-yuma-court.html|archive-date=January 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2010-03-16-lil-wayne-warrant_N.htm?csp=34|title=Warrant issued for Lil Wayne in Arizona case|date=March 16, 2010|newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> However, he was already incarcerated, serving a one-year sentence on [[Rikers Island]] on weapons charges. On June{{spaces}}22, 2010, Carter pleaded guilty to the charges. As part of the plea deal he was able to serve 36 months of probation, to which he was sentenced on June{{spaces}}30, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/22/lil.wayne.plea/index.html|title=Lil' Wayne pleads guilty to Arizona drug charge|date=June 22, 2010|access-date=June 22, 2010|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957561/lil-wayne-gets-probation-in-az-drug-case|title=Lil Wayne Gets Probation in AZ Drug Case|date=June 30, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 30, 2010}}</ref>

On December{{spaces}}18, 2009, Carter and 11 others were detained at the [[Falfurrias, Texas]], border patrol checkpoint after an unknown amount of marijuana was found on two of his tour buses.<ref name="Falfurrias">{{cite web|url=http://www.themonitor.com/articles/detained-33692-border-patrol.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220193640/http://www.themonitor.com/articles/detained-33692-border-patrol.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 20, 2009|title=Rapper Lil Wayne detained at Falfurrias checkpoint|last=Ley|first=Ana|date=December 18, 2009|publisher=The Monitor|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref>

On October{{spaces}}22, 2009, Carter pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He was due for sentencing in February 2010 and was expected to receive a one-year county jail sentence,<ref name="guiltyplea">{{cite news|first=Vanessa|last=Juarez|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/22/new.york.lil.wayne/index.html|title=Lil Wayne pleads guilty to weapons charge|publisher=CNN|date=October 22, 2009|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref> but on February{{spaces}}9, 2010, Carter's attorney announced that the sentencing was delayed until March{{spaces}}2 due to dental surgery,<ref name="delay">{{cite web|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631576/20100209/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211141817/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631576/20100209/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 11, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Sentencing Delayed Due To Dental Surgery|publisher=MTV News|date=February 9, 2010|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref> which was performed on February{{spaces}}16. The surgery included eight root canals, the replacement of several tooth implants, as well as the addition of a few new implants and work on his remaining original teeth.<ref name="surgery">{{cite web|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632239/20100219/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103230522/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632239/20100219/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2013|title=Lil Wayne Gets Eight Root Canals in One Day|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=February 19, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> On March{{spaces}}2, 2010, sentencing was postponed again when the courthouse reported a fire in its basement.<ref name="CourthouseFire">{{cite web|first=Jennifer|last=Peltz|url=http://www.wdtn.com/dpps/entertainment/celebrity/lil-wayne-sentencing-postponed-due-to-court-fire-_3257686|title=Lil Wayne sentencing postponed|publisher=WDTN|date=March 2, 2010|access-date=March 2, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621224845/http://www.wdtn.com/dpps/entertainment/celebrity/lil-wayne-sentencing-postponed-due-to-court-fire-_3257686|archive-date=June 21, 2011}}</ref>

On March{{spaces}}8, 2010, Carter was given a one-year sentence, which he served on Rikers Island. His lawyer said the rapper expected to be held in protective custody, separated from other prisoners.<ref name="sentenced">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8556873.stm|title=US rapper Lil Wayne sentenced to a year in prison|publisher=BBC |date=March 8, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> In May 2010, Carter was found by Rikers Island correctional staff to be in possession of contraband (an MP3 player, charger, and headphones).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272631766.shtml|title=Lil' Wayne – Contraband Bust Behind Bars|work=National Ledger|date=May 13, 2010|access-date=May 19, 2010|archive-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516013928/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272631766.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2010, Carter's friends created a website called Weezy Thanx You, which published letters written by Carter while incarcerated.<ref name="Weezy Thanx You">{{cite magazine|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/13316/71519|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912164707/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/13316/71519|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Launches Prison Website 'Weezy Thanx You'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 2, 2010|access-date=July 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Weezy Thanx You Website">{{cite web|url=http://weezythanxyou.com/|title=Weezy Thanx You official website|publisher=Young Money Entertainment|access-date=July 24, 2010|archive-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123125123/http://weezythanxyou.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the first letter, titled "Gone 'til November", Carter said he was staying in good spirits thinking about his children and spending his time working out regularly and reading the [[Bible]] every day.<ref name="Weezy Thanx You" /> Carter was released from Rikers Island Jail on November{{spaces}}4, 2010, after serving eight months of his year-long sentence.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651483/20101103/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105195710/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651483/20101103/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Released From Prison|publisher=MTV News|date=November 4, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2010}}</ref>

On December{{spaces}}12, 2020, Carter pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge brought against him by the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida|U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida]]. This plea stemmed from an incident during December of the previous year, when Carter was arrested in Florida after transporting a loaded handgun on his private jet from California. As a convicted felon, he is barred from possessing such weapons.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sarah|last=Polus|url= https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/529974-rapper-lil-wayne-pleads-guilty-to-gun-charge-faces-up-to-10|title= Rapper Lil Wayne pleads guilty to illegal gun possession|work=The Hill|date=December 12, 2020|access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> He was pardoned by U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] on January{{spaces}}19, 2021, his last full day in office before the end of his first term.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who Did Trump Pardon on His Last Night As President? |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/01/trumps-final-pardon-list-everyone-we-know-so-far.html |website=Intelligencer |access-date=January 20, 2021 |date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>

===Lawsuits===
On July{{spaces}}24, 2008, [[ABKCO Records|Abkco Music]] filed a [[lawsuit]] against Carter for [[copyright infringement]] and [[Trademark infringement|unfair competition]], specifically referring to ''[[Tha Carter III]]''{{'s}} track "Playing with Fire".<ref name="abkco">{{cite news|location=Los Angeles|url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-rolling-stones/38434|title=Lil Wayne sued for using Rolling Stones track|work=[[NME]]|date=July 24, 2008|access-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref> In the lawsuit, Abkco says that the song was obviously derived from [[the Rolling Stones]]' "[[Play with Fire (The Rolling Stones song)|Play with Fire]]", to which Abkco owns the rights.<ref name="abkco"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591539/20080725/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828040254/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591539/20080725/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2008|title=Lil Wayne Sued By Rolling Stones Publisher Over 'Playing With Fire'|publisher=MTV |date=July 25, 2008|access-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref> Subsequently, "Playing with Fire" was removed from the track list of ''Tha Carter III'' on all [[Digital music store|online music stores]] and replaced with the [[David Banner]] produced track, "Pussy Monster".<ref name="Rhapsodypussymonster">{{cite web|url=http://www.rhapsody.com/lilwayne/22649086_thacarteriii|title=''Tha Cater III'' on Rhapsody|publisher=[[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]]|access-date=October 25, 2008}}</ref>

In February 2009, production company RMF Productions filed a $1.3&nbsp;million lawsuit against Carter 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&nbsp;million Over Canceled NY Shows|access-date=February 19, 2009|date=February 17, 2009|publisher=[[idiomag]]}}</ref>

In October 2009, Carter, [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], [[Cash Money Records]], and various music distribution outlets were sued for copyright infringement by Thomas Marasciullo, who says his voice was used without permission. The rappers asked him to record some "Italian-styled spoken word recordings" in 2006. The lyrics were allegedly used on "Respect" and other tracks from the rappers' collaboration album ''[[Like Father, Like Son (Birdman and Lil Wayne album)|Like Father, Like Son]]'' and Birdman's ''[[5 * Stunna]]''.<ref name="copyright">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8335706.stm|title=Rapper Wayne sued over copyright|publisher=BBC |date=October 31, 2009|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref>

In March 2011, producer [[Deezle]] (Darius Harrison) sued Carter and his parent labels Cash Money Records over unpaid royalties from ''Tha Carter III''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lil Wayne sued for $20 million by unpaid 'Lollipop' producer|first=Brad|last=Wete|date=March 24, 2011|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/03/24/lil-wayne-sued-producer/}}</ref> Two months later, that May, producer [[Bangladesh (record producer)|Bangladesh]] also filed a lawsuit against Wayne over unpaid royalties as well.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lil Wayne lawsuit over 'The Carter' documentary takes another twist|date=May 2, 2011|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/05/lil-wayne-lawsuit-over-the-carter-documentary-takes-another-twist.html | work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

In early June 2011, another producer named David Kirkwood filed a lawsuit against Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records on claims that the labels have failed to pay him over $1.5&nbsp;million in royalties and production services for his work on the album, also including his songwriting on "Love Me or Hate Me", a bonus song featured only on the deluxe edition of the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2011/06/07/lil-waynes-producer-sues-cash-money-records/ |title=Lil Wayne's producer sues Cash Money Records |publisher=The Boom Box |date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref>

Also in June 2011, Dallas producers [[Play-N-Skillz]] filed a lawsuit against him, saying Carter owes them at least $1&nbsp;million in unpaid royalties for "[[Got Money]]" from his album ''Tha Carter III''. The single has sold over 2 million copies since being released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gossiponthis.com/2011/06/11/lil-wayne-sued-again-for-1-million-dollars-over-unpaid-carter-iii-royalties-photos-of-him-performing-at-the-bonnaroo-music-arts-festival/ |title=Lil Wayne sued again for 1 million dollars over unpaid Carter III royalties |publisher=GossipOnThis |date=June 11, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref>

In July 2011, Done Deal Enterprises, a production company based in Georgia, filed suit against Carter, Universal Music Group, Cash Money Records and Young Money Entertainment, claiming copyright infringement. The lawsuit alleges Carter stole the song "BedRock", featured on the compilation album ''We Are Young Money'', and seeks damages of $15&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine|url = https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lil-wayne-accused-of-lifting-bedrock-468186/|title = Lil Wayne Accused of Lifting 'BedRock'|magazine = Billboard|access-date = November 13, 2011}}</ref>

In November 2012, Wayne was ordered to pay [[Quincy Jones III]] $2.2&nbsp;million based on a lawsuit which stated that the rapper blocked the release of Jones's film ''[[The Carter]]'', therefore infringing on its profits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2499663/lil-wayne-loses-2-million-quincy-jones-lawsuit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722142158/http://www.mtv.com/news/2499663/lil-wayne-loses-2-million-quincy-jones-lawsuit/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2016 |title=Lil Wayne Loses $2.2 Million To Quincy Jones III in Lawsuit |publisher=MTV |date=November 6, 2012 |accessdate=May 4, 2022}}</ref>

==Controversies and feuds==
===Juvenile===
Carter began feuding with former [[Hot Boys]] member and [[Cash Money Records]] labelmate [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]] in 2002 after he took offense to Carter naming his third studio album ''[[500 Degreez]]''—a diss aimed towards Juvenile, whose previous album was named ''[[400 Degreez]]''.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} Juvenile responded with a diss track on his 2002 album ''600 Degreez'', titled "A Hoe". In the song, Juvenile questions Carter's sexuality and calls him a fake gangster. The two squashed their rivalry for a short period in 2004, with Carter and [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] appearing in the music video for Juvenile and [[Soulja Slim]]'s song "[[Slow Motion (Juvenile song)|Slow Motion]]". Carter later paid tribute to the Hot Boys with a song called "I Miss My Dawgs" on 2004's [[Tha Carter]]. Juvenile responded by labeling the song "fake" and criticizing Carter for releasing a tribute song and later promoting the album on [[BET]] with "nothing good to say about them". The two eventually reconciled once again, and Juvenile re-signed with Cash Money Records in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1525684/juvenile-tears-into-cash-money-lil-wayne-and-fema/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912182836/http://www.mtv.com/news/1525684/juvenile-tears-into-cash-money-lil-wayne-and-fema/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2014|title=Juvenile Tears into Cash Money, Lil Wayne – And FEMA|publisher=[[MTV ]]|access-date=November 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2097665/juvenile-cash-money-lil-wayne-mardi-gras-ii/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311201015/http://www.mtv.com/news/2097665/juvenile-cash-money-lil-wayne-mardi-gras-ii/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2015|title=Watch Juvenile Give The Perfect Response to a Lil Wayne Vs. Birdman Question|publisher=[[MTV ]]|access-date=November 23, 2017}}</ref>

===Young Buck===
[[Young Buck]] released a song called "Off Parole", featuring [[Tony Yayo]], which insulted Carter. Young Buck said that Carter could not be angry because Buck spoke the truth. Young Buck also said "You think you got a problem with Juve and B.G.; you'll have a true problem with me", referring to the Cash Money-Juvenile/B.G feud.<ref>[http://www.rapbasement.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2176&Itemid=35 Young Buck and Lil Wayne controversy]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Rap Basement Accessed July{{spaces}}27, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.sohh.com/film/channel/sohh-tv/index.php?bcpid=376530222&bclid=86210609&bctid=686966260 Young Buck & Lil' Wayne 'Beef'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328171443/http://www.sohh.com/film/channel/sohh-tv/index.php?bcpid=376530222&bclid=86210609&bctid=686966260 |date=March 28, 2007 }}. SOHH. Retrieved July 27, 2007.</ref> One of the reasons [[50 Cent]] stated he was dismissing Young Buck was what he called "inconsistent behavior", which included appearing on stage with Carter, then seemingly dissing him on records with G-Unit.<ref name="phoneleak">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1589572/young-buck-responds-to-50-cents-leaked-phone-call-in-new-dis-track-listen-to-it-here/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525012443/http://www.mtv.com/news/1589572/young-buck-responds-to-50-cents-leaked-phone-call-in-new-dis-track-listen-to-it-here/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2014|title=Young Buck Responds To 50 Cent's Leaked Phone Call in New Dis Track – Listen To It Here!|first=Shaheem|last=Reid|publisher=MTV News}}</ref> After he was dismissed, Young Buck appeared in the music video "[[My Life (Game song)|My Life]]" by [[The Game (rapper)|The Game]], which featured Carter on the song's chorus.<ref name="mylife">[[DJ Skee]] (August 1, 2008) {{YouTube|iCFtFySNqAA|The Game ft. Lil Wayne "My Life" Music Video OFFICIAL BTS Skee.TV **LAX}}. Retrieved July 6, 2009.</ref> As of 2009, Young Buck and Carter have reconciled and also linked up to record a track "Up's and Down's" for Young Buck's ''[[Back on My Buck Shit]]'' mixtape.

===Pusha T===
Tension between Wayne and [[Pusha T]] had been going on for years, beginning soon after [[Clipse]] and [[Birdman (entertainer)|Birdman]] worked on "[[What Happened to That Boy]]", the latter's 2002 single. In 2006, Wayne felt the Clipse song "[[Mr. Me Too]]" was directed at him, which caused more tension between the two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/history-of-lil-wayne-pusha-t-beef/ |title=A History of Lil Wayne vs. Pusha-T Beef: From "Mr. Me Too" to the "F–k Pusha" Tweet |publisher=MissInfo.tv |date=May 24, 2012 |access-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> In 2012, after much speculation that Pusha T was subliminally dissing Canadian rapper and Wayne's [[Young Money]] signee [[Drake (musician)|Drake]] in several songs, the speculation heightened after the release of Pusha T's "[[Exodus 23:1]]" song. Lil Wayne quickly responded on online social networking service [[Twitter]] and later released a diss track titled "Goulish". In the first verse, Wayne raps "Fuck Pusha T and anybody that love him / His head up his ass, I'mma have to head-butt him".<ref>{{YouTube|dHl7TzHHOuI|DJ MoonDawg & Pusha T talk Drake, BET Cypher, 2012 Good Music Album on 107.5 WGCI}}</ref> Pusha T called Wayne's diss track "horrible" and said he felt it did not deserve a response. Both men have downplayed the feud, with Wayne saying he's over it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hiphopwired.com/2012/10/16/exclusive-pusha-t-admits-new-god-flow-was-directed-at-birdman-details-issues-with-lil-wayne-drake/ |title=Exclusive: Pusha T Admits "New God Flow" Was Directed at Birdman; Details Issues With Lil Wayne & Drake |publisher=Hip-Hop Wired |date=October 16, 2012 |access-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Alexis |first=Nadeska |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1695657/pusha-t-new-god-flow-birdman-response.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017121609/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1695657/pusha-t-new-god-flow-birdman-response.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |title=Pusha T's 'New God Flow' Lyrics Aimed at Birdman – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=October 16, 2012 |access-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> However, in November 2012, Pusha T dissed Wayne and [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] on a [[Ludacris]] song titled "Tell Me What They Mad For".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/pusha-t-confirms-dissing-lil-wayne-and-birdman-new-ludacris-song|title=Pusha T Confirms Dissing Lil Wayne and Birdman on New Ludacris Song|date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> In December 2014, once the feud between Lil Wayne and Birdman arose, Pusha T sent out a tweet encouraging Lil Wayne to sign to [[GOOD Music|G.O.O.D. Music]], which also insulted Birdman for his hand-rubbing habit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PUSHA_T/status/540572801821052929|title=@LilTunechi if u wanna drop albums & don't want your CEO's rubbing they hands all in your videos, COME TO GOOD MUSIC!! (Suge Knight voice)|first=King|last=Push|date=December 4, 2014}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=May 2024}}

===Jay-Z===
In a 2009 interview with Tropical TV, [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] disputed the MTV poll that voted [[Jay-Z]] "The Hottest MC in the Game", stating that Lil Wayne was a better rapper and made more money.<ref name='Birdman Challenges "Hottest MC in the Game"'>{{cite web|last1=Read|first1=Christopher|title=TropicalTV: with Birdman|url=https://vimeo.com/7091145|via=Vimeo|publisher=Tropical TV |date=October 19, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> In early 2011, when Jay-Z and [[Kanye West]]'s single "[[H•A•M]]" was released, Jay-Z took shots at [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], saying "Really, you got Baby money" and "[you] ain't got [[Beyoncé|my lady's]] money!".<ref>{{cite web|first=Danielle|last=Canada|url=http://hiphopwired.com/2011/01/12/jay-z-disses-birdman-on-%E2%80%9Ch-a-m-%E2%80%9D-with-kanye-west-audio/|title=Jay-Z Disses Birdman On "H.A.M." With Kanye West- Audio|publisher=Hiphopwired.com|date=January 12, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115175514/http://hiphopwired.com/2011/01/12/jay-z-disses-birdman-on-%E2%80%9Ch-a-m-%E2%80%9D-with-kanye-west-audio/|archive-date=January 15, 2011}}</ref> On August{{spaces}}24, 2011, a song called "[[It's Good]]" by Lil Wayne (featuring [[Drake (musician)|Drake]] and [[Jadakiss]]) was leaked online and included Lil Wayne responding "Talkin' 'bout baby money? I gotcha baby money. Kidnap your bitch, get that, How much you love your lady? money".<ref>{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16588/title.lil-wayne-disses-jay-z-on-its-good-featuring-jadakiss-drake |title=Lil Wayne Disses Jay-Z On "It's Good" Featuring Jadakiss & Drake |publisher=HipHop DX |date=August 24, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/08/24/is-lil-wayne-firing-shots-at-jay-z-on-its-good/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002013213/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/08/24/is-lil-wayne-firing-shots-at-jay-z-on-its-good/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 2, 2011 |title=Is Lil Wayne Firing Shots at Jay-Z And Beyoncé On 'It's Good?' |publisher=MTV |date=August 24, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> Jadakiss later absolved himself of involvement in any brewing beef on his official [[Twitter]] feed.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=Therealkiss|number=106498022539661312|title=Yall hating ass cocksuckers better chill..they only sent me a track wit NO verses and I recorded that verse 3 months ago! #leavemeoutofit|date=August 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=Therealkiss|number=106498388421390337|title=When I DISS niggas or have a problem Wit ANY RAPPER I SAY THere NAMES without hesitation and YALL know this already!|date=August 24, 2011}}</ref>

=== Dispute with Cash Money Records ===
On December 4, 2014, just five days before ''Tha Carter V'' was due to be released, Carter issued a statement saying the album would not be released on its expected release date, due to his displeasure with [[Cash Money Records]] label-boss [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], refusing to release the album although it had been completed. Carter also expressed his feelings by stating he felt both he and his creativity were being held "prisoner".<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ramirez |first1=Erika |date=December 4, 2014 |title=Lil Wayne: Birdman & Cash Money Records 'Refuse to Release' 'Tha Carter V' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-birdman-cash-money-records-album-leaving-6363464/ |access-date=December 4, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |location=United States}}</ref>

Upon ''Sorry for the Wait 2''{{'}}s release on January 20, 2015, he continuously [[diss track|disses]] Birdman and Cash Money Records, several times throughout the mixtape.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 21, 2015 |title=Lil Wayne Disses Cash Money On 'Sorry 4 The Wait 2' |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.32202/title.lil-wayne-disses-cash-money-on-sorry-for-the-wait-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320011046/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.32202/title.lil-wayne-disses-cash-money-on-sorry-for-the-wait-2 |archive-date=March 20, 2015 |access-date=July 5, 2015 |work=HipHopDX}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lilah |first=Rose |date=January 26, 2015 |title=Shots Fired: All The Disses Aimed at Birdman & Cash Money on Lil Wayne's "Sorry 4 The Wait 2" |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/shots-fired-all-the-disses-aimed-at-birdman-and-cash-money-on-lil-wayne-s-sorry-4-the-wait-2-news.13696.html |work=HotNewHipHop}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Chris |date=January 21, 2015 |title=Lil Wayne's Mixtape: He Disses Birdman & Cash Money Records On 'Sorry 4 The Wait 2' |url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/01/21/lil-wayne-mixtape-disses-birdman-cash-money-records-sorry-4-the-wait-2/ |work=Hollywood Life}}</ref> Birdman was reported to be upset with this.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 23, 2015 |title=Report: Birdman Upset With Lil Wayne Over Cash Money Diss Song |url=https://www.bet.com/article/c8w02y/report-birdman-upset-with-lil-wayne-over-diss-song |work=BET.com}}</ref> In late January 2015, Carter sued Birdman and Cash Money Records for $51&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 28, 2015 |title=Lil Wayne Sues Birdman and Cash Money for $51 Million, Freedom From Label {{pipe}} News |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/58255-lil-wayne-sues-birdman-and-cash-money-for-51-million-freedom-from-label/ |access-date=October 14, 2015 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Vozick |first=Simon |date=February 19, 2015 |title=Lil Wayne Breaks Silence on Cash Money Lawsuit, 'Free Weezy Album' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/lil-wayne-breaks-silence-on-cash-money-lawsuit-free-weezy-album-20150219 |access-date=October 14, 2015 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> Carter and Birdman supposedly reconciled after being seen at [[Drake (musician)|Drake]]'s NYE Party, at Miami's Club Liv, and in studio.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Danny |date=January 21, 2016 |title=Lil Wayne supposedly reconciles with Birdman |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-reportedly-still-wants-his-s51-million-from-cash-money-news.19728.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122083538/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-reportedly-still-wants-his-s51-million-from-cash-money-news.19728.html |archive-date=January 22, 2016 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |publisher=Hotnewhiphop}}</ref>

On January 27, 2024, both Carter and Birdman reunited during a studio session, putting an end to their nine-year quarrel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giacomazzo |first=Bernadette |date=2024-01-27 |title=Lil Wayne & Birdman Reunite In The Studio: 'Like Father Like Son' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-wayne-birdman-studio-like-father-like-son |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref>

=== Political and racial views ===
In 2013, Carter received criticism after a video released by TMZ showed him apparently stepping on the [[Flag of the United States|U.S. flag]]. Carter later explained that "It was never my intention to desecrate the flag of the United States", and that he was shooting a video for a song on his upcoming album, "God Bless Amerika". He says the purpose of the flag was to show that "behind the American Flag was the Hoods of America".<ref>{{cite web |last=June |first=Daniel |date=June 18, 2013 |title=Did Lil Wayne Stomp on the American Flag? – JDJournal |url=http://www.jdjournal.com/2013/06/18/did-lil-wayne-stomp-the-american-flag/}}</ref>

In late 2016, Carter made statements critical of the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement, saying, "I don't feel connected to a damn thing that ain't got nothin' to do with me. If you do, you crazy as shit," adding that his status as a wealthy black man who has white fans is evidence that black people are valued in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carissimo |first1=Justin |date=November 2, 2016 |title=Lil' Wayne says Black Lives Matter has nothing to do with him |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/lil-wayne-says-black-lives-matter-has-nothing-to-do-with-him-a7392696.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/lil-wayne-says-black-lives-matter-has-nothing-to-do-with-him-a7392696.html |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=November 2, 2016 |work=The Independent}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Lil Wayne albums discography|Lil Wayne singles discography|Lil Wayne videography}}
{{see also|Hot Boys discography|Young Money discography}}
[[File:Lil Wayne logo.svg|thumb|Lil Wayne's general marketing logo, used since 2010]]

'''Studio albums'''
*''[[Tha Block Is Hot]]'' (1999)
*''[[Lights Out (Lil Wayne album)|Lights Out]]'' (2000)
*''[[500 Degreez]]'' (2002)
*''[[Tha Carter]]'' (2004)
*''[[Tha Carter II]]'' (2005)
*''[[Tha Carter III]]'' (2008)
*''[[Rebirth (Lil Wayne album)|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 (Lil Wayne album)|Funeral]]'' (2020)
*''[[Tha Carter VI]]'' (2025)

'''Collaborative albums'''
*''[[Like Father, Like Son (Birdman and Lil Wayne album)|Like Father, Like Son]]'' (with [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]]) (2006)
*''[[Trust Fund Babies]]'' (with [[Rich The Kid]]) (2021)
*''[[Welcome 2 Collegrove]]'' (with [[2 Chainz]]) (2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/2-chainz-and-lil-wayne-announce-album-welcome-2-collegrove-share-new-song-presha-listen/|title= 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne Announce Album Welcome 2 ColleGrove, Share New Song "Presha": Listen|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Lindert|first=Hattie|date=October 20, 2023|access-date=October 20, 2023}}</ref>

==Tours==
===Headlining===
* [[I Am Music Tour]] (2008-2009) 
* America's Most Wanted Tour (2009)
* [[I Am Music II Tour]] (2011)
* [[Sorry For The Wait 2 Tour]] (2015)
* [[The Dedication Tour]] (2016)
* Kloser 2 U Tour (2017)
* I Ain't Shit Without You (2018)
* Welcome To Tha Carter Tour (2023)
* [[Tha Carter VI Tour]] (2025)

===Co-headlining===
* Cash Money/Ruff Ryders Tour (with [[Cash Money Records|Cash Money]] and [[Ruff Ryders]]) (2000)
* [[Drake vs. Lil Wayne]] (with [[Drake (musician)|Drake]]) (2014)
* [[Blink-182 and Lil Wayne Tour]] (with [[Blink-182]]) (2019)
* The HotBoys Reunion Tour (with [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]], [[B.G. (rapper)|B.G.]] and [[Turk (rapper)|Turk]]) (2024-2025)

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Baller Blockin']]''
| Iceberg Shorty
| 
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Who's Your Caddy?]]''
| Himself
| 
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Hurricane Season (2009 film)|Hurricane Season]]''
| Lamont
| 
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Freaknik: The Musical]]''
| Trap Jesus
| Voice role
|-
| 2023
| ''[[House Party (2023 film)|House Party]]''
| Himself
| Cameo
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2004
| ''[[MTV Cribs]]''
| rowspan="3" | Himself
| September 22, 2004
|-
| ''The L-Bow Room''
| October 21, 2004
|-
| ''[[The Late Late Show (U.S. TV series)|The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn]]''
| October 29, 2004
|-
| 2004<br />2008<br />2010<br />2025
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Himself, musical guest
| ''[[Saturday Night Live (season 30)|Season 30, Episode 8]]'': "[[Robert De Niro]]/[[Destiny's Child]]"<br />''[[Saturday Night Live (season 34)|Season 34, Episode 1]]'': "[[Michael Phelps]]/Lil Wayne"<br />''[[Saturday Night Live (season 36)|Season 36, Episode 10]]'': "[[Jeff Bridges]]/[[Eminem]] & Lil Wayne"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2005
| ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''
| Himself
| ''Season 13, Episode 84''
|-
| ''[[Wild 'n Out]]''
| Himself, musical guest
| ''Season 1, Episode 7'': "[[Omarion]]"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[The Boondocks (TV series)|The Boondocks]]''
| Jericho's son (voice)
| ''[[The Boondocks (season 2)|Season 2, Episode 9]]'': "Invasion of the Katrinians"
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''
| rowspan="4" | Himself
| ''Season 16, Episode 85''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2011
| ''[[America's Best Dance Crew]]''
| ''[[America's Best Dance Crew (season 6)|Season 6, Episode 1]]'': "Lil Wayne Challenge"
|-
| ''[[The World According to Paris]]''
| ''Season 1, Episode 8'': "Every Day Is My Birthday"
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Loiter Squad]]''
| ''Season 1, Episode 7'': "Episode 7"
|-
| 2016–present 
|''[[Skip and Shannon: Undisputed]]''
| Himself, musical guest
| Theme song performer Episodes 1 
|-
| 2017
| ''Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta''
| Himself
| ''Season 1, Episode 1'': "Lil' Trouble in the A"
|-
| 2020
| ''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]''
| Robot/Himself
| ''Season 3'': Eliminated in Episode 1
|}

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

==See also==
* [[List of celebrities who own cannabis businesses]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
* [[List of highest-certified music artists in the United States]]
* [[List of best-selling singles in the United States]]
* [[List of best-selling singles]]
* [[List of best-selling albums by year in the United States]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the UK singles chart]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q15615|c=Category:Lil Wayne|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
*{{Official website}}
*{{AllMusic}}
*{{IMDb name}}
*{{Instagram}}
*[https://open.spotify.com/artist/55Aa2cqylxrFIXC767Z865 Lil Wayne] on [[Spotify]]

{{Lil Wayne|state=expanded}}
{{Lil Wayne singles}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Lil Wayne|Awards for Lil Wayne]]
|list =
{{BET Award for Best Collaboration}}
{{BET Award for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist}}
{{BET Award for Viewer's Choice}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Album}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance}}
{{IFPI Global Year-End}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video}}
}}
{{Hot Boys}}
{{Cash Money Records}}
{{Young Money Entertainment}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|United States}}

{{Authority control}}

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