Weezy Has No Worries

Hollygrove born Hip Hop heavyweight Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. has quite an impressive story and resume. The determined youth began writing songs at the tender age of eight. He met Bryan “Baby/Birdman” Williams in the Summer of 1991. Baby was a rapper and had his own label, Cash Money Records. In need of a mentor and a positive male role model due the absence of his father, Baby soon took Wayne under his wing. Carter would rap freestyles on his voicemail and the tedious work in his career was only beginning.

He started off with collaborations with label mate B.G. Accidently shooting himself with a 9mm handgun at 13 was not exactly the best way to launch his teenage years. An honor student turned 14 year old dropout to focus on his career may be been a great opportunity musically but his education suffered. At age 15, he joined rapper Juvenile, B.G and Turk as the youngest member of the 90s classic rap group, Hot Boys.

Their first collaborative album, Get It How You Live!, was released later that year. New found success was right on time since the birth of his first child; Reginae Carter was born to his high school sweetheart, Antonia Carter (Johnson). Timeless tracks like “I Need A Hot Girl” and “We On Fire” got major exposure. It was evident that the Hot Boys were true hitmakers and the fans were in for a treat.

Wayne was featured on Juvenile’s smash hit “Back That Azz Up.” As time continued on, the group mutually disbanded to pursue solo careers and the best was yet to come from the stand out artist, Lil Wayne.

A fresh start with hot new music, the life as a solo artist began with a bang. Carter dropped his debut album at 17, The Block Is Hot and it was certified platinum. He made sure to include his former Hot Boys members on his album. His next albums Lights Out and 500 Degrees were both certified gold. Hit after hit and with each full length album and mixtape, it proved that Wayne’s lyrical obsession was barely scratching the surface. The Summer of 2004, he began what would become a series of albums, The Carter. The art on the cover revealed a photo of his soon to be signature dreadlocks. Dedication and Da Drought mixtape series reached his fans on another level. He reinvented himself in every track, showing a dissimilar side to him each time.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed his hometown of New Orleans in August 2005 and even seven years later, the city has not been the same since. The lack of proper care of the civilians created controversy. Carter feels strongly about providing for New Orleans. He wrote a socially conscious song, “Georgia Bush” that expressed his opinion towards former President George Bush on the lack on immediate help after the natural disaster.

In late 2007, he earned the title “Hottest MC in the Game,” while The New Yorker Magazine named him “Rapper of the Year.” As if those titles weren’t enough, GQ Magazine titled him “Workaholic of the Year” and the following year “Best MC” by Rolling Stone. Countless collaborations among the mainstream, he was awarded consistently for the back to back success. The Carter III was a complete success and sold over one million copies in the first week and eventually went on to sell over three million copies. I Am Not A Human Being II and The Carter V are the next to be released later this year along with a tour.

Wayne celebrated his 30th birthday and told Hot 97 Host Angie Martinez that he would retire at age 35 and the album The Carter V would be his last as he explores more in this field. He explained that he needed to spend more time with his four children and did not want to miss the pivotal times of his children’s growing lives. Will Lil Wayne really retire in five years? The natural mindset of a businessman has paved a way for longevity in this business. Young Money Entertainment has grown into a profitable business and paved the way for breakout artists like Nicki Minaj, Tyga, Drake and more. Beef with other artists and jail time has never affected his motivation to be a great example in the Hip Hop world. The entrepreneurial spirit is refreshing to millions of fans. Over ten albums, and two handfuls of mixtapes, Lil Wayne’s track record is one to be envied. He impacts those around him and has become an unforgettable MC to be heard long after he’s gone.