Lil Wayne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne performing in 2012
Born	Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (1982-09-27) September 27, 1982 (age 43) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Other names	Baby D Shrimp Daddy Birdman Jr. Tunechi Weezy Weezy F. Baby President Carter
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter record executive actor entrepreneur record producer
Years active	1991–present
Works	Albums singles videography
Title	Founder of Young Money Entertainment Co-founder of Trukfit Clothing
Spouse(s)	Toya Johnson ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2006)​
Partner(s)	Nivea (2002–2003, 2009–2010; ex-fiancée) La'Tecia Thomas (2019–2020; ex-fiancée) Denise Bidot (2020–2022)
Children	4
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Southern hip-hop bounce gangsta rap trap pop rap
Labels	Universal Young Money Republic Cash Money
Signature

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known as Lil Wayne, is a famous American rapper, singer, and music producer. Many people consider him one of the most important hip-hop artists of his time. He grew up in New Orleans and was discovered by rapper Birdman in 1993. Lil Wayne signed with Cash Money Records when he was just eleven years old. He became a very successful artist for the label before leaving in 2018.

Lil Wayne has sold over 120 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the world's best-selling music artists. He has won five Grammy Awards, eleven BET Awards, and many other honors. In 2012, he made history by having more songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart than Elvis Presley. He also founded his own record label, Young Money Entertainment, in 2005. This label helped launch the careers of artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born on September 27, 1982. He grew up in the New Orleans neighborhood of Hollygrove. His mother was a cook, and his parents separated when he was very young. Dwayne chose to use the name "Wayne" because his father was not part of his life. He felt that his stepfather, Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald, was like a true father to him. Wayne even has a tattoo to honor McDonald.

Wayne was a bright student. He was in the gifted program at Lafayette Elementary School. He also attended Eleanor McMain Secondary School, where he was an honor student. He enjoyed being part of the drama club. Wayne played the Tin Man in a school play called The Wiz. He later left high school to focus on his music career. His mother supported this decision to keep him safe as his music career grew.

Wayne wrote his first rap song when he was eight years old. In 1991, he met Bryan "Baby" Williams, who was a co-founder of Cash Money Records. Birdman became a mentor to Wayne. He encouraged Wayne's passion for hip-hop music. Wayne often recorded his rap freestyles on Birdman's answering machine.

In 1994, when Wayne was 12, he had a serious accident involving a gunshot wound. He was very lucky to recover. An off-duty police officer, Robert Hoobler, helped save his life. Wayne calls him "Uncle Bob" and is very grateful for his help.

Lil Wayne's Music Journey

Early Group Success

After his recovery, Wayne joined his friend B.G. to form a duo called the B.G.'z. They released one album together in 1995. Later, in 1997, Wayne became the youngest member of a hip-hop group called the Hot Boys. Other members included Juvenile and Turk. The Hot Boys released their first album, Get It How U Live!, that same year. Their second album, Guerrilla Warfare (1999), became very popular. It reached number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Solo Breakthrough and Tha Carter Series

Wayne's first solo album, Tha Block Is Hot, came out in 1999 when he was 17. It was a big success and quickly sold many copies. He followed this with Lights Out (2000) and 500 Degreez (2002). These albums helped him grow as a solo artist.

In 2004, Wayne released Tha Carter, which showed a big change in his rapping style. This album helped him gain a lot of attention. The single "Go DJ" became a top hit. In 2005, Wayne became the president of Cash Money Records. He also started his own label, Young Money Entertainment.

Tha Carter II, released in 2005, was another successful album. It sold over 238,000 copies in its first week. The song "Fireman" became a hit. In 2006, Wayne worked with Birdman on the album Like Father, Like Son. Their song "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" was very popular.

Mixtapes and Collaborations

Instead of releasing another solo album right away, Wayne focused on mixtapes and guest appearances. His mixtapes, like Dedication 2 (2006) and Da Drought 3 (2007), were very popular. He also appeared on many hit songs with other artists. These included "Make It Rain" by Fat Joe and "We Takin' Over" by DJ Khaled. By the end of 2007, many magazines and polls recognized Lil Wayne as a top artist.

Tha Carter III and Global Recognition

Tha Carter III was released in June 2008. It was a massive success, selling over 1 million copies in its first week. This was the first album to do so since 2005. The album's first single, "Lollipop", became Wayne's first number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100. The album won four Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.

Wayne continued to collaborate with many artists. He performed at major events like the Voodoo Experience and the MTV Video Music Awards. In 2008, he was nominated for eight Grammys, winning four. He was also named MTV's Man of the Year.

In 2009, Wayne released We Are Young Money, a compilation album with artists from his Young Money label. It featured hit songs like "Every Girl" and "BedRock". His sixth solo album, Rebirth, was released in February 2010.

Later Albums and Continued Success

Wayne released his eighth album, I Am Not a Human Being, in September 2010. This album was released while he was dealing with some legal challenges. It became his first number-one album while he was away.

Tha Carter IV followed in August 2011. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 964,000 copies in its first week. The album featured popular singles like "6 Foot 7 Foot" and "How to Love". Wayne continued to be featured on many hit songs by other artists during this time.

In 2013, he released I Am Not a Human Being II. He also released the mixtape Dedication 5. In 2014, Wayne had some disagreements with his record label, which caused delays for his album Tha Carter V. He released the mixtape Sorry 4 the Wait 2 in 2015 to thank his fans for their patience. He also released the Free Weezy Album that year.

Tha Carter V was finally released on September 27, 2018, on his 36th birthday. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Every song on the album appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single "Uproar" was a big hit.

His thirteenth album, Funeral, was released in January 2020. It became his fifth number-one album in the U.S. In October 2021, Wayne and Rich the Kid released a collaborative mixtape called Trust Fund Babies. In March 2023, Wayne released his first greatest hits album called I Am Music. He also released a new mixtape, Tha Fix Before Tha VI, in October 2023. In November 2023, he and 2 Chainz released a collaborative album, Welcome 2 Collegrove.

His fourteenth album, Tha Carter VI, was released in June 2025.

Musical Style and Artistry

Lil Wayne is known for his creative lyrics. He often uses clever wordplay and strong punchlines in his songs. He is also known for his confident and boastful style.

Wayne has mentioned Missy Elliott as a huge musical inspiration. He also looks up to the hip-hop group Goodie Mob. He has paid tribute to Tupac Shakur by covering his music. Other artists who have influenced him include T-Pain, Prince, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, and Lenny Kravitz. Wayne credits Jay-Z for inspiring him to freestyle his rhymes instead of writing them down.

Legacy

Lil Wayne is often called "one of the most influential artists in the 21st century." Many people consider him "the greatest rapper of his generation." His unique musical style, including his use of autotune, has greatly influenced modern hip-hop music. This includes the development of trap music.

Artists like Nicki Minaj, Young Thug and Lil Skies have often mentioned Lil Wayne as their musical role model and inspiration.

Many famous rappers and musicians have said that Lil Wayne inspired their careers. These include Nicki Minaj, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz, Tyga, Future, Young Thug, Lil Skies, Lil Baby, and The Kid Laroi.

In November 2024, Lil Wayne received a Key to the City from the Mayor of New Orleans. This was a special honor for his contributions. A new NOLA Walk of Fame was also announced, and Wayne received a plaque. Additionally, February 6–7 are now celebrated as "Lil Wayne Day" in New Orleans.

Personal Life

Family and Interests

Lil Wayne has four children. His first child, a daughter named Reginae, was born in 1998. Her mother is Toya Johnson, Wayne's high school sweetheart and former wife. They were married from 2004 to 2006. Despite their divorce, they remain good friends and co-parent their daughter.

Wayne's second child, a son named Dwayne III, was born in 2008. His third child, a son named Kameron, was born in 2009 to actress Lauren London. His fourth child, a son named Neal, was born in 2009 to singer Nivea. His son Neal Carter now performs music as Lil Novi.

Wayne identifies as a Catholic. He has spoken about his belief in God and Jesus. One of his favorite bands from childhood was Nirvana. He also enjoys tennis and is a fan of the Green Bay Packers, the Boston Bruins, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Wayne has many tattoos. His first tattoo, of his father's name, was done when he was 14. He also has "Cash Money" across his stomach. Other tattoos include "I Am Music" on his forehead and teardrops on his cheeks.

Health and Philanthropy

Wayne has experienced some health challenges, including medical episodes. He has spoken about managing his condition with medication.

In 2008, Wayne and his manager, Cortez Bryant, visited their old school, McMain Secondary School. They invited students to help design an invitation for a gala. This event was for Wayne's nonprofit organization, the One Family Foundation.

In 2016, Wayne purchased a sports agency, which became Young Money APAA Sports. This agency hired the NFL's first female sports agent, Nicole Lynn.

In October 2020, Wayne met with President Donald Trump to discuss criminal justice reform. Wayne shared that Trump listened to his ideas and assured him he could help.

Other Ventures

Young Money Entertainment

Lil Wayne founded Young Money Entertainment in 2005. It is a record label that has signed many successful artists.

Books

Wayne wrote a book about his experiences called Gone Til' November: A Journal of Rikers Island. It was released in October 2016.

Sports Media

Wayne has written blogs for ESPN and appeared on their sports shows. He is a big sports fan. He created the theme song "No Mercy" for the Fox Sports 1 show Undisputed. He also created a new theme song, "Good Morning," after a change in the show. Wayne has also joined the show as a regular guest.

Discography

Lil Wayne's general marketing logo, used since 2010

Studio albums

• Tha Block Is Hot (1999)
• Lights Out (2000)
• 500 Degreez (2002)
• Tha Carter (2004)
• Tha Carter II (2005)
• Tha Carter III (2008)
• Rebirth (2010)
• I Am Not a Human Being (2010)
• Tha Carter IV (2011)
• I Am Not a Human Being II (2013)
• Free Weezy Album (2015)
• Tha Carter V (2018)
• Funeral (2020)
• Tha Carter VI (2025)

Collaborative albums

• Like Father, Like Son (with Birdman) (2006)
• Trust Fund Babies (with Rich The Kid) (2021)
• Welcome 2 Collegrove (with 2 Chainz) (2023)

Tours

Headlining

• I Am Music Tour (2008-2009)
• America's Most Wanted Tour (2009, 2013)
• 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 ... Without You (2018)
• Welcome To Tha Carter Tour (2023)
• Tha Carter VI Tour (2025)

Co-headlining

• Cash Money/Ruff Ryders Tour (with Cash Money and Ruff Ryders) (2000)
• Drake vs. Lil Wayne (with Drake) (2014)
• Blink-182 and Lil Wayne Tour (with Blink-182) (2019)
• The HotBoys Reunion Tour (with Juvenile, B.G. and Turk) (2024-2025)

Filmography

Television

Awards and nominations

Images for kids

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  Lil Wayne performing at Voodoo Music Experience in 2008

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  Lil Wayne performing in concert in Vancouver, Canada, January 2009

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  Lil Wayne in 2011

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  Wayne performing in 2015

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  Lil Wayne at Beacon Theatre in 2007

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  Wayne in 2006

See also

In Spanish: Lil Wayne para niños

• 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