Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Lil Wayne
How Lil Wayne built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., known as Lil Wayne, is a highly influential American rapper from New Orleans. Discovered by Birdman in 1993, he signed with Cash Money Records at age eleven. He became the label's prominent artist for many years until his departure in June 2018. Lil Wayne is often considered one of the greatest and most influential hip hop artists of his generation.
1984: Release of Don't Look Any Further
In 1984, Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett's "Don't Look Any Further" was released, and would later be sampled in Tupac Shakur's "Hit 'Em Up", and ultimately sampled in Lil Wayne's 2002 album, 500 Degreez.
1991: Meeting Birdman
In the summer of 1991, Lil Wayne met rapper and Cash Money Records co-founder Bryan "Baby" Williams (Birdman), who mentored him and encouraged his love of hip-hop.
1993: Signed with Cash Money Records
In 1993, at the age of eleven, Lil Wayne was discovered by Birdman and signed with Cash Money Records.
1994: Formation of the B.G.'z
In 1994, Lil Wayne (then known as Baby D) formed a duo with B.G. known as the B.G.'z, they released an album called True Story in July of that year, but Lil Wayne only appeared on three of its tracks.
1995: Release of True Story
In 1995, Lil Wayne and Christopher Dorsey (B.G.) formed their duo, the B.G.'z, with Lil Wayne being "Baby D", and they released one album under the group name called True Story.
1996: Release of Hit 'Em Up
In 1996, Tupac Shakur's diss track towards The Notorious B.I.G. "Hit 'Em Up" was released, of which Lil Wayne would sample in his 2002 album, 500 Degreez.
1997: Formation of the Hot Boys
In 1997, Lil Wayne and B.G. formed the Southern hip-hop group Hot Boys with Juvenile and Turk and released their debut album, Get It How U Live! in October of that year.
1998: Juvenile's Release of 400 Degreez
In 1998, Juvenile released his debut solo studio album, 400 Degreez, which became a reference for Lil Wayne's 2002 Album 500 Degreez.
1998: Recording of Unreleased Tracks
In 1998, The Hot Boys recorded unreleased tracks.
April 1999: Release of Chopper City in the Ghetto
In April 1999, Hot Boys member B.G.'s solo album, Chopper City in the Ghetto, was released, featuring the track "Bling Bling". Lil Wayne's verse appeared only on the radio version of the song.
November 2, 1999: Release of Tha Block Is Hot
On November 2, 1999, Lil Wayne's debut solo album, Tha Block Is Hot, was released, featuring significant contributions from the Hot Boys.
1999: Release of Tha Block Is Hot
In 1999, Lil Wayne's debut studio album, Tha Block Is Hot achieved commercial success.
1999: Mainstream Success with Hot Boys
In 1999, The Hot Boys gained mainstream success following the release of their second album Guerrilla Warfare and their appearance on B.G.'s single, "Bling Bling".
December 19, 2000: Release of Lights Out
On December 19, 2000, Lil Wayne's second album, Lights Out, was released.
2000: Release of Lights Out
In 2000, Lil Wayne released his second studio album Lights Out.
2000: Recording of Unreleased Tracks
In 2000, The Hot Boys recorded unreleased tracks.
August 2002: Release of 500 Degreez
In August 2002, Lil Wayne's third album, 500 Degreez, was released, following the format of his previous two with contributions from the Hot Boys and Mannie Fresh.
June 29, 2004: Release of Tha Carter
On June 29, 2004, Lil Wayne's fourth studio album, Tha Carter, was released, marking an advancement in his rapping style and lyrical themes, and featuring the debut of his dreadlocks.
2004: Release of Tha Carter
In 2004, Lil Wayne released his fourth studio album Tha Carter, which debuted within the top five of the Billboard 200 and received critical acclaim.
December 6, 2005: Release of Tha Carter II
On December 6, 2005, Lil Wayne released Tha Carter II, which sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.
2005: Founded Young Money Entertainment
In 2005, Lil Wayne founded the record label Young Money Entertainment.
2005: Release of Tha Carter II
In 2005, Lil Wayne released Tha Carter II, which debuted within the top five of the Billboard 200 and received critical acclaim.
2005: President of Cash Money Records
In 2005, Lil Wayne was named the president of Cash Money Records and founded Young Money Entertainment.
2006: Collaboration with Birdman
In 2006, Lil Wayne collaborated with Birdman for the album Like Father, Like Son, which included the single "Stuntin' Like My Daddy".
2006: Featured Appearances on Hit Singles
In 2006, Lil Wayne made featured appearances on the remix of Chris Brown's "Gimme That," Fat Joe's "Make It Rain," and Lloyd's "You," all of which charted in the top 20.
2006: Release of Dedication 2
In 2006, Lil Wayne released "Dedication 2" in collaboration with DJ Drama. The mixtape featured the socially conscious track "Georgia Bush," a remix critiquing George W. Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina.
2006: Marasciullo Records Spoken Word
In 2006, Thomas Marasciullo recorded "Italian-styled spoken word recordings" at the request of Lil Wayne and Birdman.
December 18, 2007: Initial Plans for "The Leak" Album
On December 18, 2007, Lil Wayne planned to release "The Leak," a separate album with leaked songs, while delaying the release of Tha Carter III.
December 25, 2007: Release of "The Leak" EP
On December 25, 2007, Lil Wayne released "The Leak" as an EP with five songs, available digitally, after initially planning it as a full album.
2007: Stepped Down from Management
As of late 2007, Lil Wayne stepped down from the management of Cash Money Records and Young Money Entertainment, handing management of Young Money over to Cortez Bryant.
2007: Acclaim as "Hottest MC in the Game"
In 2007, Lil Wayne received significant recognition, including being named "Hottest MC in the Game" by MTV, "Rapper of the Year" by The New Yorker, and "Workaholic of the Year" by GQ magazine.
2007: Release of Da Drought 3
In 2007, Lil Wayne released "Da Drought 3," a mixtape featuring him rapping over popular beats. The mixtape received significant coverage from hip hop magazines and critical acclaim.
2007: Continued Featured Appearances
In 2007, Lil Wayne was featured on multiple hit singles, including DJ Khaled's "We Takin' Over", Playaz Circle's "Duffle Bag Boy", and Wyclef Jean's "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)", all of which charted in the top 20.
February 19, 2008: Visit to McMain Secondary School
On February 19, 2008, Lil Wayne and his manager Cortez Bryant visited their alma mater, McMain Secondary School, to involve students in designing an invitation for the gala introducing the One Family Foundation.
March 18, 2008: Delayed Release Date for Tha Carter III
March 18, 2008, was the new delayed release date for Tha Carter III.
May 6, 2008: Not Guilty Plea
On May 6, 2008, Lil Wayne returned to court in Arizona and pleaded not guilty to unspecified charges.
June 10, 2008: Release of Tha Carter III
On June 10, 2008, Lil Wayne released "Tha Carter III," which sold over 1 million copies in its first week, becoming the first album to do so since 2005.
June 19, 2008: Forms T-Wayne Duo
On June 19, 2008, Lil Wayne and T-Pain formed a duo called T-Wayne with plans to release an album, titled He Raps, He Sings.
July 14, 2008: "Tha Carter III" Certified Double Platinum
On July 14, 2008, The Recording Industry Association of America certified Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III two times platinum.
July 24, 2008: Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
On July 24, 2008, Abkco Music filed a lawsuit against Lil Wayne for copyright infringement and unfair competition, concerning the song "Playing with Fire" from Tha Carter III.
September 24, 2008: First ESPN Blog
On September 24, 2008, Lil Wayne published his first blog for ESPN, discussing his love for tennis, the Green Bay Packers, the Boston Bruins, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Boston Red Sox.
October 2008: Plans to Re-Release Tha Carter III
In October 2008, Lil Wayne announced plans to re-release Tha Carter III with new tracks and remixes.
November 11, 2008: Performance at the Country Music Association Awards
On November 11, 2008, Lil Wayne became the first hip hop artist to perform at the Country Music Association Awards, playing alongside Kid Rock.
2008: Release of Tha Carter III
In 2008, Lil Wayne released Tha Carter III, which sold over one million units domestically in its first week, won the Best Rap Album at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, and was supported by the number one single "Lollipop".
2008: Named "Best MC" by Rolling Stone
In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named Lil Wayne "Best MC", acknowledging his impact and influence in hip hop.
2008: Announcement of "Tha Carter III" Reissue
In late 2008, Lil Wayne announced plans to reissue "Tha Carter III" with leftover recordings, initially to be titled Rebirth.
2008: Performances and Award Nominations
Throughout 2008, Lil Wayne performed at the Voodoo Experience, Virgin Mobile Music Fest, MTV Video Music Awards, and BET Hip Hop Awards, receiving 12 nominations and winning 8 awards at the latter.
January 6, 2009: Guest Debater on ESPN First Take
On January 6, 2009, Lil Wayne was a guest debater against Skip Bayless on the "1st & 10" segment of ESPN First Take.
January 27, 2009: Debut of "Prom Queen"
On January 27, 2009, Lil Wayne debuted the first official single, "Prom Queen", immediately following a live Internet broadcast of his concert in San Diego.
February 7, 2009: Appearance on Late Show with David Letterman
On February 7, 2009, Lil Wayne presented the Top Ten List on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman.
February 10, 2009: Appearance on ESPN's Around the Horn
On February 10, 2009, Lil Wayne appeared on ESPN's Around the Horn and won the episode.
February 2009: RMF Productions Lawsuit
In February 2009, RMF Productions filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against Lil Wayne after he cancelled three shows for which he received a $100,000 advance.
April 7, 2009: Initial Planned Release Date for "Rebirth"
April 7, 2009, was the originally scheduled release date for Lil Wayne's Rebirth album.
April 24, 2009: Appearance on The View
On April 24, 2009, Lil Wayne appeared on "The View", discussing his GED and addictions.
September 2009: VH1 Behind the Music Profile
In September 2009, Lil Wayne was profiled in an episode of VH1's Behind the Music and presented at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards.
October 2009: Copyright Infringement Lawsuit by Thomas Marasciullo
In October 2009, Lil Wayne, Birdman, Cash Money Records, and various music distribution outlets were sued for copyright infringement by Thomas Marasciullo, who claimed his voice was used without permission.
October 22, 2009: Guilty Plea for Weapon Possession
On October 22, 2009, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon.
December 3, 2009: Release of "On Fire"
On December 3, 2009, Lil Wayne released the second single, "On Fire", from Rebirth, produced by Cool & Dre.
December 18, 2009: Detained at Border
On December 18, 2009, Lil Wayne and 11 others were detained at the Falfurrias, Texas, border patrol checkpoint after marijuana was found on his tour buses.
December 23, 2009: Release of Young Money's "We Are Young Money"
On December 23, 2009, Lil Wayne released his label Young Money's first compilation album, "We Are Young Money."
2009: Squashed Beef with Young Buck
As of 2009, Lil Wayne and Young Buck squashed their beef and recorded a track together for Young Buck's mixtape.
2009: Grammy Nominations and MTV Man of the Year
At the end of 2008 into 2009, Lil Wayne received eight Grammy nominations and was named MTV's Man of the Year.
2009: Hinted Release of Tha Carter IV
In 2009, Lil Wayne hinted at the release of Tha Carter IV, initially planned for late 2009 before the holidays, which was later delayed.
2009: Release of the No Ceilings Mixtape
In preparation for Tha Carter IV, Lil Wayne released a mixtape, Sorry 4 the Wait, which was similar to the previous mixtape release of No Ceilings in 2009.
February 2, 2010: Release of "Rebirth"
On February 2, 2010, Lil Wayne released his sixth studio album, "Rebirth", which received negative reviews.
March 8, 2010: Sentenced to Rikers Island
On March 8, 2010, Lil Wayne was given a one-year sentence, which he served on Rikers Island.
March 17, 2010: Bench Warrant Issued
On March 17, 2010, a bench warrant was issued for Lil Wayne after he failed to appear for a final trial management conference.
May 24, 2010: "We Are Young Money" Certified Gold
On May 24, 2010, the album "We Are Young Money" was certified gold by the RIAA, selling over 500,000 copies.
June 22, 2010: Guilty Plea
On June 22, 2010, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to the charges, leading to a plea deal.
June 30, 2010: Sentenced to Probation
On June 30, 2010, Lil Wayne was sentenced to 36 months of probation as part of his plea deal.
September 27, 2010: Release of "I Am Not a Human Being"
On September 27, 2010, Lil Wayne released his eighth album, "I Am Not a Human Being", on his 28th birthday, during his incarceration.
November 4, 2010: Released from Rikers Island
On November 4, 2010, Lil Wayne was released from Rikers Island Jail after serving eight months of his year-long sentence.
December 15, 2010: Release of "6 Foot 7 Foot"
On December 15, 2010, Lil Wayne released "6 Foot 7 Foot" featuring Cory Gunz, the lead single from Tha Carter IV.
2010: Release of Rebirth and Incarceration
In February 2010, Lil Wayne released his seventh studio album, Rebirth. In March of 2010, he began serving an 8-month jail sentence.
March 2011: Deezle Lawsuit
In March 2011, producer Deezle (Darius Harrison) sued Lil Wayne and Cash Money Records over unpaid royalties from Tha Carter III.
June 2011: David Kirkwood Lawsuit
In early June 2011, producer David Kirkwood filed a lawsuit against Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records claiming unpaid royalties for his work on Tha Carter IV album.
July 2011: Done Deal Enterprises Lawsuit
In July 2011, Done Deal Enterprises, a production company, filed suit against Lil Wayne and others, claiming copyright infringement related to the song "BedRock" and seeking $15 million in damages.
August 29, 2011: Release Date Confirmed for Tha Carter IV
After several delays, August 29, 2011, was confirmed for release of Tha Carter IV.
August 29, 2011: Release and Success of Tha Carter IV
On August 29, 2011, Lil Wayne released Tha Carter IV, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 964,000 copies sold in its first week, becoming his third chart-topping album.
October 2011: Plans for "I Am Not a Human Being 2" and "Rebirth 2"
In October 2011, it was reported that Lil Wayne was working on sequels to both I Am Not a Human Being and Rebirth.
2011: Release of Tha Carter IV
In 2011, Lil Wayne released Tha Carter IV months after his release from prison. Despite mixed reviews, it sold 964,000 units in its first week.
January 8, 2012: Top Selling Digital Artist
By January 8, 2012, Lil Wayne was ranked as the seventh all-time best-selling artist for digital track sales, accumulating 36,788,000 million sales.
January 2012: Completion of "Like Father, Like Son 2"
In January 2012, Birdman announced that he and Lil Wayne had finished recording Like Father, Like Son 2.
September 27, 2012: Billboard Hot 100 Record
On September 27, 2012, Lil Wayne became the first male artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, with 109 songs.
November 2012: Ordered to Pay Quincy Jones III
In November 2012, Lil Wayne was ordered to pay Quincy Jones III $2.2 million related to a lawsuit stating he blocked the release of Jones's film The Carter.
November 22, 2012: Announcement of "Tha Carter V" as Final Album
On November 22, 2012, Lil Wayne announced that Tha Carter V would be his final album, as he intended to pursue other interests.
2012: Featured on Multiple Hit Singles
Between 2010 and 2012, Lil Wayne was featured on numerous hit singles by various artists.
March 26, 2013: I Am Not a Human Being II Released
On March 26, 2013, Lil Wayne's album I Am Not a Human Being II was released after a one-year delay. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 217,000 copies in its first week.
May 3, 2013: Pepsi Drops Lil Wayne
On May 3, 2013, Pepsi dropped Lil Wayne as a spokesperson for Mountain Dew, due to offensive lyrics he performed about Emmett Till.
September 1, 2013: Dedication 5 Released
On September 1, 2013, Lil Wayne released Dedication 5, the fifth installment of the Dedication mixtape series, featuring 29 tracks and guest appearances from several Young Money members.
October 18, 2013: Carter 5 Announcement
On October 18, 2013, former Cash Money Records vice president Mel Smith tweeted about new YMCMB music coming soon, teasing "Carter 5."
2013: "Wowzerz" Collaboration
In 2013, Lil Wayne and Trina reunited to collaborate on the single "Wowzerz."
2013: Release of I Am Not a Human Being II
In 2013, Lil Wayne released I Am Not a Human Being II.
February 14, 2014: Tha Carter V Update
On February 14, 2014, Mel Smith gave an interview, stating that they were close to dropping the album Tha Carter V.
March 2014: Tha Carter V to be Lil Wayne's Last Album
In March 2014, Lil Wayne stated during an interview at SXSW that Tha Carter V would be his last album.
March 27, 2014: Tha Carter V Delayed
On March 27, 2014, Lil Wayne's manager, Cortez Bryant, announced that the album Tha Carter V had been delayed.
May 5, 2014: Tha Carter V Release Date Announcement
On February 15, 2014, Lil Wayne announced Tha Carter V would be released on May 5, 2014, during Drake's performance at the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in New Orleans.
May 6, 2014: "Believe Me" Released
On May 6, 2014, Lil Wayne serviced and released the single "Believe Me", featuring Drake, to mainstream urban radio in the United States.
September 28, 2014: Drake vs. Lil Wayne Tour Concludes
On September 28, 2014, the Drake vs. Lil Wayne joint tour concluded. The tour's concept was based on the Street Fighter franchise.
December 4, 2014: Wayne States Album Will Not Be Released
On December 4, 2014, Lil Wayne stated that Tha Carter V would not be released on its expected release date due to his displeasure with Birdman and Cash Money Records.
2014: Juvenile Re-signs with Cash Money
In 2014, Juvenile re-signed with Cash Money Records, signifying reconciliation with Lil Wayne.
2014: Financial Disputes Delay Tha Carter V
In late 2014, Lil Wayne claimed that the release of the album Tha Carter V was postponed due to his financial disputes with Cash Money.
January 2015: Sues Birdman and Cash Money Records
In late January 2015, Lil Wayne sued Birdman and Cash Money Records for $51 million.
January 20, 2015: Sorry 4 the Wait 2 Released
On January 20, 2015, Lil Wayne self-released Sorry 4 the Wait 2, a sequel to his 2011 mixtape, to compensate for the continued delay of Tha Carter V.
February 2015: Free Album Announcement
In February 2015, Lil Wayne announced that a free album would be released prior to Tha Carter V, due to Tha Carter V's delay.
June 2015: Lil Wayne Joins TIDAL
In June 2015, Lil Wayne joined Jay-Z's TIDAL as an artist owner, launching the partnership by exclusively releasing a single titled "Glory" on the service. He also announced plans for his own TIDAL X concert series.
July 4, 2015: Free Weezy Album Released
On July 4, 2015, Lil Wayne released Free Weezy Album, exclusively through TIDAL, under Young Money and Republic Records.
2015: Release of Free Weezy Album
In 2015, Lil Wayne released Free Weezy Album.
January 27, 2016: Featured on 2 Chainz's "Back on That Bullshit"
On January 27, 2016, Lil Wayne was featured on the lead single, "Back on That Bullshit", from 2 Chainz's "Felt Like Cappin" EP.
March 4, 2016: ColleGrove Album Release
On March 4, 2016, 2 Chainz released his third studio album, ColleGrove. The album was initially a collaborative effort between 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne.
June 28, 2016: Appears on Suicide Squad Track
On June 28, 2016, Lil Wayne appeared on the track "Sucker for Pain" for the film Suicide Squad.
September 2016: "No Mercy" Theme Song
In September 2016, Lil Wayne's song, "No Mercy", debuted as the theme song for Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, a sports talk show on FS1.
October 11, 2016: Release of Rikers Island Memoir
On October 11, 2016, Lil Wayne's memoir about his experience in Rikers Island, "Gone Til' November: A Journal of Rikers Island", was released.
2016: Purchases Player's Rep. Sports Agency
In 2016, Lil Wayne purchased Player's Rep. Sports Agency, becoming Young Money APAA sports.
August 8, 2017: "Like a Man" Released
On August 8, 2017, Lil Wayne released the song "Like a Man" with sound engineer Onhel.
January 26, 2018: Dedication 6 (Part 2) Released
On January 26, 2018, Lil Wayne released the second part of the Dedication 6 mixtape series.
June 7, 2018: Departure from Cash Money Records
On June 7, 2018, it was announced that Lil Wayne had been released from Cash Money Records and would be releasing Tha Carter V via Young Money and Republic Records.
June 2018: Departure from Cash Money Records
In June 2018, Lil Wayne departed from Cash Money Records, where he had been the flagship artist.
September 27, 2018: Tha Carter V Released
On September 27, 2018, the day of Lil Wayne's 36th birthday, Tha Carter V was finally released, debuting at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200.
2018: Release of Tha Carter V
In 2018, Lil Wayne released Tha Carter V after long-term delays and label disputes, with 480,000 in first-week sales.
December 2019: Announces Cannabis Brand
In December 2019, Lil Wayne announced his own cannabis brand called GKUA Ultra Premium.
2019: "Situation" Collaboration
In 2019, Lil Wayne and Trina collaborated on the single "Situation".
January 23, 2020: Funeral Album Artwork Reveal
On January 23, 2020, Lil Wayne revealed the release date and album artwork for his album Funeral.
February 2, 2020: The Masked Singer Appearance
On February 2, 2020, Lil Wayne competed in season three of The Masked Singer after the Super Bowl LIV as "Robot" and was the first to be eliminated.
February 28, 2020: Featured on Lil Baby's "Forever"
On February 28, 2020, Lil Wayne was featured on Lil Baby's track "Forever", from Baby's second studio album, My Turn.
March 3, 2020: "Forever" Music Video Release
On March 3, 2020, the music video for Lil Baby's track "Forever", featuring Lil Wayne, was released.
November 27, 2020: No Ceilings 3 Release
On November 27, 2020, Lil Wayne released the mixtape, No Ceilings 3, and announced the album, I Am Not a Human Being III.
December 12, 2020: Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge
On December 12, 2020, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge after being arrested in Florida for transporting a loaded handgun on his private jet.
2020: Release of Funeral
In 2020, Lil Wayne released Funeral, which became his fifth non-consecutive number one album.
January 19, 2021: Pardoned by President Trump
On January 19, 2021, Lil Wayne was pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump on his last full day in office.
October 1, 2021: Trust Fund Babies Release
On October 1, 2021, Lil Wayne and Rich the Kid released a collaborative mixtape titled Trust Fund Babies, along with a music video for the single "Feelin' Like Tunechi".
2021: "Green and Yellow" Second Version
In 2021, Lil Wayne released a second version of the song "Green and Yellow", requested by the Green Bay Packers, and updated with the current roster.
January 2022: Re-Release of Sorry 4 the Wait
In January 2022, Lil Wayne's mixtape "Sorry 4 the Wait" was re-released on streaming services, featuring four additional tracks.
March 31, 2023: I Am Music Released
On March 31, 2023, Lil Wayne dropped his first ever greatest hits album titled I Am Music, which sampled DMX's "Niggaz Done Started Something".
September 1, 2023: "Kat Food" Single Released
On September 1, 2023, Lil Wayne released a single titled "Kat Food".
November 3, 2023: Featured on "How We Roll" Remix
On November 3, 2023, Lil Wayne was featured on the remix to Ciara and Chris Brown's single "How We Roll".
January 27, 2024: Reunion with Birdman
On January 27, 2024, Lil Wayne and Birdman reunited during a studio session, ending their nine-year quarrel.
February 6, 2025: Announces "Tha Carter VI" Release Date
On February 6, 2025, Lil Wayne announced that Tha Carter VI would be released on June 6, 2025, during an advert for Cetaphil.
June 6, 2025: "Tha Carter VI" Expected Release
On June 6, 2025, Lil Wayne is expected to release Tha Carter VI, which was announced on February 6, 2025.
