Lil Wayne

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., known professionally as Lil Wayne, is a prominent figure in hip-hop and rap music. Born and raised in New Orleans, Carter was discovered by rapper Birdman and signed to Cash Money Records at age 11. He joined the hip-hop group Hot Boys at 14, alongside Juvenile and Turk, becoming the youngest member. The Hot Boys released their debut album, "Get It How U Live!", followed by "Guerrilla Warfare," which reached number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number five on the Billboard 200.

Carter's solo debut, "Tha Block Is Hot," marked his breakthrough in the rap industry. He played a significant role in shaping the mixtape culture of the 2000s. His albums "Tha Carter" and "Tha Carter II" both debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200 and received critical recognition. "Tha Carter III" achieved major commercial success, selling over one million copies in its first week in the United States and earning the Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards. The album produced the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Lollipop" featuring Static Major, as well as top-ten singles "A Milli" and "Got Money" featuring T-Pain. "Tha Carter III" became the best-selling album in the United States that year.

Carter has sold more than 120 million records globally, including over 25 million albums and 95 million digital tracks in the United States, establishing him as one of the best-selling music artists worldwide. His accolades include five Grammy Awards, eleven BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and eight NAACP Image Awards. Carter became the first male artist to surpass Elvis Presley for the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, with 109 songs. He has influenced numerous artists in the hip-hop and rap genres, including Nicki Minaj, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz, Future, Young Thug, and Lil Baby.

In addition to his recording career, Carter has impacted the music industry as a label executive. He founded Young Money Entertainment, which has signed artists such as Drake, Tyga, and Nicki Minaj. The label has released multiple albums that reached number one on the Billboard 200, including "Tha Carter III," "Tha Carter IV," "Tha Carter V," and "Funeral" by Lil Wayne; "Thank Me Later," "Take Care," "Nothing Was the Same," "Views," and "Scorpion" by Drake; and "Pink Friday" and "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" by Nicki Minaj. Carter has maintained a consistent presence on music charts with albums such as "Tha Carter IV" and "I Am Not a Human Being II," along with numerous collaborative singles.

Carter's influence extends beyond music, with recognition from his hometown of New Orleans, including receiving a Key to the City and the establishment of "Lil Wayne Day." In 2026, he launched the podcast "The Joint Venture Show." With a career spanning nearly three decades, Carter remains a significant and influential voice in hip-hop, rap, and popular music culture.