Lil' Wayne's first solo album, Tha Block is Hot (1999), was certified platinum.
His following albums, Lights Out (2000) and 500 Degreez (2002), went gold. Tha Carter (2004) brought Lil' Wayne even more success, specifically the hit single Go D.J..
Tha Carter II (2005) and Tha Carter III (2008) were his next studio efforts, with the latter being a runaway success selling over 1 million copies in the first week of release in the United States alone and winning the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. It included the the singles Lollipop, A+Milli and Got+Money.
Lil' Wayne released two albums in 2010; Rebirth, a rock concept album and I Am Not a Human Being, which was released while Carter served time for criminal possession of a weapon.
Tha Carter IV (2011) featured singles 6 Foot 7 Foot, How to Love and She Will.
By August 2012, Carter passed Elvis Presley as the male with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with 109 songs.
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born on September 27, 1982, and spent his first few years in the impoverished Hollygrove neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana's 17th Ward. His mother, a cook, gave birth to him when she was 19 years old. His parents divorced when he was two and his father permanently abandoned the family. When CBS interviewer Katie Couric asked why he used the name Wayne instead of his given name, Carter explained that "I dropped the D because I'm a junior and my father is living and he's not in my life and he's never been in my life. So I don't want to be Dwayne, I'd rather be Wayne". Asked if his father knew of this, Carter replied, "He knows now". Carter has said that he considers his deceased stepfather Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald to be his real father. Carter has a tattoo dedicated to McDonald.
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 Man in the school's production of The Wiz. After matriculating to Marion Abramson Senior High School, Carter dropped out at age 14 to focus on his musical career.
Carter wrote his first rap song at age eight. In the summer of 1991, he met rapper and Cash Money Records co-founder 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 Carter would often record freestyle raps on Williams' answering machine.
In 1994, at age 12, Carter suffered a near-fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. At the time he said the injury was accidental. Decades later Carter claimed that it was an attempted suicide after he was told by his mother that he would have to end his rap-related associations. Carter credits off-duty police officer Robert Hoobler, 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. Other accounts indicate that several officers played a part in deciding on and implementing that course of action.
In 1997, Carter joined the Hot Boys along with rappers Juvenile, B.G., and Turk. 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, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard 200. 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. Carter was also featured on Juvenile's single "Back That Azz Up", which reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Let 'Em Burn, a compilation album of unreleased tracks recorded during 1999 and 2000, came out in 2003, several years after the group disbanded. It reached No. 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 14 on the Billboard 200.
Carter's debut solo album, Tha Block Is Hot, was released when he was 17 and featured significant contributions from the Hot Boys. It debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum by the RIAA less than two months after its release. The album earned Carter a 1999 Source magazine nomination for "Best New Artist", and also became a Top Ten hit. The lead single was "Tha Block Is Hot". After the release of Tha Block Is Hot, Carter was featured on the single "Bling Bling", with B.G., Juvenile, and Big Tymers. Carter's verse appeared only on the radio version of the song, while on the album version he performed on the chorus.
His second album, Lights Out, was released in 2000, and failed to attain the level of success achieved by his debut but was certified gold by RIAA. 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. 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.
Carter's third album, 500 Degreez, was released in 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, it also failed to match the success of his debut. The title was a reference to the recently estranged Hot Boys member Juvenile's recording, 400 Degreez. The lead single was "Way of Life" which failed to match the success of his previous singles. After the release of 500 Degreez, Carter was featured on the single "Neva Get Enuf" by 3LW.
In the summer of 2004, Carter's fourth studio album, Tha Carter, was released, marking what critics considered advancement in his rapping style and lyrical themes. In addition, the album's cover art featured the debut of Wayne's now-signature dreadlocks. Tha Carter gained Wayne significant recognition, selling 878,000 copies in the United States, while the single "Go DJ" became a Top 5 Hit on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. After the release of Tha Carter, Lil Wayne was featured in Destiny's Child's single "Soldier" with T.I., which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
Tha Carter II, the follow-up to the original Tha Carter album, was released in December 2005, this time without production by longtime Cash Money Records producer Mannie Fresh, who had left the label. Tha Carter II sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and went on to sell 2,000,000 copies worldwide. The lead single "Fireman" became a hit in the US, peaking at 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other singles included "Grown Man" with Currensy, "Hustler Musik", and "Shooter" with R&B singer Robin Thicke. Carter also appeared on a remix of Bobby Valentino's "Tell Me", which rose to number 13 on the U.S. R&B Charts. In 2005, Carter was named president of Cash Money, and in the same year he founded Young Money Entertainment as an imprint of Cash Money. However, as of late 2007, Carter reported having stepped down from the management of both labels and had handed management of Young Money over to Cortez Bryant. In 2006, Carter collaborated with Birdman for the album Like Father, Like Son, whose first single "Stuntin' Like My Daddy", reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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 and hip hop singles. 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", in which Carter critiqued former US 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 and Vibe covered the mixtape. Rolling Stone magazine considered the mixtapes Da Drought 3 and The Drought Is Over 2 "among the best albums of 2007". At the end of 2007, an MTV poll selected Lil Wayne as "Hottest MC in the Game", The New Yorker magazine ranked him "Rapper of the Year", and GQ magazine named him "Workaholic of the Year". In 2008 he was named "Best MC" by Rolling Stone.
Despite no album release for two years, Carter appeared in numerous singles as a featured performer, including "Gimme That" by Chris Brown, "Make It Rain" by Fat Joe, "You" by Lloyd, and "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 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, American Gangster by Jay-Z, and Graduation by Kanye West and Insomniac by Enrique Iglesias. "Make it Rain", a Scott Storch production that peaked at number 13 on the Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Rap Tracks chart, was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for 2008.
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 18, 2007, with Tha Carter III delayed to March 18, 2008. Instead, The Leak became an EP with five songs and was released digitally on December 25, 2007.
Tha Carter III was released on June 10, 2008, with first-week sales of over 1 million copies, the first to do so since 50 Cent's The Massacre (2005). The album's first single "Lollipop", featuring Static Major, became the Carter's most successful song at the time, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming his first top 10 single as a solo artist and his first number one on the chart. The third single "Got Money", featuring T-Pain, peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 100. Tha Carter III went on to win four Grammy Awards, including best rap album and best rap song, which he won for "Lollipop". On July 14, 2008, the Recording Industry Association of America certified Tha Carter III two times platinum.
Carter also appeared on R&B singles "Girls Around the World" by Lloyd, "Love In This Club, Part II" by Usher, "Official Girl" by Cassie, "I'm So Paid" by Akon, "Turnin' Me On" by Keri Hilson, and "Can't Believe It" by T-Pain; rap singles "My Life" by The Game, "Shawty Say" by David Banner, "Swagga Like Us" by T.I., "Cutty Buddy" by 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" by new Cash Money artist Kevin Rudolf.
In 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. He also performed at the 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". Lil Wayne also performed at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards with Kid Rock ("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. He later performed at the homecoming rally at Vanderbilt University and the 2008 BET Hip Hop Awards, where he received 12 nominations. He won eight awards at the BET Hip Hop Awards, one of which included the "MVP" title. After M.I.A. dropped out of performing on the I Am Music Tour due to her pregnancy, Jay-Z performed "Mr. Carter" with Lil Wayne at select shows.
Following Tha Carter III's achievement of selling over 3 million copies, becoming 2008's best-selling record, Carter re-signed with Cash Money Records for a multi-album deal. On November 11, 2008, Carter became the first hip hop act to perform at the Country Music Association Awards, playing "All Summer Long" alongside Kid Rock, in which Carter inaudibly strummed guitar strings alongside the guitarist in Kid Rock's band. Shortly after, Wayne was nominated for eight Grammys – the most for any artist nominated that year. He was then named the first MTV Man of the Year at the end of 2008. He won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for "A Milli", Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his appearance in T.I.'s single "Swagga Like Us", and Best Rap Song for "Lollipop". Tha Carter III won the award for Best Rap Album. MTV News listed Carter number two on their 2009 list of the Hottest MCs In The Game.
In September 2009, Carter was profiled in an episode of VH1's Behind the Music and was a presenter of the 2009 MTV Movie Awards. In film, Carter produced and composed music for and starred in the direct-to-video film Hurricane Season. A documentary of Carter, titled The Carter, was released at the Sundance Film Festival.
On December 23, 2009, Carter released a collaboration album with Young Money, We Are Young Money, with its lead single being "Every Girl". The second single was "BedRock", featuring Lloyd, with the third being "Roger That". On May 24, 2010, the album was certified gold by the RIAA with over 500,000 copies sold. Carter is featured on the song, "Revolver", with Madonna for her greatest hits album, Celebration (2009). He was also featured on the Weezer song, "Can't Stop Partying", on Raditude (2009). 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 7, 2009, before being delayed several times. Rebirth instead became his sixth solo album, released on February 2, 2010.
Originally thought to be an EP, Carter released his tenth album, I Am Not a Human Being, on his 28th birthday, September 27, 2010. The album has sold over 953,000 copies in the U.S. and spawned successful single "Right Above It", which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Tha Carter IV was later delayed into 2011, after Lil Wayne began recording from scratch after his release from prison. He described his first song since his release as "a 2010 version of A Milli on steroids". The album's lead single, "6 Foot 7 Foot" featuring Cory Gunz, was released on December 15, 2010, and made available for digital download on iTunes on December 16, 2010. The song is produced by Bangladesh, who also produced "A Milli".
On March 8, 2011, Carter released another song, "We Back Soon", produced by StreetRunner, though it was not included on the official track listing of Tha Carter IV. The second single, "John", was released on March 24, 2011, which features Rick Ross and is produced by Polow Da Don. The album's artwork was unveiled on April 20, 2011. The album was originally scheduled to be released on May 16, 2011, but Mack Maine had confirmed its delay until June 21. On May 26, 2011, the third single, "How to Love", was released. A song called "Dear Anne (Stan Part 2)", that was cut from Tha Carter III was released in June.
In preparation for Tha Carter IV, Carter released a mixtape, Sorry 4 the Wait, with all the beats coming from other artist's songs, similar to his mixtape No Ceilings. Tha Carter IV debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 964,000 copies, making it Carter's third chart-topping album of his career. On January 8, 2012, according to Nielsen SoundScan was elected the seventh artist (second male artist) all-time best-selling tracks digital with 36,788,000 million to the end of 2011.
After numerous delays, I Am Not a Human Being II was released on March 26, 2013, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 selling 217,000 copies in its first week; “”My Homies Still", "Love Me", and "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. On May 3, 2013, Pepsi dropped Carter, who was a spokesperson for Mountain Dew, due to offensive lyrics about civil rights icon Emmett Till. On September 1, 2013, Carter released the fifth instalment of the "Dedication" mixtape series, with Dedication 5. The mixtape featured 29 tracks, with guest appearances from The Weeknd, Chance The Rapper, Jae Millz, Birdman, T.I., Vado, Kidd Kidd, and 2 Chainz among other members of Young Money.
An expected album release in 2014 failed to materialize amid disagreements between Lil Wayne and Cash Money Records. The dispute was exacerbated by the appearance in 2015 of the mixtape Sorry 4 the Wait 2. Lil Wayne then joined the music-streaming service TIDAL, through which he released the mixtape Free Weezy Album. It was not until 2018, after the artist and Cash Money Records parted ways, that the long-anticipated Tha Carter V finally appeared, to generally favourable reviews and with his usual commercial appeal. Funeral (2020) was Lil Wayne’s fifth album to debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. In 2020 he also pleaded guilty to illegally taking a handgun and ammunition on a private plane. He was expected to receive up to 10 years in prison, but, shortly before his sentencing in January 2021, he was pardoned by then President Donald Trump.
Carter is currently working on Tha Carter VI and I Am Not a Human Being III
Below is a list of other nicknames that Dwayne Carter uses, in alphabetical order:
Ammo
Ammo Mammal
Apple Eagle Weezle
Automatic Weezy
The BB King
The Beast
Bellboy
Big Daddy Kane
Big Baller
Big Body
Big Dog
Big Money Weezy
Big Pockets
Big Stick
Big Stunna
Big Tymer
Birdman Jr
Bossman Weezy
Brick Cannon
Bring The Money Home
Candy Carter
The Carter
Cartey
Cash Money Hot Boy
Cash Money Makaveli
Daddy
Deepwater Carter
Deion Sanders
Dr. Carter
Dr. Carter M.D
Eagle Carter
Eddie
Eduardo
Fireman
First Place
Fo' Sheezy
Gangsta Gangsta
Groundhog
Heatman
Hi-C
Hoodie Man
I Can't Feel My Face
I Got Enough Money On Me
Iceberg Shorty
J.R
Junior
Knievel
Killa
Lil Astronomical
Lil Cardiac
Lil Carter
Lil Birdman Junior
Lil Full Clip Me
Lil Rabbit
Lil Tunechi
Lil Weezle
Lil Weezy
Lil Weezy-ana
Lil Whodi
Lion
Little Big Kahuna
Little Russell Crowe
Little Weezy
Little Wizzle
Lord
Money Making Weezy
Mr. Carter
Mr. Coach Carter
Mr. Crazy Flow
Mr. Director's Chair
Mr. Doctor Carter
Mr. Go-Harder
Mr. I-Can't-Make-An-Appointment
Mr. Lawn Mower
Mr. Make-It-Rain-On-Them-Hoes
Mr. Ointment
Mr. President
Mr. Rainman
Mr. Sandman
Mr. Shoot-'Em-Down
Mr. Swag-more
Mr. Water Coolers
Mr. Weezy Baby
Mr. Withdraws
The New Orleans Nightmare
No Lungs
The Number One Hot Boy On Fire
Ocean Drive Slim
Off The Heezy
Pac-Man
Payday
Pistol Pete
President Carter
Porta-Potty Tunechi
The Pussy Monster
Quick Draw McGraw
The Rapper Eater
Raw Tune
Red Alert
The Rhyming Oasis
Settling
Seventeen Creeper
A Shark
Stunna Jr
Survivor
Teardrop Tune
That Lil Nigga With The Rope Full Of Diamonds
Tommy Gun Tunechi
Trigga Man
Triple A
Tune
Tunechi
Tunechi Bitch
Tunechi Li
Tunechi The Boss
Usain Wayne
Uncle Sam
The Ventriloquist
The Warden
Weez
Weezy Baby
Weezy Da Crack
Weezy Da King
Weezy F
Weezy Fuckin' Baby
Weezy F Crazy
Weezy The Dime
Weezy The Don
Weezy Wayne
Weezy Wee
Weezy West
Wife Beater
Wizzle
Wizzle F Baby
Wizzle Fizzle
Wizzy Fizzy
Young Ass Weezy
Young Baby
Young Boy
Young Carter
Young Dictionary
Young Fly Wizzy
Young God
Young Heart Attack
Young Lion
Young Money Democrat
Young Nino
Young Ozzy Osbourne
Young Pimpin'
Young Popeye
Young Roy Jones, Jr
Young Stunna
Young Tuna Fish
Young Tune
Young Tunechi
Young Wayne
Young Wayne Carruth
Young Weezle
Young Weezy
Young Weezy Baby
Young Wizzle
Kobe Bryant
Lil' Wayne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to be the best that ever played
That's why I play the game
And to be the best you have to win
That's what drives me
He's the best player in the game
It's just that simple
He will defend your best player
He will shoot from the perimeter
He will get all in your mug
He will do whatever it takes
He is the most complete basketball player
In the game today, bar none
He has an assassin's mentality
I said this week, I said this when the trade went down
And I'll repeat it again
Who's starving more for an NBA World Championship
More than Kobe Bryant? There is no one
This guy is highly motivated
What separates Kobe from the pack?
More than Kobe Bryant, there is no one
Okay
Kobe doin' work
Two four on my shirt
He the greatest on the court
And I'm the greatest on the verse
Going for the 4th ring like it was his first
Gotta get the bling
Do it for Kareem
Two-four so nice, my flow so mean
Catch me at the game sitting next to Goldestein
Kobe Bryant Nikes, purple gold strings
Kobe in the game dunking on your team
Black Mamba, attack conquer
Basketball beast, rap monster
Crossover good, a turnaround jumper
Or just drive in the lane and dunk on dunkers
You know where it's going, it's goin' down, yo
This is the Lakeshow, but don't drown though
I call him King Bryant, now let the crown show
I'm definitely, I'm just lost for words
I mean, he's amazing
Pass me the damn ball
I don't need a pick at all
And don't worry 'bout my shot
'Cause I'ma get that off
Yea, I drops 40 on your double team
Then I drop 81 on another team
Yeah, you better guard me with caution
And watch I work em like a auction
No such thing as exhaustion
No time for resting
'Cause I don't take breaks
I just break records
And I prefer the ball with three seconds
And I bet we gone win it all in three seconds
Ya dig? That is a guarantee
Apparently
And please tell your defense
Don't ever man to man with me
Double team, triple team
Your defenders sick of me
But, I never let 'em get to me
Literally
Step back and give 'em a three
Ain't no defending me
One guy certainly envious of the way Bryant's played lately
Lebron James
I've been recorded saying that
He's definitely the best player in our league
Um, to me, in my eyes
The best scorer in our league
And there's not another guy in our league
That can accomplish some of the things
That he's doing
Never take a day off
Catch you at the top of the key
And get a J off
Baseline face time
Tongue out like two-three
Even two-three gotta love how I do me
Practice while you sleep
Practice in my sleep
Straight outta high school
The brackets ain't for me
I will be jumping over you
Like I got a mattress at my feet
And all the Phil Jackson teams
Better be passing it to me
I put the master in the beat
Attack you like a beast
I am starving for victory
And that means I'ma eat
And when they ask you who's the best
Then the answer should be me
Who's the best player in the NBA?
Um, I'll say Kobe Bryant
Really? Why?
'Cause you never know what you're gonna get
Call me Mr. Clutch or Mr. Automatic
I can post 'em up, or Lamar go get the ally
I'm going for the ring
I'm going for the ring
I went to Beijing
And came back with the bling
Who they want?
They want Kobe
And what he want?
He want the trophy
The victory
And the glory
No Shaq
No Robert Horry
Now break 'em off, Kobe break 'em off, yeah
You better be where that Laker don't
Yeah, just give him the ball and he take it off, yeah
Or he properly dishing it to Gasol, yeah
Or give it to D-Fish on the wing, yeah
Or just let lil' Ariza do his thing, yeah
'Cause I'm great, and so is my team, yeah
(I thought you want to be the greatest)
Do it for Magic
It's your time, baby
I see nothing wrong with doin' it four times baby
I'm the best, yes
And he the best, yeah
Don't worry LeBron, get 'em next year
Now what's defense
To an assassin?
Killer instinct
Murder the basket
Then steal the ball back
Hold it for ransom
It's more than a game
This is a passion
Been a All-Star, been a Champion
Free throw line, you hear 'em chanting
M-V-P, M-V-P
Kobe Bryant aka Envy Me
In knee deep, smash any D
Whoever he is he can't guard me
He can't guard me
So, there you have it, the overwhelming answer was Kobe Bryant
In the song Kobe Bryant by Lil' Wayne, the rapper expresses his admiration for the basketball player Kobe Bryant. The lyrics convey a deep appreciation of Bryant's skills, mentality, and dedication to the game. The chorus emphasizes the message of the song, as Lil' Wayne declares that he wants to be the best and that the drive to win is what motivates him. The lyrics praise Kobe Bryant's unique qualities, skills, and achievements on the court, asserting that he is the best player in the game today, bar none.
Lil' Wayne also comments on Lebron James, another basketball superstar, stating that although he is a great player, Kobe Bryant is unmatched. The lyrics in the last verse show Lil' Wayne's appreciation for Bryant's game and his personal inspiration to become the greatest rapper, comparing his work ethic to Kobe's. In conclusion, the song is a tribute to one of the most iconic and dominant basketball players of all time and shows how Kobe Bryant has inspired and motivated Lil' Wayne to strive for greatness.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to be the best
I aspire to be the greatest
I want to be the best that ever played
I want to be considered the greatest player in history
That's why I play the game
The reason I play basketball is to achieve greatness
And to be the best you have to win
To be considered the best, winning is essential
That's what drives me
The desire to win and be the best motivates me
He's the best player in the game
Kobe Bryant is widely recognized as the top player in basketball
It's just that simple
There is no complexity or dispute about his greatness
There's nothing that Kobe Bryant can't do
Kobe Bryant possesses exceptional skills and can accomplish anything
He will defend your best player
Kobe Bryant will guard the opponent's most skilled player
He will shoot from the perimeter
Kobe Bryant confidently takes shots from outside the paint
He will get all in your mug
He aggressively challenges his opponents, not backing down
He will do whatever it takes
Kobe Bryant is willing to do anything necessary to succeed
He is the most complete basketball player
Kobe Bryant possesses a well-rounded skill set in basketball
In the game today, bar none
There is no player who can rival Kobe Bryant in the current era
He has an assassin's mentality
Kobe Bryant approaches the game with a fierce and determined mindset
Who's starving more for an NBA World Championship
Nobody desires an NBA championship more than Kobe Bryant
More than Kobe Bryant? There is no one
No player is more driven to win a championship than Kobe Bryant
This guy is highly motivated
Kobe Bryant is incredibly determined and focused
What separates Kobe from the pack?
What distinguishes Kobe Bryant from other players?
More than Kobe Bryant, there is no one
No player surpasses Kobe Bryant in terms of greatness
Kobe doin' work
Kobe Bryant is putting in the effort and performing exceptionally
Two four on my shirt
The number 24 is displayed on my jersey
He the greatest on the court
Kobe Bryant is considered the best player in basketball
And I'm the greatest on the verse
I, Lil' Wayne, consider myself the best rapper
Going for the 4th ring like it was his first
Kobe Bryant is determined to win his fourth championship with the same passion he had in his first
Gotta get the bling
It's important to win the championship ring
Do it for Kareem
Play for the Lakers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did
Two-four so nice, my flow so mean
The number 24 is significant, and my rap style is aggressive
Catch me at the game sitting next to Goldestein
You can find me at the game sitting beside Goldestein
Kobe Bryant Nikes, purple gold strings
I wear Kobe Bryant's Nike sneakers with purple and gold shoelaces
Kobe in the game dunking on your team
Kobe Bryant is dominating the game by scoring emphatic dunks against the opposing team
Black Mamba, attack conquer
Kobe Bryant, known as the Black Mamba, aggressively overpowers his opponents
Basketball beast, rap monster
Kobe Bryant is a formidable force in basketball and I am a dominant rapper
Crossover good, a turnaround jumper
Kobe Bryant has exceptional dribbling skills and can effortlessly produce turnaround jump shots
Or just drive in the lane and dunk on dunkers
Kobe Bryant can forcefully drive toward the basket and dunk over shot blockers
You know where it's going, it's goin' down, yo
Everyone knows that Kobe Bryant will deliver impressive performances, no doubt
This is the Lakeshow, but don't drown though
Our team, the Los Angeles Lakers, puts on a spectacular performance, but be careful not to be overwhelmed
I call him King Bryant, now let the crown show
I refer to Kobe Bryant as the king of basketball, and his greatness should be acknowledged
Pass me the damn ball
Give me the ball without hesitation
I don't need a pick at all
I don't require a screen to create scoring opportunities
And don't worry 'bout my shot
You don't need to be concerned about my shooting ability
'Cause I'ma get that off
Because I am confident in my ability to successfully shoot
Yea, I drops 40 on your double team
I am capable of scoring 40 points even when the defense's strategy is to double-team me
Then I drop 81 on another team
I famously scored 81 points in a single game against another team
Yeah, you better guard me with caution
The defense should be wary and cautious when guarding me
And watch I work em like a auction
Observe how I skillfully outmaneuver and defeat the defenders
No such thing as exhaustion
I never feel tired or fatigued
No time for resting
I don't have time to rest or take breaks
'Cause I don't take breaks
I am constantly focused and don't take breaks from the game
I just break records
Instead, I continuously achieve new records and milestones
And I prefer the ball with three seconds
I thrive in pressure situations, specifically when only three seconds are left on the clock
And I bet we gone win it all in three seconds
I am confident that my team will emerge victorious in those final three seconds
Ya dig? That is a guarantee
Do you understand? I am guaranteeing our success
And please tell your defense
Inform the opposing defense
Don't ever man to man with me
They should never attempt a man-to-man defense against me
Double team, triple team
Even when faced with double or triple teams
Your defenders sick of me
Your defenders are tired and frustrated of me dominating
But, I never let 'em get to me
However, their attempts to stop me don't affect my performance
Literally
This is a fact, not an exaggeration
Step back and give 'em a three
I confidently take a step back from the defense and score a three-point shot
Ain't no defending me
No one can successfully stop me
One guy certainly envious of the way Bryant's played lately
LeBron James is definitely jealous of Kobe Bryant's recent performances
Lebron James
LeBron James
I've been recorded saying that
I have publicly stated
He's definitely the best player in our league
Kobe Bryant is undoubtedly the top player in the NBA
Um, to me, in my eyes
In my personal opinion
The best scorer in our league
Kobe Bryant is the most skilled and prolific scorer in the NBA
And there's not another guy in our league
No other player in the NBA
That can accomplish some of the things
Who can achieve the same feats
That he's doing
That Kobe Bryant is currently accomplishing
Never take a day off
I never rest or take breaks
Catch you at the top of the key
I will be waiting for you at the top of the key
And get a J off
I will take a jump shot
Baseline face time
When I'm near the baseline, it's time to score
Tongue out like two-three
Similar to Michael Jordan, I stick my tongue out when making a big play
Even two-three gotta love how I do me
Even Michael Jordan admires and appreciates my style of play
Practice while you sleep
I am constantly improving and practicing, even in my sleep
Practice in my sleep
I am so dedicated that I practice basketball even when sleeping
Straight outta high school
I entered the NBA directly after finishing high school
The brackets ain't for me
March Madness college basketball tournament format doesn't apply to me
I will be jumping over you
I will physically jump over my opponents
Like I got a mattress at my feet
Leaping over defenders seems effortless, as if I am aided by a mattress beneath my feet
And all the Phil Jackson teams
Throughout Phil Jackson's coaching career, including his teams
Better be passing it to me
They should prioritize passing the ball to me, Kobe Bryant
I put the master in the beat
I excel and dominate in every aspect of the game
Attack you like a beast
I aggressively assault the defense, like a ferocious beast
I am starving for victory
I hunger and yearn for triumph
And that means I'ma eat
That hunger fuels my determination to succeed
And when they ask you who's the best
When people inquire about who is the greatest player
Then the answer should be me
The only acceptable response is my name, Kobe Bryant
Who's the best player in the NBA?
Who is the top player in the NBA?
Um, I'll say Kobe Bryant
In my opinion, I would choose Kobe Bryant
Really? Why?
Why do you think so?
'Cause you never know what you're gonna get
Because Kobe Bryant consistently surprises with his exceptional performances
Call me Mr. Clutch or Mr. Automatic
People refer to me as Mr. Clutch or Mr. Automatic because I excel in crucial moments
I can post 'em up, or Lamar go get the ally
I am versatile and can either play inside or rely on my teammate, Lamar, for an alley-oop
I'm going for the ring
I am determined to win the championship
I went to Beijing
I represented the United States in the Beijing Olympics
And came back with the bling
I returned with a gold medal, symbolizing victory
Who they want?
Who do they desire?
They want Kobe
They want Kobe Bryant
And what he want?
What does he desire?
He want the trophy
He desires the championship trophy
The victory
The win
And the glory
The recognition and honor
No Shaq
Without Shaquille O'Neal
No Robert Horry
Without Robert Horry
Now break 'em off, Kobe break 'em off, yeah
Kobe Bryant, now dominate and defeat them
You better be where that Laker don't
You better not be in a position where a Lakers player can defend you
Yeah, just give him the ball and he take it off, yeah
Simply pass him the ball, and he will quickly score
Or he properly dishing it to Gasol, yeah
Or he may wisely pass the ball to Pau Gasol for a score
Or give it to D-Fish on the wing, yeah
Or deliver the ball to Derek Fisher on the perimeter
Or just let lil' Ariza do his thing, yeah
Or allow Trevor Ariza to excel in his role
'Cause I'm great, and so is my team, yeah
Both Kobe Bryant and his team, the Lakers, are exceptional
I thought you want to be the greatest
I thought you aspire to be considered the best
Do it for Magic
Play for the Lakers in honor of Magic Johnson
It's your time, baby
This is your moment to shine
I see nothing wrong with doin' it four times, baby
There's nothing awry with winning the championship four times
I'm the best, yes
I am undeniably the best
And he the best, yeah
Kobe Bryant is also recognized as the best
Don't worry LeBron, get 'em next year
Don't fret, LeBron James, you'll have another chance next year
Now what's defense
How can you define defense?
To an assassin?
When facing a skilled, aggressive player like Kobe Bryant?
Killer instinct
A fierce determination to succeed
Murder the basket
Dominate and score with great skill and precision
Then steal the ball back
Immediately take possession of the ball after scoring
Hold it for ransom
Control and possess the ball, demanding a high price from the opposing team
It's more than a game
For Kobe Bryant, basketball is more than just a sport
This is a passion
It is a deep, intense passion for him
Been a All-Star, been a Champion
He has achieved recognition as an All-Star player and won championships
Free throw line, you hear 'em chanting
At the free throw line, you can hear the crowd chanting his name
M-V-P, M-V-P
The crowd is chanting 'MVP' in acknowledgement of his excellence
Kobe Bryant aka Envy Me
Kobe Bryant, also known as Envy Me, generates jealousy and admiration
In knee deep, smash any D
He is deeply involved and can overcome any defense
Whoever he is he can't guard me
No matter who defends him, they cannot contain Kobe Bryant
He can't guard me
Kobe Bryant is too skilled and talented to be defended successfully
So, there you have it, the overwhelming answer was Kobe Bryant
In conclusion, the unanimous response is that Kobe Bryant is the best
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marco Antonio Jr. Rodriguez Diaz, Laurent Joseph Cohen, Dwayne Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lucia Rodriguez
Who’s here after hearing the worst news? There’s NOTHING that Kobe Bryant can’t do!!!! RIP LEGEND
StaySolidShades
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.ss
MagFrom Rags
Long live Kobe.
DEETSKEETZ
Can't believe it's been 2 years already
Timothy Bowers
Lil Wayne musik since the beginning.....
BEST RAPPER ALIVE
Jayzo Black Mamba Bryant 4.0
@Sidney Bishara So Sad
DCE. Channel
Lil Wayne is a real G. He sang this song for Kobe Bryant while he was still alive. He also sang one for Mike Tyson, Obama and others... that's what the real recognition is, you don't have to wait until they are dead😢 I'll forever be a big fan of Wayne🇳🇬
Deagle Beanie
Kobe was my hero. This song always brings a tear to my eye.
StaySolidShades
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.ss
Mark Dorsey
That's just nothing but FACTS that I just read! You going for the ring!