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 β 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; ββMy 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 Wayneβs 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
La La (Featuring Brisco & Bust
Lil' Wayne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la (uh)
Sittin' in a Caddy, right like Betty
Floatin' up the isle like the bride and her daddy
Man I swear I'm on top like the attic
Yeah, bitch, I be with my dog like Shaggy
And we stay clean but we get dirty like Harry
Flyer than blue birds, cardinals and canaries
Fuck me, I'm all about "we" like Paris
Hilton presidential suite already
I'm richer than Nicole and I'm a lion like her Daddy
I am hotter than the sun, day after Saturday
I swear I'm a savage like Lil' Webbie and Randy
Oscar De la Hoya, box you like a casket
Or Diego Coralles, nigga, keep jabbin'
See, my style it varies like drugs in an alley
My leather so soft, my paint prettier than Halle
Wittier than comedy, nigga, write a parody
But I ain't tellin' jokes, apparently
A parent, yeah, my daughter be the twinkle of my eye
You hurt her, you kill me, and nigga, I ain't 'bout to die
See y'all are at ground and my daughter is my sky
I swear I look in her face and I just want to break out and fly
Four tears in my face and you ain't never heard me cry
I'm richer than all y'all, I got a bank full of pride (ow)
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Nigga, I'm the shit, get the fuck up out my toilet
Started with my girlfriend, ended with her homies
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Nigga, I'm the shit, get the fuck up out my toilet
My paint Bubblicious, the motor so vicious
The rims the same color as the wrapper of a Kisses, Hersey's
I'm hyphy, somethin' like a piston
And when I'm in Detroit, I be ballin' like a Piston
Oh, and did I mention, I'm fly like a pigeon (okay)
Higher than gas prices and Las Vegas trickin'
I'm nine under par in a Bentley golf cart (huh)
The Polo be cream but the Prada's caviar (yeah)
Weezy, I'm sick (sick) from all this tourin' (ha)
He told me "Sip this, then call me in the morning"
Yeah, and I vowed to never trust another woman
In my life (life), and then I got horny (haha)
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Nigga, I'm the shit, get the fuck up out my toilet
Started with my girlfriend, ended with her homies
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Nigga, I'm the shit, get the fuck up out my toilet
See I ain't goin' nowhere, bitch
You know a nigga been home, honey (huh)
Money fuckin' retarded, call it down syndrome money (uh-huh)
My cake sick, shit, been diagnosed "Sickle cell bread" (okay)
My revenue stream got a disease like a jail bed (uh-huh)
Like a mattress from Sing-Sing or way down in Comstock (uh-huh)
These bitches call me "Bling King," I shit when the bomb drop
And sprinkle diamonds all over niggas, flawless and D-Class (huh, ha)
Then twinkle like a shine, just like a sparkle from clean glass (uh-huh)
They movin' on a nigga as I walk through the valley ready (Okay)
And zoom in with them cameras like I'm dickin' down Halle Berry (uh-huh)
My money help me do things that you niggas can't believe
Like purchase purses, places or them things that you can't conceive (huh, uh-huh)
Like interactin' with women the caliber of Janet (ha)
I sit and master my vision and massacre the planet (whoa)
I hope you niggas know just what it is
While I'm countin' my paper (ha), niggas know I'm handlin' my biz (okay)
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Nigga, I'm the shit, get the fuck up out my toilet
Started with my girlfriend, ended with her homies
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Started out hustlin' (ended up ballin')
Nigga, I'm the shit, get the fuck up out my toilet
The lyrics to Lil Wayne's "La La" display a strong connection with his hometown of New Orleans. In the verse one, he pays tribute to the place where he was born and raised and will remain faithful. He mentions the streets he used to ride as a child, and how he used to ride on the handlebars, with a gun in his draws, and crack in his jaw. Moreover, he highlights his skills in rapping and how he spits the lyrics that make you feel it in your chromosomes. In the second verse, Lil Wayne mentions his faith in his God, and he aims to rap where no other rapper has. The verse exhibits his love for other great-willed rappers like Tupac, Aaliyah, and Soldier Slim, who were leaders in their domains. He also shows his love for his mother and how he was delighted with the presents he received as a child.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh huh
Expressive sounds indicating agreement or confirmation
Thats right
Affirmative response or validation to a previous statement
Carter 3 come on
Announcing the release of Lil Wayne's album 'Carter 3'
Yea, yea, walk with me, come go with me, its lil weezy baby ha ha
Inviting the audience to join Lil Wayne on his journey through the song while also asserting his nickname and sense of humor
[Chorus] And I'm just lightin up my,la [x22] Yea, yea, yea, 1 7, cash money, young money
Repeatedly stating the chorus of the song and representing the record label that he is signed to
[verse 1:] Born in new orleans
Indicating his place of birth
Raised in new orleans
Indicating his hometown
I will 4 ever remain faithful new orleans
Expressing his loyalty to his hometown
I thank u new orleans
Acknowledging gratitude towards his hometown
Thank u holygrove
Showing appreciation towards his neighborhood
Thats been my hood since a snotty nose
Explaining that he has been living in this neighborhood since he was young
I come trough the hood suicidle doors
Describing how he would enter his neighborhood through an unconventional method
I use 2 come through the hood on the handle bars
Recounting a nostalgic memory of riding a bicycle through the neighborhood
Gat in my draws
Referring to carrying a gun in his underwear for protection
Money in my pocket
Having money on hand
Crack in my jaws
Referring to having crack cocaine in his mouth
I hope it dont desolve and u know im duckin 5 0 and my moms
Expressing concern that the drug might dissolve in his mouth while also avoiding the police and his mother's disapproval
Young and quick 2 go off like car alarms
Asserting his young age and quick temper
Now the youngin keep his mind on the parmesan
Focusing on making money through his music career
Them other niggas aint eatin like a romadon
Comparing himself to other rappers who aren't as successful as him
Spit the shit that make ya feel it in yo cromosomes
Boasting about his lyrical ability that has a powerful effect on the listener
Got my the money put my whole damn corner on
Investing his money back into his neighborhood
Young carter part 3 on the corner store
Promoting his album name and availability
Eagle street keep it goin til homasome
Referring to a specific street name in his neighborhood while also promoting his music
[verse 2:] Can I kick my story to yall
Asking for permission to share his life story with the audience
My glory in god
Acknowledging his faith in God
My faith in my flow
Believing in his musical ability
I pray that I go where no other rapper has
Aspiring to be a unique and innovative rapper
And when you're rappin' as
Explaining the challenge of being a successful rapper
Vivid as I and limited as the sky so I
Using a metaphor to describe his vivid and powerful lyrics while also recognizing his limitations
Study b.i.
Referring to the legendary rapper Biggie Smalls and how he has studied his music
I bang tupac, I hum aaliyah
Referencing 2Pac and Aaliyah, two influential musicians that he admires
And soldier slim was a leader
Acknowledging the late rapper Soldier Slim's impact on the rap industry
Who am I not to follow greatness
Recognizing the importance of following in the footsteps of great musicians
I give these mc's hell like they all atheists
Boasting about his ability to compete with other rappers and defeat them
Tell them hatin' niggas one like they in the matrix
Telling the haters to stop bothering him and leave him alone
And tell the cops I can buy my own braclets
Asserting his wealth and ability to pay for his own legal expenses
I'ma can keep the paper running like a pair of aces
Continuing to make money at a steady pace
Used to sport the gucci bucks nigga no laces
Recalling a time when he wore Gucci shoes without laces
Striped polo, five pocket girbaud
Describing his outfit, which was popular in the 90s
Mama got a two totter I'm rockin' dolo
Referring to his mother's car which he drives alone
I used to have the starter jacket with the logo
Recalling a nostalgic memory of owning a jacket featuring a sports team logo
And the hat, me myself had the no
Referring to a popular brand logo at the time
That's the saints nigga
Referring to the New Orleans Saints football team
[verse 3:] Its lil wayne and im a shine n da rain
Introducing himself as Lil Wayne and expressing confidence in his success despite adversity
Na nothing gets clear without me signing my name
Claiming that nothing will get done without his involvement
Im just head lining da game
Asserting himself as a top artist in the music industry
Wont quit, till im a-rod and da game
Aspiring to be as successful in his field as baseball player Alex Rodriguez
They ridin da bench
Belittling other rappers who aren't as successful as him
They not and da game
Reiterating his superiority in the music industry
I misplaced the key
Indicating that he lost something important
To da lock and chain
Referring to a metaphorical lock and chain that is holding him back
My spot remain
Asserting that he is still successful despite setbacks
Like a bleach stain or cranberry
Using a simile to express that his success is noticeable and unique
Its murder she wrote like angela lanceberry
Using wordplay to compare his music to a murder mystery novel
I remember being small mane
Recalling a nostalgic memory from his childhood
New toyz when my momma won a card game
Explaining how he obtained new toys as a child
Got my gifts before christmas
Receiving presents early
Didnt have to wait for them
Expressing excitement about not having to wait for his gifts
I had a 10 speeder scooter and a skateboard (hahaa)
Describing his childhood toys
And we moved to the suburbs
Relocating to a different neighborhood
Me and lil toya johnson was love birds aww man
Recounting a nostalgic memory of being in a relationship with someone named Lil Toya Johnson
And I swear I feel born again
Feeling like he has been given a new opportunity to succeed
Im in da building like da audience
Asserting that he is a prominent figure in the music industry and can command a crowd like an audience
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dwayne Carter, Lavell Crump
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@testier9574
Whoβs still bumping this in 2024?π₯π
@lankastai
I am πππ
@bradlevesque556
Why am I jus hearing this in 2024?
@broskimojo7878
Yβall be saying βStarted from the bottomβ I be saying βStarted out hustlingβ π―πͺ
@davidreddic1196
Yesss π―
@emanuelmenendez2486
Shheeeeessshhh underrated comment right here.
@be6tkill6official59
Who still bumping this 2024π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯
@TheHehe1223
David Banner is always underappreciated
@anniem.670
I remember being in like 8th grade when the Carter 3 dropped, listened to this album over and over an ever since then he's been my favorite rapper. Long Live Wayne! Happy Birthday To The Best Rapper Alive.
@juliusrikat4503
Annie M. this was on my MySpace playlist and my ringtone when they had they Motorola Razor. old days fam.