Lil
Wayne
All Grown
Up
Lil
Wayne sits down to talk about everything from making hits
to earning degrees as he reflects on the evolution of his
career.
When the
Hot Boys (Juvenile, BG, Lil’ Wayne and Turk) hit the scene
in 1999 with “Drop It Like It’s Hot” they hit the ground
running. They were young, brash and full of arrogance. At
the time, the group provided a breath of fresh air for the
hip-hop industry. They were four individuals from the south
who bought the bling-bling from their region to the
national stage. Eventually renamed “Cash Money
Millionaires” the group’s name epitomized their style and
attitude. Although Juvenile was the front-runner, there
were other group members who warranted attention as well.
One of the youngest group members was Lil’ Wayne. At the
time the hip-hop world was so taken back by his youth that
many people did not realize his lyrical ability.
Fast-forward to 2005 and Lil’ Wayne is now a veteran in the
hip-hop industry, 23 years old and working on his fifth
solo album.
Lil’ Wayne describes himself as always being a go getter.
He was signed at eleven years old and put out his first
album at twelve. Then came instant success with the hit
“The Block is Hot” (1999) which was also the title of his
album. With the new found stardom following his first
album, Lil’ Wayne did not rest on his laurels. The
following year he came out with his second album titled
“Lights Out.” His third album titled “500 Degreez,” which
debuted in 2002 was also a success. That album powered by
the single “Way of Life” sold impressively. During this
time, however the Hot Boys disbanded with Lil’ Wayne the
only member of the group retained on the Cash Money label.
Consequently, Lil’ Wayne rewarded Cash Money for their
support with the hit single “Go DJ” on his fourth album
titled “Tha Carter.” Now with his fifth album Lil’ Wayne is
as ready as ever to move up to the next level.
Even with his modest bling, tattooed tear-drop and
dreadlocks, Lil’ Wayne looks as if he has fully arrived and
living the American Dream. With his calm and comfortable
demeanor (the blunt was in the ash tray), he talks about
his past achievements, present projects and future
expectations. Surprisingly, he is quite forthcoming with
moments of introspection and reflection. First he announces
he is super confident about his fifth album “Tha Carter
ll.” In addition, he admits that because it is his “fifth
time around” he has no worries. “I have a lot of new music
on [the album] and a lot of new production so it is a new
sound,” states Lil’ Wayne. “I’m still a go getter and I am
going to make [my album] do what it is supposed to do.” If
anyone is doubtful about his confidence, Lil’ Wayne has
already sold over ten million records in his career.
Today Lil’ Wayne has no regrets about anything that has
happened in his life. As a man child he did his first
freestyle for Baby when he was in elementary school. Before
that everything for Lil’ Wayne was about trying to get on.
There is no memory of a typical childhood for Lil’ Wayne.
But he expresses no remorse about his upbringing. “It’s my
life,” he proclaims. “If I regret it that means that I
regret my life.”
Now Lil’ Wayne is embarking on a new chapter in his life.
As a young adult, Wayne attests to the fact that the
pressures of being solo is “thicker” because when you are
part of a group you can always put the blame on someone
else. However, when you are by yourself you have to
personally deal with situations.
Over the years Lil’ Wayne has learnt to deal with
situations. As maturity kicks in with anyone, some friends
stand the test of time while others do not. It is no
different for Lil’ Wayne. When asked whether he still keeps
in touch with any of the Hot Boys, Wayne states, “Nah, I
just keep in touch with Money.” Nevertheless Wayne has made
new alliances in the hip-hop industry. Working with artists
such as Bobby Valentino and Destiny’s Child has helped
Wayne expand his horizons. When asked about this new
progression, Lil’ Wayne does not hesitate. “It is always an
honor and when I am there I have to do what I have to do,”
Wayne adds. “Everybody knows they would not call me if they
knew [my music] would not sound good.” Wayne stays focus
making sure this attention never goes to his head. “Having
people pay attention to me is cool but I want more people
to call me,” says Wayne. “I want to be on everybody’s
single.” In his view his evolution was “natural.” The man
child has come of age.
Q: There
is a rumor that Mannie Fresh has left the label?
A: Yeah,
he is gone. Ain’t any bad blood. I am not even worried
about blood. I am worried about money. If we aren’t getting
money then we aren’t getting anything.
Q: Who does your music now?
A: On
this album, I have Cool & Dre from the Terror Squad,
Big Dee from Miami, Heatmakers, Clue, Develop from NY,
Young Yani from Mississippi and two new in-house Cash Money
producers Diesel and T-Mix.
Q: Where
did the Def Jam rumor start?
A: I
just had a conversation with Jay Z. People got the
misconception and thought that I was going over
there.
Q: Were
there any plans to go over there?
A: Nah.
I am fulfilling my plans right now over here. We hollered
at each other.
Q: How
was that experience talking with Jay?
A: I
wish it could have worked out but I think everything
happens for a reason. I look at it as a highlight of my
life personally. I don’t know what [Jay] might think about
it but that is what I think.
Q: If
you could do a song with any rapper who would you want to
do it with?
A: Of
course, Jay.
Q: Most
people do not know that you are in school. Are you still
going to the University of Houston?
A:
Yeah.
Q: What
are you studying? Why?
A:
Psychology. I went actually for sports management but I
would have to wait two years to take that course but
psychology I was able to jump right into it and study what
I wanted to study.
Q: Now
that you are studying psychology, do you think that the
tragedies you have experienced in life like the passing of
your father have influenced your decisions?
A: Life
period. And that is not just for me it is for anybody. When
you are making a decision it is like you are asking
yourself what am I about to make my life into. What am I
about to be? What’s my career, my goals in life and my
future? When I did decide to study psychology I realized a
lot of my life experiences were influenced by my choices. I
felt Psychology was something that I could do that could
help me and when I finished with it, I felt I could do
something with it.
Q: Is
there any particular message that you are trying to give
out in this album?
A: Only
message that I am trying to give out is that I am
good.
Q: What
is your favorite cut on the album?
A: Right
now, the intro because it is like a five minute track but
it is like five minutes from the beginning to the end. No
hooks. It is just me going crazy. Once you hear the intro
to the album you’re probably going to say to yourself that
you don’t need to hear more because it explains everything
and answers every question.
Q: When
people listen to you ten years from now what would you want
them to think?
A: Just
raw and talented. What I mean by raw that is I’m willing to
say and do anything that makes sense to me as long as it is
a reflection of me. And talented…just creative. I want
people to think of me as creative because I try
hard.
Q: How
long do you plan on doing this?
A: This
here is my fifth album and I am going to do eight
albums.
Q: Why
eight?
A: This
is “Tha Carter II” right here and I feel like I will be
done when I am 25. I just turned 23, next year y’all will
get “Tha Carter III.” At 24 you will get “Tha Carter IV”
and at 25 “Tha Carter V” which will be my last album. By
then school will probably be at it’s peak and I will be
trying to focus on what I will be doing with that.
Q: You
have a label. Who is on your label?
A: I
have Nikki a singer from Ohio, Dizzy from New Orleans and
MacMain from my hood and I have my first artist that’s up
out the gate Currency the Hot Spitter, a former No Limit
artist. His album will be coming out next March.
Q: Who
are the main artists for Cash Money?
A: You
have Six Shot, Tina Maria, Lil Mo and Kiki Wyatt. My man
Six Shot is a rapper but Stunna (Baby) and I are the main
rap artist. Stunna (Baby) probably isn’t going to be doing
this too much longer.
Q: Why a
lot of east coast production on the album?
A: Those
were the people I got CD’s from and I ended up hearing what
I like.
Q: How
are you are guys doing after Katrina we heard a lot of
cribs and cars were messed up?
A: We
are good, the death thing is the most important thing and
that’s what hurts the most. As for as cars and cribs we are
Cash Money millionaires.
Q: What
type of females do you like?
A: I
like thick Miami women.
Q: One
time you boasted about being with a thousand women what is
the number now?
A: Stop
it. I still keep track of it. Honestly, now that I have
gotten older the number really doesn’t move too much. Now I
find someone to chill out with.
Q: You
have a lady?
A: Money
is my young lady.
Q: Have
you seen BG, Turk or any of the other members?
A: I
have seen BG recently. We always end up in the same city
doing shows. Turk I hollered at a few times. As far as Juve
I haven’t seen him in a while. Recently, I’m the newest
member of Boyz N Da Hood. Young Jeezy is no longer part of
the group. They just added me and maybe T.I. We are coming
with an album and a mixtape in May. I just made two joints
last night.
Q:
Considering you guys were the pioneers what do you think of
the direction the south is moving?
A: I
like what the south is doing. I don’t want it to represent
us though. The wave that is swinging out right now isn’t
getting respected lyrically. It’s getting respect because
the songs are hot, the tracks are hot, the videos are hot
and the ideas are hot. I look at the game, and lyrically I
spit. There really isn’t anybody else. The only dude giving
me some comp because Jay doesn’t rap any more is Nas. If
this would be a game Nas would be the dude on the last
board. I not going to front I will have to practice a lot
to beat him but one day I will beat him and when I do I
will save it on my memory card.
Q: So
are you talking about lyrically battling everybody from
east to the south?
A: I’m
talking about going straight to the last board. It wouldn’t
make sense to play with anybody else because they can’t
check me.
Q: What
about you and Ludacris?
A: He’s
a great lyricist but I don’t think we’re on the same level.
I think a battle with him wouldn’t be a battle it would be
two rappers rapping. Luda isn’t about to say what I’m going
to say. It’s all about your opinion of what you think is a
great rapper. I’m not just talking lyrically, I’m talking
about what you say and how you say it, the full package.
You can give me a list of words and the way I say them you
will be like that cat is hot. It’s what you are saying and
the feeling you get once the song goes off.
Q: What
do you think of the idea of artist making simple lyrics to
appeal to today’s fan?
A: The
funny thing you said that because making the newest album I
analyzed my past albums to find out why I wasn’t getting
the attention of people up north. Honestly, my answer was
to make my stuff simpler. Our slang the way we say it can
be hard to understand. So therefore in a spot where I would
generally use slang I just used a regular word.
Q: Why
do you think fans like simpler lyrics?
A: As I
grew older, I like simpler music because it’s fun and gets
to the point. In reality that’s real music, I think if you
start to make it too complicated that’s personal. This is
not your testimony or poetry or your biography.
Q: What
was it about you at 11 years old that made you know this is
what you wanted to do and what advice do you give to others
who want to get there?
A: My
motivation is that I always knew that I was good. I always
knew that I was good enough. I compared myself to what I
was listening to and I always thought that I was there. I
always had that thought and that feeling so anything else
would be wrong.
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