Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (born September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States), better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. Growing up in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, he met the Cash Money Records collective as a teenager and eventually recorded for the label. He soon joined the rap group, Hot Boys, as its youngest member. His solo debut was Tha Block is Hot, released in 1999. After releasing the albums Lights Out in 2000 and 500 Degreez in 2002 to little success, in 2004 he released the bestseller Tha Carter and eventually was featured in the popular song "Soldier" by the R&B group Destiny's Child. Tha Carter 2 followed in 2005.

In 2006, he collaborated with rapper Birdman for the collaboration album Like Father, Like Son. He later featured on Fat Joe's single "Make it Rain" that year. In 2007, he also appeared on the popular R&B single "You" by singer Lloyd, among other popular singles. Lil Wayne is also a member of the Uptown Bloods.

An MTV poll in 2007 declared Lil Wayne the 'Best Rapper Alive.' The title was arguably left open after Jay-Z's semi-retirement earlier this decade.

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., Lil’ Wayne, also known as Lil’ Weezy, began rapping at a young age, with his friends Eric Tittloson and Ricky Williams at parties in his hometown of New Orleans. Later that year Tittloson was shot in a car while driving to one of his arrangements with Wayne. During one of these parties, members of a group called U.N.L.V. , signed by the label Cash Money Records, overheard Lil’ Wayne and later, during an autograph signing session, they introduced him to the CEOs o