Charismatic Southern rapper Lil Wayne began his industry ascendance as one of the Hot Boys, a short-lived Cash Money Records all-star group, and after establishing himself as a successful solo artist, he grew to become a critical favorite, known especially for his entertainting underground mixtapes. Born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., on September 27, 1982, in New Orleans, LA, Lil Wayne grew up in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans’ 17th Ward. There he became acquainted with the Cash Money Records collective, which he eventually joined as a teenager. Get It How U Live! (1997), a Hot Boys album also featuring Juvenile, B.G., and Turk, marked Lil Wayne’s album debut; at age 18, he was the youngest group member.

A second Tha Carter (2004) signaled a change in direction for Lil Wayne. The album itself wasn’t a huge departure from Lil Wayne’s past three — it’s filled to the brim with tracks produced by Cash Money in-house producer Mannie Fresh, some of which could well have been left on the cutting room floor — yet it showcased a more measured and mature performance by the rapper, who seemed newly Tha Carter, Vol. 2, his next Cash Money album, debuted at number two on Billboard’s album chart upon its December release, and did so without the benefit of a smash hit (“Fireman” stalled at number 32) or the productions of workhorse Mannie Fresh, who had left Cash Money.

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