Music history...

Tha Block Is Hot (1999)

Main article: Tha Block Is Hot

Wayne's debut solo album featured significant contributions from the Hot Boys and went double platinum, climbing to #3 on the Billboard album charts. The album earned Wayne a 1999 Source award nomination for "Best New Artist". The title track became a Top Ten hit. Other notable tracks included "Fuck tha World"--a rare instance of Wayne using profanity in his early career--in which he describes the pressures that accompany having a daughter at age 16.

The previous year, 1998, Wayne was featured on the song, "Back That Azz Up", with Juvenile and Mannie Fresh, which marked his first single as a featured performer. After the release of Tha Block is Hot, Wayne was featured on the single, "Bling Bling", with B.G., Juvenile, Turk, and Big Tymers.

Lights Out (2000)

Main article: Lights Out (Lil Wayne album)

Wayne's follow-up album failed to attain the level of success achieved by his debut, although is was certified Gold. At this point in his development as an emcee, Wayne was criticized for coasting on his fame and the collective success of the Hot Boys. Critics pointed to the lack of coherent narratives in his verses as evidence that he had yet to mature to the level of his fellow Hot Boys. Notable tracks included "Everything," which Wayne dedicated to his late stepfather Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald, and "Grown Man," in which Wayne raps about the responsibilities that come with adulthood.

Near the release of Lights Out, Wayne was featured on the single, "1# Stunna" with Big Tymers and Juvenile, which rose to 24th place on the U.S. R&B charts.

500 Degreez (2002)

Main article: 500 Degreez

Wayne's third album followed the format of his previous two, with significant contributions from the Hot Boys and the distinctive beat-making of producer Mannie Fresh. While certified Gold like its predecessor, it too failed to match the success of Wayne's debut. The title was a reference to the recently estranged Hot Boys member Juvenile's recording, 400 Degreez.

After the release of 500 Degreez, Wayne was featured in the single, "Neva Get Enuf" with 3LW.

Tha Carter (2004)

Main article: Tha Carter

In the summer of 2004, Wayne released Tha Carter. Often cited as a highlight of his career, Tha Carter marked a significant development in Wayne's flow and delivery, as the young rapper began to employ more original diction and syntax, while occasionally experimenting with his voice and inflection. 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. The album was loosely organized around the theme of Wayne's mansion, which he refers to as Tha Carter. The tracks "Walk In," "Tha Carter," and "Walk Out" employ this concept, as Wayne takes the listener through his house, rapping about the activity therein. Before the release of the album, Wayne garnered attention by releasing a mixtape called The Prefix, which included him rapping over a handful of beats from Jay-Z's The Black Album. Wayne's connection to Jay-Z continued on Tha Carter, when he referred to himself as, "The best rapper alive, since the best rapper retired" on the track "Bring It Back," referencing Jay-Z's subsequent retirement after releasing The Black Album. This statement by Wayne marked the first time he called himself "The Best Rapper Alive" on a recording. Wayne's continued use of the boast from this point on in his career has essentially transformed the phrase into yet another nickname for the rapper.

After the release of Tha Carter, Lil Wayne was featured in Destiny's Child's single "Soldier" with T.I., which peaked at #3 on the U.S. Hot 100 and the U.S. R&B Charts. It was the highest ranking for a song in which Lil Wayne was featured in in the Hot 100 charts, and was the second-highest R&B position.

Tha Carter II (2005)

Main article: Tha Carter II

December 6, 2005 brought the second installment of "Tha Carter" series. The album marked yet another shift in Wayne's career, as it was his first major release to lack the beats of longtime Cash Money Records producer Mannie Fresh, who had since left the label. As a result, Tha Carter II contained a more diverse range of production style than had previously been present on Wayne's recordings. Tha Carter II sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The lead single, "Fireman," became a hit in the US, peaking at 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The second single, "Grown Man", received little attention, while the third single "Hustler Musik" received a video and gained moderate airplay. Other notable tracks include "Fly In," "Carter II," and "Fly Out" which mirror the series of "walk" tracks that appeared on Tha Carter. Wayne also furthered his claim of being the "Best Rapper Alive" by including a track of the same name on the album.

From the release of Tha Carter II to the end of 2005, Lil Wayne was featured in two singles as a featured performer. His first single was on a remix of Bobby Valentino's "Tell Me", which rose to #13 on the U.S. R&B Charts.

The Mixtape Years (2006-2007)

In the years following "Tha Carter" albums, no major solo album was released. Wayne did have a collaboration album with Birdman, called Like Father, Like Son. Instead, Wayne reached his audience through a plethora of mixtapes and guest appearances on a variety of pop and hip-hop singles. Of Wayne's many mixtapes, Dedication 2 and Da Drought 3 received the most media exposure and critical review. The former, released in 2006, paired Wayne with DJ Drama and contained the acclaimed socially conscious track "Georgia.......Bush," in which Wayne critiqued President George W. Bush's response to the tragic 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 Wayne rapping over a variety of beats from recent hits by other musicians. The impressive flow, varied deliveries, charisma, dexterous freestyling that appeared on these mixtapes vaulted Wayne into the public eye, and won him a number of features in prominent hip-hop magazines, such as XXL and Vibe

Despite no album release for two years, Wayne appeared in numerous singles as a featured performer. Wayne's first performance in 2006 was on the remix of Chris Brown's "Gimme That", which rose to #15 on the U.S. Hot 100 and #5 on the R&B charts. Another single, "Make It Rain" with Fat Joe, rose to #13 on the Hot 100, #6 on the R&B, and #2 on the U.S. Rap Charts. His next performance, on Lloyd's "You", peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B, the highest ever for a song featuring Wayne. Wayne's first performance of 2007, with DJ Khaled, Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, and Birdman on "We Takin Over", rose to #11 on the Rap charts. Lil Wayne and Birdman again teamed up, after the release of "Like Father, Like Son", on the song "Pop Bottles". The single reached #15 on the R&B charts, and #6 on the Rap charts. His next featured single, "Duffle Bag Boy" with Playaz Circle, reached #15 on the Hot 100, #4 on the R&B and #2 on the Rap charts. The next single, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" with Wyclef Jean and Akon, peaked at #12 on the Hot 100. Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Fat Joe, Birdman, and Rick Ross all teamed-up on the "I'm So Hood" remix, which rose to #19 on the Hot 100, #9 on the R&B, and #5 on the Rap charts. Wayne was also featured on Jay-Z's American Gangster album, on the song "Hello Brooklyn 2.0".

On October 3, 2007, Vibe ranked a list of 77 of Lil Wayne's songs from 2007, deciding upon the best song from Wayne on the year. They ranked Wayne's verse in "We Takin Over" as his best song of 2007, with "Dough Is What I Got" (a freestyle over Jay-Z's "Show Me What You Got") from Wayne's Da Drought 3 the #2 song.

Tha Carter III (2008)

Main article: Tha Carter III

After numerous delays, Wayne's next solo studio release is finally expected in stores in March of 2008. Initially planned to be released in 2007, Tha Carter III's largest delay came after the majority of the tracks were leaked and distributed on mixtapes, such as "The Drought Is Over Pt. 2" and "The Drought Is Over Pt. 4". Wayne initially decided to use the leaked tracks, plus four new tracks, to make a separate album, titled Tha Carter III: The Leak. The Leak was to be released December 18, 2007, with the actual album being delayed until March 18, 2008, The release of The Leak in this format never came to fruition, but an official EP titled The Leak and containing five tracks was released digitally on December 25, 2007. Tha Carter III now has a release date of March 18 Since then Lil Wayne has confirmed that Tha Carter III will be pushed back to April, according to www.nobodysmiling.com, 2008.