Why Weezy?

Art by Tracy Jackson and Akure Imes | VOX Staff

By Akure Imes| VOX Staff

Track One: INTRO
Spring 2007: There I sat in my third period geometry class, parked at a table with three of my guy friends. We often resorted to entertaining one another with jokes and conversation. On this day the subject led to the rap/hip-hop game, and we finally boiled down to the question: Who's the best rapper?
“Maaaan, the best rapper is Lil Wayne,” said one.
“Oh yeah, oh yeah, Lil Wayne,” agreed another.
“If you really listen to his lyrics, they’re wild,” said the third. I was the only one who didn’t think Lil Wayne was the best.
“Why y’all like him so much?” I replied confused. They failed to thoroughly explain, and I failed to understand.
It has been my goal to dive deeper to see why people can’t get enough of Lil Wayne and his music.

Summer 2007: I was lounging on the couch at my mom's friend's house, on the hunt for something to watch on TV. I paused on MTV to see what they were talking about. I came in on the tale end of a show called “Hottest MCs in the Game.” A man was standing on one side of a board that had the names of 10 rappers, including Common, Jay-Z, Andre 3000 and Lil Wayne. By the end of the show I was stunned when a panel of editors, producers and directors at MTV named Lil Wayne as the best MC of 2007.
Compared to Andre and Jay-Z, who have smashing lyrics and have been in the industry for years, I didn’t think Lil Wayne measured up. Apparently, the opinion of those boys in my math class was supported by the so-called experts. My classmates weren’t the only ones under the impression that Lil Wayne was the best.

Winter 2008: “Oooh, you got a new Zune — Let me see what music you got!” I yelled excitedly to my friend Nia. As I scrolled through her list of artists, genres and songs, she explained that she had a lot of Lil Wayne and asked me if I had heard this “killa” song of his. Being that I mostly listened to the radio, and a number of his songs are too vulgar for radio play, I hadn’t heard it. I asked if she thought Lil Wayne was the best rapper.
“Hell yeah … I love Lil Wayne! He da best rapper alive!” she replied enthusiastically.
It never fails to surprise me when yet another person says he or she would count Lil Wayne as one of the best rappers because these individuals turn into hundreds and thousands, then millions. He has even gained praise and respect from credible rappers like Kanye West.
Being that I am heavily immersed in hip-hop and each of its sub-genres, I remain baffled as to how Lil Wayne went from selling 239,000 copies of his fifth CD, “Tha Carter ll” in the first week to selling over 1 million copies of “Tha Carter lll” in the first week.

Track Two: A LIL BOUT WAYNE
Born DeWayne Michael Carter on Sept. 27, 1982, and raised in New Orleans, Wayne got his start as a pre-teen when introduced to Brian “Baby” Williams, CEO of Cash Money Records. At 14, Wayne received a record deal and paired with another rapper to form the BGs. The group came out with an album, “True Stories.” In 1997, Wayne joined forces with three other rappers to make up The Hot Boys, but it wasn't until the release of their sophomore album, Guerilla Warfare, that he gained attention. In 1999, Wayne dropped his first solo album, “Tha Block Is Hot.”
During the next eight years, Wayne released six more albums, including the heavily anticipated “Tha Carter lll.” When he wasn't in the midst of an album, he worked on mix-tapes such as “Dedication 2” in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and “Da Drought 3,” which featured 30 songs.
In recent years, Wayne has collaborated with numerous artists, weaving his highly distinguishable, cartoon-sounding voice throughout the track. He's cut almost 500 tracks in recent years, and many were hits.
Due to the overwhelming quantity of mix-tapes, leaked tracks, remixes, singles and much radio play, magazines and newspapers can't help but document his success.
Lil Wayne has graced the covers of major entertainment magazines including XXL, Rolling Stone Magazine, VIBE and The Source. The New York Times also featured Wayne in a music column called “Rapper's Road to Success” published on June 10, which was the release date for “Tha Carter lll.” The fact that large media outlets choose to recognize the rapper is remarkable.

Track Three: WHY?
On my quest to find Lil Wayne's key to success and popularity, I found several reasons to his triumph. He has swag and style, and several of my peers describe him as the “ugliest fine man” they have ever seen.
In an interview with VIBE Magazine, Lil Wayne said he doesn't see himself as triumphant at all. This is because he says he hasn't reached his goal — to be respected by all as the best rapper.
Nia Blair, a 16-year-old Grady High student who is also a Lil Wayne fanatic, said she believes his work ethic contributes to his success. "He probably doesn't even sleep at night," she said. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Wayne hits the studio daily, spilling his creative juices directly on the beat, writing nothing down. He talks about this in his second hit single, “A Milli.” “... Through the pencil and leak on the sheet of the tablet in my mind ‘cause I don't write s*** ‘cause I ain't got time ... ," he raps.
When Wayne records for other artists he whips up a rhyme in minutes, again writing nothing down. This is probably why many would describe his flow as rugged and raw. It hasn't had the chance to be filtered, fiddled with or pondered, unlike something written (not to say that something written doesn't come just as hard).
Lil Wayne also seems to attract people with the content and style of his music. His songs range in topic from women, cars, guns and drug-use to his feelings of depression. Lots of rappers talk about these things, but apparently it’s the presentation that makes Lil Wayne’s music appealing.
"The way he says it and brings it to the public — he's fresh," said Grady High student Stephanie Styles, a newer fan of Wayne's. “His lyrics are sick … amazing. They hit hard, and they're funny!"
His songs are known for being laced with humorous metaphors and comparisons. Like in the first track on his latest “3 Peat,” Wayne says, "Get on my level, you can't get on my level, you would need a space shuttle or a ladder that's forever."
Another factor contributing to Lil Wayne's success is the buzz that surrounds him already. I like listening to the latest music, so when many people talked about Wayne's hot lyrics, I got curious and jumped on the bandwagon. According to Buttahman, director of music and talent on MTV Jams, this is how many people have become familiar with Lil Wayne. They loved what they heard and purchased his album.

Track Four: LAST IN THE TRILOGY
Though rap/hip-hop is a creation of the African-American community, blacks aren't the only people who have purchased Wayne's music. He appeals to a diverse crowd. Lil Wayne is also diverse in artists he collaborates with, including Enrique Iglesias and Robin Thicke, exposing him to an even wider audience.
In researching the popularity of Lil Wayne, I found that there are certain qualities that our generation can take from him. I learned that to be the best at whatever I'm doing I have to work hard to stand out among the crowd.
Since becoming more knowledgeable about Lil Wayne, I can honestly say that he intrigues me as a rapper. Though I wouldn't consider him the best, I believe that in later years, Lil Wayne will be remembered as a great hip-hop performer.

Akure is a junior at Grady High whose favorite Lil Wayne songs are “Dr. Carter,” “Playin With Fire” and “Misunderstood.”