While Lil Wayne’s rise to stardom happened way before popular apps like MySpace, Facebook and more came into play, social media did play a significant role in connecting his audience with him.
During the early 2000s, Weezy practically dominated the mixtape scene with the three-part tape Da Drought, the seven-part Dedication project, No Ceilings1, 2 and 3 and the two-parter, Sorry 4 The Wait. Like Wayne, the early ’00’s also belonged to MySpace, Facebook, Black Planet, and many more.
Social media apps then, may have been even more intricate than today’s, as features included HTML design, a Top 8 friend list, music playlists, photo galleries and more. However, one norm that has remained relevant on social media, even now with Instagram, is how users decide to caption their posts. The viral nature of social media has played a crucial role in spreading the New Orleans rapper’s lyrics, as fans have constantly shared his words under their photos and on their feed — amplifying his reach each time.
Weezy F. Baby, né Dwayne Carter’s, unique wordplay, clever metaphors, lyrical style, intricate rhymes and rapid-fire delivery, has captivated his audience for years — solidifying his reputation as one of the most skilled wordsmiths; “The Best Rapper Alive,” if you will.
The Young Money boss’ most memorable lyrics have showcased his ability to paint vivid imagery and express his thoughts and emotions with not only depth, but complexity.
In celebration of the coveted rhymer’s 41st birthdayVIBE has compiled 10 of Lil Wayne’s most-used and memorable song lyrics plucked from social media.
1
"Real G’s move in silence like lasagna“
Photo : Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Song: “6 Foot 7 Foot”
Year: 2010
Explanation: On Lil Wayne’s 2010 single, “6 Foot 7 Foot” featuring Cory Guns, the lyrical chef said a line that has many repeating it to this day. “Real G’s move In silence like lasagna,” is pretty clear, as the letter G in the word is silent, and as in “street code,” real gangsters aren’t announcing their next move.
2
“Safe sex is great sex, better wear a latex, cause you don't want that late text, that: 'I think I’m late' text”
Photo : Scott Gries/Getty Images
Song: “Lollipop (Remix)”
Year: 2008
Explanation: On “Lollipop,” Weezy advocated for safe sex while making it cool. The “late text” line obviously refers to a woman’s menstrual not coming at its usual time of the month, which could possibly mean pregnancy. The father of four would know, as he shares his eldest daughter, Reginae Carter, with ex-girlfriend Toya Wright, his son Dwayne Carter III with radio host Sarah Vivan, son Kameron Carter with actress Lauren London, and son Neal Carter with singer Nivea.
3
"Most of yall don’t get the picture unless the flash is on"
Photo : Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Song: “6 Foot 7 Foot”
Year: 2010
Explanation: His 2010 single boasted many quotables, including “Most of y’all don’t get the picture unless the flash is on.” In other words, Weezy believes that you have to make doubters into believers by proving what you say through your actions. The NOLA rapper has done just that by becoming one of the most accomplished rappers of his time. Mr. Carter currently holds multiple awards, including five Grammys, multiple BET awards, Billboard, BMI, VMAs and more.
4
“I play the hand that was dealt, I got a deck full of aces, I gave birth to your style, I need a check for my labor”
Photo : Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Song: “Intro”- DJ Drama’s Quality Street Music 2
Year: 2018
Explanation: Lil Wayne set the record straight with one line about how much influence he’s had over a generation of rappers that came after him. “I play the hand that was dealt, I got a deck full of aces, I gave birth to your style, I need a check for my labor.”
Weezy played on the word “labor” as he referred to the hard work that’s he put in for decades and also metaphorically considered new rappers, “his children.” Also, it’s quite obvious that the Ace of spades is the highest in a deck of cards — as Weezy has also ways deemed himself “The Best Rapper Alive.”
5
“It ain’t my birthday, but I got my name on the cake”
Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Song: “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy”
Year: 2006
Explanation: Lil Wayne and Birdman’s joint album Like Father, Like Son offered a few bops including “Leather So Soft,” “Shooter” with Robin Thicke, and “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy,” featuring Birdman. The latter saw some of Weezy’s most clever bars, including “It ain’t my birthday, but I got my name on the cake.” The line was so good, that it could be found captioned on plenty of social media feeds and under photos. Boastful as usual, Wayne pretty much declared that even though it isn’t his special day, he’s still getting money.
6
"Motherf**ker, I'm ill, not sick, and I'm okay but my watch sick"
Photo : Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images
Song: “A Milli”
Year: 2008
Explanation: “A Milli” is arguably one of Lil Wayne’s best songs as its full of catchy lines, braggadocio and contains a beat that could permeate any room. As the Grammy-winning single showcased some of Weezy’s most memorable bars, one in particular that was popular on social media is “Motherf**ker, I’m ill, not sick, and I’m okay but my watch sick.” The rapper clarified his health status through rap, saying that he’s fine, but his jewelry is dope enough that its sickening.
Ironically around that time, Wayne was dealing with a lot of backlash about his lean intake.
“It ain’t that easy — feels like death in your stomach when you stop doing that sh*t,” he revealed in a 2008 interview with MTV. “You gotta learn how to stop, you gotta go through detox. You gotta do all kinds of stuff. Like I said, I’m a selfish-a** ni**a. I feel like everything I do is successful and productive. How can we tell this ni**a to stop when every f**king thing he do is successful? He just went and talked to kids and that sh*t was amazing.’ Feel me? So what am I doing wrong?”
7
"Stop playin', I do it like a king do, if these ni**as animals, then I'ma have a mink soon"
Photo : Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Song: “6 Foot 7 Foot”
Year: 2010
Explanation: Another line hailing from “6 Foot 7 Foot,” is “Stop playin’, I do it like a king do, if these ni**as animals, then I’ma have a mink soon.” Although there were many other clever lines from the track, this bar in particular could be found on apps like Instagram, as it screams “alpha.” Wayne uses animal references as he refers to himself as king (lion) and other rappers as weasels (hence where mink fur comes from). In the jungle, no other animal takes on the lion, as it would chew them alive.
8
"Love or hate me I promise it won't break me"
Photo : Greg Doherty/Getty Images
Song: “Love Me or Hate Me”
Year: 2008
Explanation: Lil Wayne has always been a topic of discussion in Hip-Hop, but at one point people were getting more invested in his personal life. At the time, Wayne was facing legal troubles but remained positive, as he rapped, “Love or hate me I promise it won’t break me,” in the 2008 song. The line was a popular one, as it was not only emotionally charged, but encouraged people to keep going, no matter the circumstances.
The Young Money pioneer was facing time in prison for a 2007 weapon charge, and a 2008 drug possession charge. Upon searching his tour bus in Arizona, DEA agents found four ounces of marijuana, an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstasy and a registered .40-caliber pistol. Two years later, Wayne accepted a plea deal and spent time in New York’s Rikers Island prison in 2010.
9
“They say love is in the air, so I hold my breath until my face turn purple”
Photo : Bennett Raglin/Getty Images
Song: “HYFR” – Drake
Year: 2011
Explanation: “HYFR” saw Young Money brethrens, Drake and Lil Wayne get on a song where they rap about their relationship woes. A line in particular, “They say love is in the air, so I hold my breath until my face turn purple,” was clever and overly used, as Weezy exaggerated how much he’s avoiding love, especially after having dated such a variety of women.
Two years prior, Wayne dropped the track, “I’m Single,” which pretty much became a popular trend to avoid serious relationships. After dating plus-size model Denise Bidot in 2020, lasting almost three years, he’s now reportedly on the market again.
10
"Blind eyes could look at me and see the truth. Wonder if Stevie do?”
Photo : Roger Kisby/Getty Images
Song: “Mr. Carter”
Year: 2008
Explanation: The track that includes one of Jay-Z’s best verses alongside Weezy, also includes the hot line, “Blind eyes could look at me and see the truth. Wonder if Stevie do?” Wayne, once again, boasts that he doesn’t need anyone’s approval to be “The Best Rapper Alive,” and even those who literally can’t see him (like Stevie Wonder), still know that he’s one of the best.
FEATURES
KenTheMan Is A “Firecracker” Ready To Explode
"I would define myself as a firecracker, wild, aggressive, confident, ratchet, a big ego, massive."
Listening to KenTheMan is an instant confidence boost. Her slick rhymes, often laced over bass-laden beats, make the rising rapper one to watch. And she knows it.
“I would define myself as a firecracker, wild, aggressive, confident, ratchet, a big ego…massive,” she explained as her newly-dropped “Gorgeous” freestyle played in the background.
“I would just say I’m a very strong presence. I feel like you can feel me, my vocals, you can feel my punchlines. You can feel my metaphors,” a surprising perception when coupled with the Houston-bred rapper standing only about 5’3”—arriving at VIBE’s Los Angeles office with a contagious smile and distinct, warming accent amplifying her natural Southern charm.
Kentavia “KenTheMan” Miller’s goal as an artist is to explore all aspects of herself through song. Her adolescence included writing poetry, singing in her church choir, talent show performances, and brief stints in various girl groups, which all laid the foundation for her rap career.
In 2015, KenTheMan titled her first public offering Kenny’s Back although she had technically never gone anywhere. From there, the “IDGAF” performer diligently kept at her craft. Inspired by Nicki Minaj, 2Pac, Eminem, and Lil Wayne, she continued freestyling and making original songs for five years straight.
Marcus Ambrose Williams
In 2020, she released her debut EP 4 Da 304s (pronounced For the Hoes) featuring fan-favorite records “He Be Like,” and “Try Me.” She’d no longer have to make a living delivering DoorDash.
Continuing on, the “No Name” rhymer dropped the 10-track project What’s My Name in 2021, secured a coveted spot on the 2022 XXL Freshman cover, and appeared in the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards cypher. Now, KenTheMan is ready to expand her territory, with the release of her latest EP Back To 304’n, a new deal with Roc Nation, a nationwide tour with sold-out dates, and new goals.
VIBE: What do you hope to add to the legacy of Texas and Houston Hip-Hop?
KenTheMan: Just something different. I’m very versatile. I feel like I have a wide range of sounds. That’s something I just want to bring to Hip-Hop in general. I feel like I can kind of morph myself into any type of beat, any type of sound. I feel like that’s what I want to bring. I want to bring ratchet. I want to bring serious, I want to bring deep, I want to bring love. I want to bring R&B. I just want to do a number of things.
The song that just dropped with you and Rapsody [“Love Answers All”], how was that process? Did you achieve what you wanted to achieve?
A person off of the team called me at midnight and was like, ‘We need this verse by tomorrow morning.’ They woke me up out my sleep and I wrote it off of sleep brain. I always say that it’s crazy, because sometimes I don’t know what I can do and how I can push myself, because I am a very tough critic on my music and what I put out. It felt good to be a part of it, and she said she liked the verse. I love her vibe. She’s so cool. She’s so sweet and she really gave me my props, so it was good.
Going forward, what are some aspects in your music that you haven’t really uncovered yet that you hope to get into?
My R&B side. I really can sing and I want to do it, but I never wanted people to ever think that y’all about to just get singing music. That’s something I’m very, very, very anxious [about]. I feel like I’ve done a lot of rapping, so I’m super excited to tap into that softer side. And not even saying I’m about to be talking about so much love, it’s just in my way of singing, so I’m ready for that.
Like you said, you’re a big presence. Did you have to shape yourself up to become this?
No, it’s always been in me. I’ve always been a class clown. I’ve always been a character. I feel like it wouldn’t be shocking that I did some type of entertainment. Acting or rapping, I’ve always had this strong presence and this confidence and this security about myself…That’s something I live for. I wanted to be a therapist, I wanted to make people feel better. I feel like doing it through music is just what I wanted to do and the way I wanted to say it.
Cameron Perry
Are you able to use music as your own therapeutic outlet?
I always try to write when I’m in a pleasant space because it’s like, you still know how you feel. I’m going to try to channel it a little more because I feel like maybe my feelings at the present moment could… Sometimes I just feel like I can’t find the words. I do feel like it is kind of a very important part for me to be in a good mood. People can feel music. I always want them to feel it in the light, not feel it in the dark. I just kind of vibe and whatever I’m feeling at that moment, I try to push it to the side, remember what I was feeling, or jot down some stuff that I was feeling, and then put it into the music. I just like to make happy music. Sh*t talking, happy music, bashing ni**as, that’s my favorite type of music because it’s like, we all go through the same thing.
What was your brothers’ first reaction to you bashing ni**as?
They like it. Actually, I was playing ‘Deserve’. I remember not being sure about this track a long time ago, and I was in the bathroom and I called my brother and I said, ‘You think I’m rapping too aggressive on this beat?’ And he was like, ‘Nah, you smashing that sh*t.’I think that they are very receptive of it because they know it’s just music. They know it’s entertainment, they know it’s fun. Even with my dad, he knows it’s fun. Because I was like, ‘I don’t want my daddy to think I’m some type of whore with my music.’ because it’s not whore music. It’s just free music.
Relating to your 304 series, how would you define the term h*e? What does that mean to you in your music?
At the time, I didn’t see no curse words in titles, so I just said 304, because that’s what we used to say in school. Then it’s just been the saga. I got it tatted, not because I’m a whore or a h*e, it’s just the project that changed my life. It made me never have to work a job no more. Outside of that, it doesn’t mean selling pu**y to me, it means freedom. It means expression in whatever way you want to express it. Even if you are selling it, that ain’t my [business]; I make h*e music. I make music that you can’t play in church. It’s fun. It’s an expression of doing what you want, because h*es do what they want, right? It’s kind of an expression of wearing what you want, doing what you want, feeling how you want, speaking how you want. It’s just freedom.
So where are some of the places you’re most excited to perform on the Back To 304’N Tour?
I’m super excited about Atlanta because it’s selling out crazy. Chicago is selling out crazy, and it’s just like, me being me and just running with myself. I’ve been rapping for so long and I’ve always… I’ve been trying to plan a tour for a year or two years, and I felt like I wasn’t ready and I kept pushing it back. This time I still wasn’t ready, but it was like, okay, let’s just see, because people are asking. I was like ‘Wow, people all over the world seriously want to see me.’
Marcus Ambrose Williams
That’s amazing.
It just feels so beautiful and it almost be making me want to tear up because it’s unbelievable where I came from…That sh*t wows me.
With the tour, with the Roc Nation Deal, with the project, at the end of the year, when you look back and reflect, what do you hope you can look back and say?
No matter what I accomplish, I just want to look back and say, ‘You put your best foot forward.’ I kept telling myself this year, I’m going to go harder than I ever went. I’m going to keep pushing. No matter what I give, no matter what I see, no matter how many likes, no matter how many comments, I’m going to just make sure I make myself proud. No matter what I accomplish, I just want to know that I worked hard.
KenTheMan tour
Back To 304’N Tour Dates
September 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Catch One
September 24 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theatre
September 29 – Baton Rouge, LA – The Basin Music Hall
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