Cash Money's young boss player breathes life into New Orleans

Lil’ Wayne has plenty of reasons to brag and boast: Ten-year rap veteran, check. President of Cash Money Records, check. And another great album on deck? Double-check. Weezy’s first non-Mannie Fresh produced album supersedes the high standard set by his last disc. You can chalk that up to the diversity of A-list producers employed on Tha Carter II, his fifth album. For the first time in his career, Weezy went outside the Cash Money family for tracks from outsiders like Havoc, Cool & Dre, and the Heatmakerz. The result? Well, other than a change in liner note credits, it’s the same gravelly voiced Weezy, lyrically shining on cuts like the blazing single, “Fireman,” with his trademark wordplay. And the block gets even hotter on the Develop-produced “Weezy Baby,” on which Wayne continues to brand his favorite nickname. All in all, Lil’ Wayne wears his newly tailored sleeves well, and he ain’t afraid to dust ’em off for naysayers who don’t believe he’s the best rapper out the South. New Orleans, stand up! 

What’s the difference between Tha Carter and Tha Carter II?

Lil’ Wayne: The mind state I was in when I was recording Tha Carter, I was trying to prove something to New York. I was trying to prove that I could spit. That was my best album of course. Now with Tha Carter II, it’s like, ideas pop up-I’m thinking of videos all of a sudden, I’m thinking of who could come sing on this hook.

Did your new position as president of Cash Money influence your decision to attend college at the University of Houston this year?

Lil’ Wayne: The college thing is an ode to my mom. I always told her I gotta finish school for her. My career started at 11 years old and she let me do that, I was her child. So my gift back to her is I’ma do something that I was supposed to do, and that’s finish school. I’m in my second semester and I’m majoring in psychology.

Your clothing style has changed.

Lil’ Wayne: I woke up one day, and I looked at my closet and didn’t wanna put on nothing I had in there. Like none of this is me no more. I used to have size 38 jeans and shit, man. So now I wear my size, everything is popping, it’s different now. I even got a stylist now, dog. Bape is the only brand I wear that’s not in Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus. We trying to work a deal out with Bape right now, to make one of the new characters like me-an ape with dreads or Something. Which would be kinda cool.

And you also have your own clothing line?

Lil’ Wayne: I’m working on it. It’s called The W Collection. I’m trying to show my young niggas that we can look good because looking good makes you feel better, and it also subtracts a lot of crime. You look good, you don’t even wanna fuck nothin’ up.

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