Lil Wayne week

In honor of the long-awaited Carter V release, The Fader has curated a selection of stories exploring Lil Wayne's biggest moments and rise to Greatest Rapper Alive.

The FADER
Lil Wayne is revitalized on Tha Carter V
The FADER - Lawrence Burney
The liberation of Lil Wayne is something that rap fans across the world have been dreaming about for the better part of this decade, even when having …
Sep 28, 2018
The FADER
Rap’s First Millennial Grows Up
The FADER - Nick Barat
Wayne doesn’t need to chase the zeitgeist with young guns like Chance, or even show “artistic growth.” He just needs to stave off his own boredom.
Jan 9, 2017
The FADER
Lil Wayne And Drake’s Circles Of Influence
The FADER - Anupa Mistry
Lil Wayne and Drake might now be more peers than anything else, with their own histories and legacies of personal influence, but their relationship …
Jan 13, 2017
The FADER
The Complete History Of “Bling Bling”
The FADER - Lakin Starling
The true story of one of rap’s most defining moments, from the projects of New Orleans to the pages of Merriam-Webster. Compiled by Rawiya Kameir, …
Jan 11, 2017
The FADER
The Carter Documentary Showed Us How Small Lil Wayne’s World Was
The FADER - Jordan Darville
It’s pernicious to frame the rapper as some kind of race traitor; he’s just working with the same self-centered focus that took him out of Hollygrove …
Jan 11, 2017
The FADER
How Lil Wayne Went From Neighborhood Fame To International Stardom
The FADER - Ben Dandridge-Lemco
“The Hot Boys were revolutionary for the music game, because nobody had ever seen anything like that before.” When you’re in the city with the same …
Jan 10, 2017
The FADER
Even At His Peak, Lil Wayne Was Never Invincible
The FADER - Reed Jackson
Between the years 2006 and 2009, do you remember anyone who didn’t like Lil Wayne? The question is pretty ridiculous in nature, but seriously, think …
Jan 13, 2017
The FADER
Considering The Importance Of Lil Wayne’s New York Period
The FADER - Sam Hockley-Smith
We’ve watched him grow up in the spotlight, but we won’t ever truly know him. He is constantly outrunning himself, his music travels too many unruly …
Jan 12, 2017
The FADER
This Is The Woman Responsible For 300 Of Lil Wayne’s Tattoos
The FADER - Blaire Monroe
What’s the most iconic piece that you did for him, and how did it come about? He has a cloud and a lightening bolt on his cheek, up by his temple. One …
Jan 12, 2017
The FADER
Mannie Fresh Looks Back On Lil Wayne’s Rap Beginnings As A “Kid Genius”
The FADER - Lakin Starling
MANNIE FRESH: When I first met Wayne he was somewhere around 12 or 13 years old — he wasn't actually getting signed to Cash Money. His parents didn’t …
Jan 9, 2017
The FADER
The Quiet Legacy Of Lil Wayne Kissing Birdman
The FADER - Myles Tanzer
Before he became associated with rappers in tight pants, hip-hop’s conservative wing was spooked by Lil Wayne. This was in 2006, when, seemingly out …
Jan 12, 2017