Lil Wayne

Solo Artist · Weezy

Photo: sportiqe · CC BY-SA 2.0
Active 1991-present
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana
Albums 13
Tracks 234
Most frequent collaborator Byron Thomas · 78 tracks
Genres Hip HopRapSouthern Hip HopTrap
Complete Artist
98%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 230 of 234 tracks

Does Lil Wayne write his own songs?

Yes, entirely. Lil Wayne writes every word he raps and holds a lyricist credit on essentially all of his tracks, from 'A Milli' to 'Mona Lisa.' Famously he does not write lyrics down; he freestyles and refines them in the booth. What he does not make are the beats, which come from outside producers, so his songs are collaborative even though the words are all his.

By the Numbers

13
Studio Albums
234
Tracks Credited
98%
Self-Written
120M+
Records Sold
35
Years Active
367
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 230 / 234 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 234 tracks: how many Lil Wayne wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Lil Wayne has a writing credit98%
1%
97%
2%
Sole author3tracks1%
Co-written227tracks97%
Outside writers4tracks2%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Lil Wayne's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 234 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)98%
Composer (music)98%
Producer3%
Performer98%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Lil Wayne's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 98%
100%
100%
86%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
96%
100%
100%
1999Tha Block Is Hot
2000Lights Out
2002500 Degreez
2004Tha Carter
2005Tha Carter II
2008Tha Carter III
2010Rebirth
2010I Am Not a Human Being
2011Tha Carter IV
2013I Am Not a Human Being II
2018Tha Carter V
2020Funeral
2025Tha Carter VI
Early · 97% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 98% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1990s
Tha Block Is Hot
97%
2000s
Lights Out, 500 Degreez +3 more
99%
2010s
Rebirth, I Am Not a Human Being +3 more
100%
2020s
Funeral, Tha Carter VI

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Lil Wayne sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Lil Wayne
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Aaliyah0%
EXO8%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
Billy Ray Cyrus47%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Snoop Dogg89%
98%Lil Wayne
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Tha Block Is Hot
Tha Block Is Hot
Written by Dwayne Carter, Christopher Dorsey, Terius Gray, Byron Thomas
Co-wrote
Way of Life
500 Degreez
Written by Dwayne Carter, Bryan Williams, Byron Thomas, Terrance Quaites
Co-wrote
Go D.J.
Tha Carter
Written by Dwayne Carter, Byron Thomas
Co-wrote
Fireman
Tha Carter II
Written by Dwayne Carter, DVLP, Filthy
Co-wrote
Hustler Musik
Tha Carter II
Written by Dwayne Carter, Tristan Jones, Batman
Co-wrote
Lollipop
Tha Carter III
Written by Dwayne Carter, Stephen Garrett, James Scheffer, Deezle
Co-wrote
A Milli
Tha Carter III
Written by Dwayne Carter, Shondrae Crawford
Co-wrote
Got Money
Tha Carter III
Written by Dwayne Carter, Faheem Najm, Play-N-Skillz
Co-wrote
Mrs. Officer
Tha Carter III
Written by Dwayne Carter, Robert Hannon, Curtis Fields, Deezle
Co-wrote
Prom Queen
Rebirth
Written by Dwayne Carter, Shanell Woodgette, DJ Infamous, Drew Correa
Co-wrote
Drop the World
Rebirth
Written by Dwayne Carter, Marshall Mathers, Chauncey Hollis, Chase N. Cashe
Co-wrote
Knockout
Rebirth
Written by Dwayne Carter, Onika Maraj, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Co-wrote
On Fire
Rebirth
Written by Dwayne Carter, Cool, Dre
Co-wrote
Right Above It
I Am Not a Human Being
Written by Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham, Kane Beatz
Co-wrote
I'm Single
I Am Not a Human Being
Written by Dwayne Carter, Noah Shebib, Omen
Co-wrote
How to Love
Tha Carter IV
Written by Dwayne Carter, Noel Fisher, Tha Drummahz
Co-wrote
6 Foot 7 Foot
Tha Carter IV
Written by Dwayne Carter, Miles Cox, Shondrae Crawford
Co-wrote
John
Tha Carter IV
Written by Dwayne Carter, William Roberts, Nolan Williams Jr., Rob Holladay
Co-wrote
Love Me
I Am Not a Human Being II
Written by Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham, Nayvadius Wilburn, Michael Williams II, A+
Co-wrote
No Worries
I Am Not a Human Being II
Written by Dwayne Carter, Noel Fisher, Dre Moon, Soko, Diaz
Co-wrote
Rich As Fuck
I Am Not a Human Being II
Written by Dwayne Carter, Tauheed Epps, Bryan Wilson, Seetharam
Co-wrote
Uproar
Tha Carter V
Written by Dwayne Carter, Kasseem Dean, Avenue
Co-wrote
Don't Cry
Tha Carter V
Written by Dwayne Carter, Jahseh Onfroy, Ben Billions, Z3N
Co-wrote
I Do It
Funeral
Written by Dwayne Carter, Sean Anderson, Dominique Jones, Rex Kudo, Charlie Handsome
Co-wrote

Discography 13 albums

Covers all 13 studio albums.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Lil Wayne234 tracks
78Byron Thomas, 78 tracks 78Mannie Fresh, 78 tracks B17Birdman, 17 tracks C13Cool, 13 tracks D13Dre, 13 tracks C&13Cool & Dre, 13 tracks B11B.G., 11 tracks I10Infamous, 10 tracks B8Batman, 8 tracks J7Juvenile, 7 tracks TJ7Tristan Jones, 7 tracks T7T-Mix, 7 tracks D7DVLP, 7 tracks S7Streetrunner, 7 tracks F6Filthy, 6 tracks AG6Aubrey Graham, 6 tracks on Drake's page D6Drake, 6 tracks BB6Ben Billions, 6 tracks MG6Manny Galvez, 6 tracks MG5Manny G, 5 tracks TV4Tab Virgil, 4 tracks T4Turk, 4 tracks D4Deezle, 4 tracks DI4DJ Infamous, 4 tracks D4Detail, 4 tracks 2C42 Chainz, 4 tracks K4Kamo, 4 tracks PA3Phalon Alexander, 3 tracks JP3Jazze Pha, 3 tracks RS3Raj Smoove, 3 tracks DC3Drew Correa, 3 tracks KD3Kasseem Dean, 3 tracks SW3Shanell Woodgette, 3 tracks S3Shanell, 3 tracks NM3Nicki Minaj, 3 tracks WW3Willy Will, 3 tracks O3Onhel, 3 tracks JH3Jordan Houston, 3 tracks CM3Crazy Mike, 3 tracks JJ3Juicy J, 3 tracks R3R!O, 3 tracks JR3Javar Rockamore, 3 tracks BK3Bobby Keyz, 3 tracks TQ2Terrance Quaites, 2 tracks T2TQ, 2 tracks R2Reel, 2 tracks TH2The Heatmakerz, 2 tracks DN2DJ Nasty, 2 tracks L2LVM, 2 tracks YY2Young Yonny, 2 tracks RT2Robin Thicke, 2 tracks NK2Nikki Kynard, 2 tracks B2Bangladesh, 2 tracks T2T-Pain, 2 tracks KW2Kanye West, 2 tracks SB2Swizz Beatz, 2 tracks BR2Busta Rhymes, 2 tracks KR2Kevin Rudolf, 2 tracks JL2J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, 2 tracks KB2Kane Beatz, 2 tracks NS2Noah Shebib, 2 tracks CM2Christopher Moore, 2 tracks LT2Lil Twist, 2 tracks B2Boi-1da, 2 tracks BW2Bryan Wilson, 2 tracks T2T-Minus, 2 tracks JP2Jason Phillips, 2 tracks DM2Dre Moon, 2 tracks S2Soko, 2 tracks D2Diaz, 2 tracks DW2DeAndre Way, 2 tracks SB2Soulja Boy, 2 tracks MW2Michael Williams II, 2 tracks MW2Mike Will Made It, 2 tracks JO2Jahseh Onfroy, 2 tracks X2XXXTentacion, 2 tracks LH2Louie Haze, 2 tracks BS2Big Sean, 2 tracks RK2Rex Kudo, 2 tracks CH2Charlie Handsome, 2 tracks CG2Christopher Gholson, 2 tracks TA2Tarik Azzouz, 2 tracks BH2B Ham, 2 tracks S2Stonii, 2 tracks M2MonstaBeatz, 2 tracks RR2Robert Richardson, 2 tracks BR2Bobby Raps, 2 tracks JM2Julian Munro, 2 tracks M2Munro, 2 tracks W2Wheezy, 2 tracks P1Paparue, 1 track U1Unplugged, 1 track DM1Darian Morgan, 1 track BT1Big Tigger, 1 track MB1Moses Barrett, 1 track PP1Petey Pablo, 1 track B1Blaque, 1 track RN1Rob Nice, 1 track MT1Marinna Teal, 1 track C1Cristale, 1 track T1Tateeze, 1 track LB1Leslie Brathwaite, 1 track TR1The Runners, 1 track BD1Bigg D, 1 track RB1Ricardo Brown, 1 track K1Kurupt, 1 track M1Matlock, 1 track SF1Shante Franklin, 1 track C1Curren$y, 1 track M1Maestro, 1 track SC1Shawn Carter, 1 track J1Jay-Z, 1 track P1Play-N-Skillz, 1 track KE1Kenneth Edmonds, 1 track B1Babyface, 1 track RH1Robert Hannon, 1 track CF1Curtis Fields, 1 track BV1Bobby V, 1 track KK1Kidd Kidd, 1 track DS1D. Smith, 1 track SM1Static Major, 1 track JS1James Scheffer, 1 track JJ1Jim Jonsin, 1 track B1Brisco, 1 track LC1Lavell Crump, 1 track DB1David Banner, 1 track BN1Bessie Norris, 1 track BW1Betty Wright, 1 track LJ1LaRon James, 1 track F1Fabolous, 1 track AM1Alan Maman, 1 track TA1The Alchemist, 1 track JS1Juelz Santana, 1 track R1Rodnae, 1 track MM1Marshall Mathers, 1 track on Eminem's page CH1Chauncey Hollis, 1 track CN1Chase N. Cashe, 1 track H1Hit-Boy, 1 track E1Eminem, 1 track TB1Travis Barker, 1 track on Blink-182's page T1T-Streets, 1 track TO1The Olympicks, 1 track O1Omen, 1 track N"1Noah "40" Shebib, 1 track KJ1Kamaljit Jhooti, 1 track JS1Jay Sean, 1 track JE1Jordan Evans, 1 track MB1Matthew Burnett, 1 track M1MegaMan, 1 track MC1Miles Cox, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 344. B Birdman · C Cool · D Dre · C& Cool & Dre

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The most interesting split in the dataset: Lil Wayne writes every word he performs, his lyricist credit runs at 100% across 172 tracks, but the musical compositions are built almost entirely by outside producers. Mannie Fresh defined his early Cash Money sound; Bangladesh, Jim Jonsin, and others powered Tha Carter III. The data reflects hip-hop's fundamental division between the MC, who owns the words, and the producer, who owns the beat.

Quick Facts

  • LabelCash Money / Young Money
  • Grammys5 wins, incl. Best Rap Album (Tha Carter III)
  • Hot 100 recordPassed Elvis for most entries by any male artist
  • Tha Carter IIIOver 1 million copies sold in week one (2008)
  • Started youngSigned to Cash Money at 9, debut album at 16

Creative Fingerprint

The purest rapper-producer split on the site: Lil Wayne writes every word he raps, so his lyricist credit runs near 100%, but the beats come almost entirely from outside producers.

The Story

Lil Wayne (born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) is one of the most prolific and influential rappers in hip-hop history. Signed to Cash Money Records at age nine and releasing his debut album at sixteen, Wayne built a reputation as a relentless recording machine and versatile lyricist. He writes all of his own rap verses, often freestyling and refining lyrics in the booth rather than on paper, giving him near-total lyricist credit across his catalog. His 2008 magnum opus Tha Carter III sold over one million copies in its first week, won the Grammy for Best Rap Album, and cemented his status as one of the greatest rappers alive. His lyricist-to-composer ratio is a defining characteristic: he owns his words entirely while typically collaborating with external beat producers.

Awards & Recognition

Over 120 million records sold worldwide, including 95 million digital tracks in the US
Five Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album for Tha Carter III (2009)
First male artist to pass Elvis Presley for the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100
Tha Carter III sold over one million copies in its first week (2008)
Founded Young Money Entertainment, the label that launched Drake and Nicki Minaj

Frequently Asked Questions Lil Wayne

Does Lil Wayne write his own songs?
Yes, entirely. Lil Wayne writes every word he raps and holds a lyricist credit on essentially all of his tracks, from 'A Milli' to 'Mona Lisa.' Famously he does not write lyrics down; he freestyles and refines them in the booth. What he does not make are the beats, which come from outside producers, so his songs are collaborative even though the words are all his.
Does Lil Wayne write down his lyrics?
No. He credits Jay-Z as the inspiration for recording raps off the top of his head over an instrumental rather than writing them on paper, building and memorizing verses in the studio.
Who produces Lil Wayne's music?
A rotating cast of producers. Mannie Fresh shaped his early Cash Money sound, Bangladesh produced 'A Milli,' and Deezle and others powered Tha Carter III. Wayne writes the raps while the beats are external.
Who wrote 'Lollipop'?
'Lollipop' (Tha Carter III, 2008) is credited to Lil Wayne, Static Major (Stephen Garrett), Jim Jonsin, and Deezle. It became one of his biggest hits and a number-one single.
Who wrote 'A Milli'?
Lil Wayne wrote the rap on 'A Milli' (Tha Carter III, 2008); the beat was produced by Bangladesh. The track won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.
How many albums has Lil Wayne released?
This catalogue covers 13 studio albums, from Tha Block Is Hot (1999) to Tha Carter VI, anchored by the long-running Tha Carter series that began with Tha Carter (2004).
How many Grammys has Lil Wayne won?
Five. His wins include Best Rap Album for Tha Carter III, Best Rap Song for 'Lollipop,' Best Rap Solo Performance for 'A Milli,' and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for 'Swagga Like Us.'
How successful was Tha Carter III?
It sold over one million copies in its first week in June 2008 and won the Grammy for Best Rap Album, and is widely seen as his commercial and critical peak.
What is Lil Wayne's Billboard Hot 100 record?
In 2012 he became the first male artist to pass Elvis Presley for the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, a reflection of his enormous output as a rapper and guest feature.
Why is Lil Wayne called Weezy?
'Weezy' is a long-standing nickname derived from 'Lil Wayne.' He also goes by 'Tunechi' and 'Weezy F. Baby,' names that appear across his verses and album branding.

Sources

Wikipedia: Lil Wayne Wikipedia: Tha Block Is Hot Wikipedia: Lights Out (Lil Wayne album) Wikipedia: 500 Degreez Wikipedia: Tha Carter Wikipedia: Tha Carter II Wikipedia: Tha Carter III Wikipedia: Rebirth (Lil Wayne album) Wikipedia: I Am Not a Human Being Wikipedia: Tha Carter IV Wikipedia: I Am Not a Human Being II Wikipedia: Tha Carter V Wikipedia: Funeral (Lil Wayne album) Lil Wayne - Flickr