Editing Lil Wayne (section)

==Musical style and artistry==
Known for his creative lyrical ability—which often uses [[Punch line|punchlines]], [[homonym]]s, [[word play]]—and [[Braggadocio (rap)|braggadocio]], Carter's music often deals with the subjects of wealth, drugs, and sex.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2016/09/124164/lil-wayne-songs-crazy-lyrics | title=The 30 Grossest Things Lil Wayne Has Ever Said About Vaginas & Other Stuff }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/habdurraqib/best-lil-wayne-lines | title=Lil Wayne's 35 Best Lines | website=[[Complex Networks]] }}</ref>

Carter has cited rapper [[Missy Elliott]] as his biggest musical inspiration, saying "she's a huge influence of everything I've ever done".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Lil Wayne Calls Missy Elliott the Best Rapper Ever & She's Forever 'Grateful' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lil-wayne-missy-elliott-best-rapper-1235067608/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Another one of his major influences is American hip hop group [[Goodie Mob]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Lil Wayne names his top 5 rappers of all time |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/lil-wayne-names-his-top-5-rappers-of-all-time/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=BrooklynVegan}}</ref> In an interview with [[Genius (company)|Genius]], Carter said "I've been listening to Goodie Mob since I was in the 7th grade".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Lil Wayne pay homage to a legend by spitting a classic verse |url=https://genius.com/a/watch-lil-wayne-spit-a-classic-verse-and-pay-homage-to-a-hip-hop-legend |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=genius.com}}</ref> For his ''[[MTV Unplugged]]'' special, Carter paid tribute to Tupac by covering his music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Markman|first=Rob|title=Lil Wayne Covers Tupac's 'Perfect Verse' On 'Unplugged' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1665279/lil-wayne-unplugged-tupac.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903152615/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1665279/lil-wayne-unplugged-tupac.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 3, 2011 |access-date=June 29, 2024 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref> He also pulled inspiration from Tupac's "[[Keep Ya Head Up]]" for his 2011 single "[[How to Love]]".<ref name="Carter IV totally done"/>

Additionally, he has mentioned [[T-Pain]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Wyclef Jean]], [[Lauryn Hill]], [[Erykah Badu]], [[Alicia Keys]], and [[Lenny Kravitz]] as influences, stating "I viewed them seriously and was like, 'Wow, I could do that without being totally them."<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Music: Lil Wayne – 'A Millie' |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2008/03/17/new-music-lil-wayne-a-millie/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=Rap-Up}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Lil Wayne Previews Exclusive New Song; Fat Joe Explains His Falling-Out With Kay Slay: Mixtape Monday|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1583394/20080314/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326001053/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1583394/20080314/lil_wayne.jhtml|date=March 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 26, 2008 |access-date=June 29, 2024 |publisher=MTV News }}</ref> Carter and rapper [[Calboy]] paid homage to Hill on their 2021 single "Miseducation" titled after Hill's 1998 album ''[[The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |date=March 22, 2021 |title=Calboy and Lil Wayne pay homage to Lauryn Hill in new song, 'Miseducation' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/calboy-and-lil-wayne-pay-homage-to-lauryn-hill-in-new-song-miseducation-2905731 |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=NME}}</ref>

According to ''[[American Songwriter]]'', Carter credits [[Jay-Z]] for inspiring him to freestyle rhymes while recording over an instrumental, as opposed to writing down his lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Galindo |first=Thomas |date=July 12, 2023 |title=Lil Wayne Stopped Writing Down Lyrics Because of Jay-Z |url=https://americansongwriter.com/lil-wayne-stopped-writing-down-lyrics-because-of-jay-z/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=American Songwriter}}</ref> Carter also credits [[The Notorious B.I.G.]] as an influence.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mamo |first=Heran |date=August 2, 2023 |title=Lil Wayne Reveals His Own Greatest Rappers List: See His Top Five |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/lil-wayne-greatest-rappers-list-top-5/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2022 |title=Lil Wayne's Top Five Rappers Include Biggie, Jay-Z, And Missy Elliott |url=https://uproxx.com/music/lil-waynes-top-five-rappers-biggie-jay-missy/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=UPROXX}}</ref>