Editing Lil Wayne (section)

==Legal issues==
===Arrests, incarceration, and presidential pardon===
On July{{spaces}}22, 2007, Carter was arrested in New York City following a performance at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]]; the [[New York City Police Department]] discovered Carter and another man smoking [[marijuana]] near a tour bus. After taking Carter into custody, police discovered a .40 caliber pistol near his person. The gun, which was registered to his manager, was in a bag located near the rapper.<ref name="sentence">{{cite web|first=Jayson |last=Rodriguez |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632931/20100301/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304005412/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632931/20100301/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2010 |title=Lil Wayne To Be Sentenced, Begin Jail Term Today |publisher=MTV News |date=March 2, 2010 |access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> He was charged with [[criminal possession of a weapon]] and marijuana.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shepherd|first=Julianne|title=Lil Wayne, Ja Rule Arrested After NY Performance|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/07/wayne_ja_rule_arrested/|work=Vibe|date=July 23, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415212128/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/07/wayne_ja_rule_arrested/|archive-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/23/rappers.arrested/index.html|title= 2 hip-hop stars arrested in New York after concert|last=Brunswick|first=Deborah|date=July 23, 2007|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 21, 2010}}</ref>

Following a performance at [[Qwest Arena]] in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]], Idaho, Carter was arrested October{{spaces}}5, 2007, on felony fugitive charges after [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] authorities accused the rapper of possessing a controlled substance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/06/AR2007100601122.html|title=Lil Wayne Arrested After Idaho Concert|date=October 6, 2007|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 29, 2010|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The incident was later described as a "mix-up" and the fugitive charges were dropped.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571373/20071008/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011005213/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571373/20071008/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2007|title=Lil Wayne Arrest Mostly A Paperwork Mix-Up, Lawyer Says|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=October 8, 2007|publisher=[[MTV News]]}}</ref>

On January{{spaces}}23, 2008, Carter was arrested alongside two others. His tour bus was stopped by [[United States Border Patrol|Border Patrol]] agents near [[Yuma, Arizona|Yuma]], Arizona. A K-9 Unit recovered {{convert|105|g|oz}} of marijuana, almost {{convert|29|g|oz}} of cocaine, {{convert|41|g|oz}} of [[MDMA|ecstasy]], and $22,000 in cash. Carter was charged with four felonies: possession of narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was granted permission to travel outside of the state and remain out of custody on the $10,185 bond he posted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lil-wayne-news.newslib.com/story/10288-556/|title=YumaSun.com|publisher=Lil-wayne-news.newslib.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714174233/http://lil-wayne-news.newslib.com/story/10288-556/|archive-date=July 14, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref>

On May{{spaces}}6, 2008, Carter returned to court in Arizona to plead not guilty to the charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587007/20080507/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510113957/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587007/20080507/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 10, 2008|title=Lil Wayne Enters Not Guilty Plea in Arizona Drug Case|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=May 7, 2008|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=June 18, 2010}}</ref> A [[bench warrant]] was issued on March{{spaces}}17, 2010, when Carter did not show for a final trial management conference.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.yumasun.com/news/warrant-57015-yuma-court.html|title=Warrant issued for Lil' Wayne in Yuma case|last=Gilbert|first=James|date=March 16, 2010|newspaper=[[Yuma Sun]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105162121/http://www.yumasun.com/news/warrant-57015-yuma-court.html|archive-date=January 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2010-03-16-lil-wayne-warrant_N.htm?csp=34|title=Warrant issued for Lil Wayne in Arizona case|date=March 16, 2010|newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> However, he was already incarcerated, serving a one-year sentence on [[Rikers Island]] on weapons charges. On June{{spaces}}22, 2010, Carter pleaded guilty to the charges. As part of the plea deal he was able to serve 36 months of probation, which he was sentenced to on June{{spaces}}30, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/22/lil.wayne.plea/index.html|title=Lil' Wayne pleads guilty to Arizona drug charge|date=June 22, 2010|access-date=June 22, 2010|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957561/lil-wayne-gets-probation-in-az-drug-case|title=Lil Wayne Gets Probation in AZ Drug Case|date=June 30, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 30, 2010}}</ref>

On December{{spaces}}18, 2009, Carter and 11 others were detained at the [[Falfurrias, Texas]], border patrol checkpoint after an unknown amount of marijuana was found on two of his tour buses.<ref name="Falfurrias">{{cite web|url=http://www.themonitor.com/articles/detained-33692-border-patrol.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220193640/http://www.themonitor.com/articles/detained-33692-border-patrol.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 20, 2009|title=Rapper Lil Wayne detained at Falfurrias checkpoint|last=Ley|first=Ana|date=December 18, 2009|publisher=The Monitor|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref>

On October{{spaces}}22, 2009, Carter pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He was due for sentencing in February 2010 and was expected to receive a one-year county jail sentence,<ref name="guiltyplea">{{cite news|first=Vanessa|last=Juarez|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/22/new.york.lil.wayne/index.html|title=Lil Wayne pleads guilty to weapons charge|publisher=CNN|date=October 22, 2009|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref> but on February{{spaces}}9, 2010, Carter's attorney announced that the sentencing was delayed until March{{spaces}}2 due to dental surgery,<ref name="delay">{{cite web|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631576/20100209/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211141817/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631576/20100209/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 11, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Sentencing Delayed Due To Dental Surgery|publisher=MTV News|date=February 9, 2010|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref> which was performed on February{{spaces}}16. The surgery included eight root canals, the replacement of several tooth implants, as well as the addition of a few new implants and work on his remaining original teeth.<ref name="surgery">{{cite web|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632239/20100219/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103230522/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632239/20100219/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2013|title=Lil Wayne Gets Eight Root Canals in One Day|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=February 19, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> On March{{spaces}}2, 2010, sentencing was postponed again when the courthouse reported a fire in the basement.<ref name="CourthouseFire">{{cite web|first=Jennifer|last=Peltz|url=http://www.wdtn.com/dpps/entertainment/celebrity/lil-wayne-sentencing-postponed-due-to-court-fire-_3257686|title=Lil Wayne sentencing postponed|publisher=WDTN|date=March 2, 2010|access-date=March 2, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621224845/http://www.wdtn.com/dpps/entertainment/celebrity/lil-wayne-sentencing-postponed-due-to-court-fire-_3257686|archive-date=June 21, 2011}}</ref>

On March{{spaces}}8, 2010, Carter was given a one-year sentence, which he served on Rikers Island. His lawyer said the rapper expected to be held in protective custody, separated from other prisoners.<ref name="sentenced">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8556873.stm|title=US rapper Lil Wayne sentenced to a year in prison|publisher=BBC |date=March 8, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> In May 2010, Carter was found by Rikers Island correctional staff to be in possession of contraband (an MP3 player, charger, and headphones).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272631766.shtml|title=Lil' Wayne – Contraband Bust Behind Bars|work=National Ledger|date=May 13, 2010|access-date=May 19, 2010|archive-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516013928/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272631766.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2010, Carter's friends created a website called Weezy Thanx You, which published letters written by Carter while incarcerated.<ref name="Weezy Thanx You">{{cite magazine|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/13316/71519|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912164707/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/13316/71519|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Launches Prison Website 'Weezy Thanx You'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 2, 2010|access-date=July 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Weezy Thanx You Website">{{cite web|url=http://weezythanxyou.com/|title=Weezy Thanx You official website|publisher=Young Money Entertainment|access-date=July 24, 2010|archive-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123125123/http://weezythanxyou.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the first letter, titled "Gone 'til November", Carter said he was staying in good spirits thinking about his children and spending his time working out regularly and reading [[the Bible]] every day.<ref name="Weezy Thanx You" /> Carter was released from Rikers Island Jail on November{{spaces}}4, 2010, after serving eight months of his year-long sentence.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651483/20101103/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105195710/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651483/20101103/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2010|title=Lil Wayne Released From Prison|publisher=MTV News|date=November 4, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2010}}</ref>

On December{{spaces}}12, 2020, Carter pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge brought against him by the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida|U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida]]. This plea stemmed from an incident during December of the previous year, when Carter was arrested in Florida after transporting a loaded handgun on his private jet from California. As a convicted felon, he is barred from possessing such weapons.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sarah|last=Polus|url= https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/529974-rapper-lil-wayne-pleads-guilty-to-gun-charge-faces-up-to-10|title= Rapper Lil Wayne pleads guilty to illegal gun possession|work=The Hill|date=December 12, 2020|access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> He was pardoned by U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] on January{{spaces}}19, 2021, his last full day in office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who Did Trump Pardon on His Last Night As President? |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/01/trumps-final-pardon-list-everyone-we-know-so-far.html |website=Intelligencer |access-date=January 20, 2021 |date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>

===Lawsuits===
On July{{spaces}}24, 2008, [[ABKCO Records|Abkco Music]] filed a [[lawsuit]] against Carter for [[copyright infringement]] and [[Trademark infringement|unfair competition]], specifically referring to ''[[Tha Carter III]]''{{'s}} track "Playing with Fire".<ref name="abkco">{{cite news|location=Los Angeles|url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-rolling-stones/38434|title=Lil Wayne sued for using Rolling Stones track|work=[[NME]]|date=July 24, 2008|access-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref> In the lawsuit, Abkco says that the song was obviously derived from [[the Rolling Stones]]' "[[Play with Fire (The Rolling Stones song)|Play with Fire]]", to which Abkco owns the rights.<ref name="abkco"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591539/20080725/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828040254/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591539/20080725/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2008|title=Lil Wayne Sued By Rolling Stones Publisher Over 'Playing With Fire'|publisher=MTV |date=July 25, 2008|access-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref> Subsequently, "Playing with Fire" was removed from the track list of ''Tha Carter III'' on all [[Digital music store|online music stores]] and replaced with the [[David Banner]] produced track, "Pussy Monster".<ref name="Rhapsodypussymonster">{{cite web|url=http://www.rhapsody.com/lilwayne/22649086_thacarteriii|title=''Tha Cater III'' on Rhapsody|publisher=[[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]]|access-date=October 25, 2008}}</ref>

In February 2009, production company RMF Productions filed a $1.3&nbsp;million lawsuit against Carter following a $100,000 advance payment for three shows, all of which were cancelled by the artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idiomag.com/peek/65262/lil_wayne|title=Lil Wayne Sued 1.3&nbsp;million Over Canceled NY Shows|access-date=February 19, 2009|date=February 17, 2009|publisher=[[idiomag]]}}</ref>

In October 2009, Carter, [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], [[Cash Money Records]], and various music distribution outlets were sued for copyright infringement by Thomas Marasciullo, who says his voice was used without permission. The rappers asked him to record some "Italian-styled spoken word recordings" in 2006. The lyrics were allegedly used on "Respect" and other tracks from the rappers' collaboration album ''[[Like Father, Like Son (Birdman and Lil Wayne album)|Like Father, Like Son]]'' and Birdman's ''[[5 * Stunna]]''.<ref name="copyright">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8335706.stm|title=Rapper Wayne sued over copyright|publisher=BBC |date=October 31, 2009|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref>

In March 2011, producer [[Deezle]] (Darius Harrison) sued Carter and his parent labels Cash Money Records over unpaid royalties from ''Tha Carter III''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lil Wayne sued for $20 million by unpaid 'Lollipop' producer|first=Brad|last=Wete|date=March 24, 2011|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/03/24/lil-wayne-sued-producer/}}</ref> Two months later, that May, producer Bangladesh also filed a lawsuit against Wayne over unpaid royalties as well.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lil Wayne lawsuit over 'The Carter' documentary takes another twist|date=May 2, 2011|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/05/lil-wayne-lawsuit-over-the-carter-documentary-takes-another-twist.html | work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

In early June 2011, another producer named David Kirkwood filed a lawsuit against Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records on claims that the labels have failed to pay him over $1.5&nbsp;million in royalties and production services for his work on the album, also including his songwriting on "Love Me or Hate Me", a bonus song featured only on the deluxe edition of the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2011/06/07/lil-waynes-producer-sues-cash-money-records/ |title=Lil Wayne's producer sues Cash Money Records |publisher=The Boom Box |date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref>

Also in June 2011, Dallas producers [[Play-N-Skillz]] filed a lawsuit against him, saying Carter owes them at least $1&nbsp;million in unpaid royalties for "[[Got Money]]" from his album ''Tha Carter III''. The single has sold over 2 million copies since being released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gossiponthis.com/2011/06/11/lil-wayne-sued-again-for-1-million-dollars-over-unpaid-carter-iii-royalties-photos-of-him-performing-at-the-bonnaroo-music-arts-festival/ |title=Lil Wayne sued again for 1 million dollars over unpaid Carter III royalties |publisher=GossipOnThis |date=June 11, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref>

In July 2011, Done Deal Enterprises, a production company based in Georgia, filed suit against Carter, Universal Music Group, Cash Money Records and Young Money Entertainment, claiming copyright infringement. The lawsuit alleges Carter stole the song "BedRock", featured on the compilation album ''We Are Young Money'', and seeks damages of $15 million.<ref>{{cite magazine|url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/468186/lil-wayne-accused-of-lifting-bedrock|title = Lil Wayne Accused of Lifting 'BedRock'|magazine = Billboard|access-date = November 13, 2011}}</ref>

In November 2012, Wayne was ordered to pay Quincy Jones III $2.2 million based on a lawsuit which stated that the rapper blocked the release of Jones's film ''The Carter'', therefore infringing on its profits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2499663/lil-wayne-loses-2-million-quincy-jones-lawsuit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722142158/http://www.mtv.com/news/2499663/lil-wayne-loses-2-million-quincy-jones-lawsuit/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2016 |title=Lil Wayne Loses $2.2 Million To Quincy Jones III in Lawsuit |publisher=MTV |date=November 6, 2012 |accessdate=May 4, 2022}}</ref>