Editing Lil Wayne (section)

===1994–1999: Career beginnings and Hot Boys===
After recovering from his self-inflicted gunshot wound, Carter linked with Christopher Dorsey, a local New Orleans rapper known as [[B.G. (rapper)|B.G.]], his longtime friend, future Cash Money labelmate and Hot Boys bandmate. They would later form their duo, the B.G.'z, with B.G. being named "Lil Doogie" and Carter being "Baby D".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2011-06-30 |title=FACT OF THE DAY: Lil Wayne & B.G. Were Once A Group Called The B.G.'Z |url=https://foxync.com/2391162/fact-of-the-day-lil-wayne-b-g-was-once-a-group-called-the-b-g-z/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Foxy 107.1-104.3 |language=en-US}}</ref> They only released one album under the group name, ''True Story'' (1995).<ref name=":2" />

In 1997, Carter and Dorsey then joined the hip-hop quartet, the [[Hot Boys]], along with rappers and labelmates, [[Juvenile (rapper)|Juvenile]], and [[Turk (rapper)|Turk]]. Having joined at age 14, Carter was the youngest member at the time. Hot Boys' debut album, ''[[Get It How U Live!]]'', was released the same year, followed in 1999 by the group's major-label debut ''[[Guerrilla Warfare (album)|Guerrilla Warfare]]'',<ref name="AllMusicguide" /> which respectively reached number one on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart and number five on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="Hot Boys Album Charts" /> During their career, the Hot Boys had two charting singles, "[[We on Fire]]" from ''Get It How U Live!'' and "[[I Need a Hot Girl]]" from ''Guerrilla Warfare''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Hot Boys&nbsp;– Billboard Singles|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p278459|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref> The group shared a track, "[[Bling Bling (song)|Bling Bling]]", alongside another Cash Money group, duo [[Big Tymers]] (consisting of Birdman and producer [[Mannie Fresh]]). Carter's verse appeared only on the radio version of the song, while on the album version he performed on the chorus. "Bling Bling" appeared on Hot Boys member B.G.'s solo album, ''[[Chopper City in the Ghetto]]'', released in April 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Alyson |date=2024-04-20 |title='Bling Bling': How B.G.'s 'Chopper City In The Ghetto' Became Famous |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/b-g-chopper-city-in-the-ghetto-bling-bling-feature/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}</ref> Carter was also featured on Juvenile's single "[[Back That Azz Up]]", which reached number eighteen on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p92107|pure_url=yes}} Juvenile – Billboard Singles]. AllMusic</ref>

''[[Let 'Em Burn]]'', a compilation album of unreleased tracks recorded by the quartet during 1998 and 2000, was released in March 2003, several years after the group disbanded.<ref>{{cite web|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|title=Let 'Em Burn – Overview |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r633952|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref> It reached number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, but underperformed on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number fourteen.<ref name="Hot Boys Album Charts">{{cite web|title=The Hot Boys – Billboard Albums|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p278459|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref>