Editing Lil Wayne (section)

===1999–2004: ''Tha Block Is Hot'', ''Lights Out'', and ''500 Degreez''===
Carter's debut solo album, ''[[Tha Block Is Hot]]'', was released on November 2, 1999, when he was 17 and featured significant contributions from the [[Hot Boys]]. It debuted at number three on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and was later certified platinum by the [[RIAA]] in December 1999, less than a month after its release.<ref>{{cite web |title=Complete Lil Wayne Discography (Mixtapes, Albums, Singles, and Features) – Tea & Weed |url=https://teaandweed.com/lil-wayne-discography-mixtapes-albums-singles-and-features/#tha-block-is-hot |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=teaandweed.com|date=January 8, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="AllMusicguide"/> The album earned Carter a 1999 ''[[The Source (magazine)|Source]]'' magazine nomination for "Best New Artist",<ref name="cash money">{{cite web|title=Lil Wayne – Tha Carter II|url=http://www.lilwayne-online.com/bio.asp|publisher=[[Cash Money Records]]|year=2005|access-date=March 29, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080322174356/http://www.lilwayne-online.com/bio.asp |archive-date = March 22, 2008}}</ref> and also became a Top Ten hit.<ref name="AllMusicguide"/> The lead single was [[Tha Block Is Hot (song)|the album's title track]], which its chorus was performed by Carter's former Hot Boys cohort, Juvenile and B.G.

His second album, ''[[Lights Out (Lil Wayne album)|Lights Out]]'', was released on December 19, 2000. It failed to attain the level of success achieved by his debut,<ref name="AllMusicguide"/> but was certified gold by RIAA in June 2001, nearly six months after its release.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|title=Gold and Platinum – Lil Wayne|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Lil%20wayne&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=June 18, 2010}}</ref> Critics noted the lack of coherent narratives in his verses as evidence that he had yet to mature to the level of his fellow Hot Boys.<ref>{{cite web|last=Juon|first=Steve|title=Lil Wayne – "Lights Out"|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2001_01_lightsout.html |work=RapReviews.com|date=January 6, 2001|access-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref> The lead single was "Get Off the Corner", which was noticed for an improvement in its lyrical content and style. The second single, which received less attention, was "Shine" featuring the Hot Boys. Near the release of ''Lights Out'', Carter was featured on the single, "[[Number One Stunna]]" with [[Big Tymers]] and Juvenile, which peaked at number 24 on the [[Hot Rap Tracks]] chart. The track, originally featured on Big Tymers' ''[[I Got That Work]]'', would be used for the [[Spike Lee]]-directed comedy film, ''[[The Original Kings of Comedy]]''.

Carter's third album, ''[[500 Degreez]]'', was released in August 2002. It followed the format of his previous two, with significant contributions from the Hot Boys and [[Mannie Fresh]]. While being certified gold like its predecessor,<ref name="riaa"/> it also failed to match the success of his debut.<ref name="AllMusicguide"/> The title was a reference to the recently estranged Hot Boys member Juvenile's debut solo studio album, ''[[400 Degreez]]'' (1998).<ref name="500 Degreez">{{cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title="500 Degreez" – Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r597992|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|year=2002|access-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=For Lil' Wayne, Bling Bling Still A 'Way Of Life'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453944/05132002/lil_wayne.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=May 14, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021104053834/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453944/05132002/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-date=November 4, 2002|access-date=June 29, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its lead single was "Way of Life", featuring Birdman and singer [[TQ (singer)|TQ]] with narration by its producer, Mannie Fresh; it reached number 71 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] and number 23 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] charts.<ref name="chart history">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lil-wayne/chart-history/|title=Chart History: Lil Wayne|publisher=Billboard|access-date=June 29, 2024}}</ref> The single featured a sample of [[Tupac Shakur]]'s [[Diss (music)|diss track]] towards the [[The Notorious B.I.G.|Notorious B.I.G.]], "[[Hit 'Em Up]]" (1996), which itself sampled [[Dennis Edwards]] and [[Siedah Garrett]]'s "[[Don't Look Any Further]]" (1984). Despite the album's commercial failure, John Bush of [[AllMusic]] praised ''500 Degreez'', while calling "Way of Life" an "infectious party hit".<ref name="500 Degreez"/> After the release of ''500 Degreez'', Carter was featured on the single "[[Neva Get Enuf]]" by [[3LW]], and later appeared on his future girlfriend, singer [[Nivea (singer)|Nivea]]'s single, "Ya Ya Ya".<ref>{{cite news|last=Moss|first=Corey|title=Remaining 3LW Pair Too Busy To Hold Auditions For New Member|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457967/20021004/3lw.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017212936/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457967/20021004/3lw.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2002|publisher=MTV News|date=October 4, 2002|access-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref>