Editing Lil Wayne (section)

===2004–2006: ''Tha Carter'', ''Tha Carter II'', and ''Like Father, Like Son''===
On June 29, 2004, Carter's fourth studio album, ''[[Tha Carter]]'', was released, marking what critics considered advancement in his rapping style and lyrical themes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|title=Tha Carter > Overview|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r694680|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|date=June 29, 2004|access-date=September 13, 2008}}{{cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|title=Lil Wayne: Tha Carter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lilwayne/albums/album/6041342/review/6294718/tha_carter|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 5, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113085401/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lilwayne/albums/album/6041342/review/6294718/tha_carter|archive-date=November 13, 2007}}</ref> In addition, the album's cover art featured the debut of Wayne's now-signature [[dreadlocks]].<ref name="AllMusicguide"/> ''Tha Carter'' gained Wayne significant recognition, selling 878,000 copies in the United States, while the single "[[Go DJ]]" became a top five hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hope|first=Clover|title=Lil Wayne Nabs Kurupt, Lil' Mo For New CD|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60816/lil-wayne-nabs-kurupt-lil-mo-for-new-cd|magazine=Billboard|date=November 3, 2005}}</ref> After the release of ''Tha Carter'', Lil Wayne was featured on [[Destiny's Child]]'s single "[[Soldier (Destiny's Child song)|Soldier]]" alongside [[Atlanta]] rapper [[T.I.]], which peaked at number three on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] charts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Destiny's Child – Billboard Singles|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p278369|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|year=2006|access-date=March 28, 2008}}</ref>

In 2005, Carter appeared on a remix of singer [[Bobby V]]alentino's "[[Tell Me (Bobby Valentino song)|Tell Me]]", which rose to number thirteen on the U.S. Hot R&B Songs chart. That same year, Carter was named the president of Cash Money Records, but was later granted his own label; he founded [[Young Money Entertainment]] as an imprint of Cash Money and [[Universal Music Group]].<ref name="Lil Big Man">{{cite web |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |date=July 24, 2006 |title=Lil Wayne: Lil Big Man |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/l/lil_wayne/qa_feature_072406/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026041154/http://www.mtv.com/bands/l/lil_wayne/qa_feature_072406/ |archive-date=October 26, 2006 |access-date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref> However, as of late 2007, Carter reported having stepped down from the management of both labels and handed management of Young Money over to his longtime manager, Cortez Bryant.<ref name="Weezy F Baby Uncut">{{cite web |last=Checkoway |first=Laura |date=October 2, 2007 |title=Weezy F. Baby: Uncut |url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/lil_wayne_excerpts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611145950/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/10/lil_wayne_excerpts/ |archive-date=June 11, 2008 |work=Vibe}}</ref>

''[[Tha Carter II]]'', the sequel to 2004's ''Tha Carter'', was released on December 6, 2005. Mannie Fresh was not involved in the production of the album, as he had left the label prior, due to financial issues.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Rys |first=Dan |date=2015-03-30 |title=The History of Cash Money's Internal Beefs Through the Years - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/cash-money-internal-beef-history/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=In Mannie Fresh's 2005 Cover Story, The Super-Producer Finds Freedom After Cash Money |url=https://www.thefader.com/2015/09/18/mannie-fresh-2005-cover-story |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref> ''Tha Carter II'' sold more than 238,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number two on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]; the album went on to sell two million copies worldwide. The lead single, "[[Fireman (song)|Fireman]]", became a hit in the U.S., peaking at 32 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. Other singles included "Grown Man" with [[Currensy]], "[[Hustler Musik]]", and "[[Shooter (song)|Shooter]]" with R&B singer [[Robin Thicke]].

In 2006, Carter collaborated with his label boss, [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]], for the album, ''[[Like Father, Like Son (Birdman and Lil Wayne album)|Like Father, Like Son]]'', which its first single "[[Stuntin' Like My Daddy]]", reached number 21 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].