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MTV once accorded him the title of “Best Rapper Alive” and the man certainly does not disappoint. He is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., more popularly known as Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne started writing his own songs when he was just eight years old. By the time he was nine, he became the youngest member of Cash Money Records. His first album was released in 1999. It was called “Tha Block is Hot” and it quickly went platinum.
Part of Lil Wayne’s depth is that he draws from his wide range of experience and exposure to different kinds of music when he was still young. His parents got divorced when he was just two years old. He also accidentally hurt himself when he was only 13 when a 9mm handgun he was handling went off. Fortunately for him, a policeman was around to give immediate assistance.
Lil Wayne’s interest extends beyond hip hop. One of his favorite artists is the grunge band called Nirvana. He even credits the band for influencing some of his music taste. It manifested in 2010 when he released the rock album called “Rebirth.”
But he is most successful when he is in his hip hop element. His series of albums called “Tha Carter” are all consistent best sellers. “Tha Carter III” even won for him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. He also holds the record for most number of times to have ever charted in the Billboard Hot 100 with 109 songs. The record was set in 2012, surpassing the old mark held by Elvis Presley.
Aside from records and trophies, Lil Wayne also collects cars. Included in his collection are the following:
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is a grand tourer introduced in 2001 to replace the old Virage range of the company. It has a 5.9-liter engine and features a rear-mid mounted, six-speed automatic transmission. The entire body is made of carbon fiber. It became prominent in 2002 when it was featured in the James Bond movie “Die Another Day.”
Bentley Mulsanne
The Bentley Mulsanne is a luxury car that features a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The name Mulsanne comes from the 24 Hours of Le Mans race that Bentley has won five times. Mulsanne is the stretch of the race where cars can reach their highest speeds. Bentley already used the name before but it got phased out in the early 90s. It was brought back in 2010 to replace the Bentley Arnage. The Mulsanne model shares only a few components with other standout brands in the Volkswagen Group. The car has a lighter engine and is the first one to be independently designed by Bentley Motors in 80 years. Lil Wayne’s Mulsanne is actually a gift from Birdman, a rapper who contributed to the establishment of Young Money Cash Money Billionaires. The two have collaborated many times in the past, including the creation of the hit album called “Like Father, Like Son.” Birdman treats Lil Wayne as his own son.
Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4
The Bugatti Veyron is a grand touring car that features an 8-liter W16, quad turbocharged engine and a seven-speed sequential transmission. It was named after the French engineer Pierre Veyron who won the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans race while driving a Bugatti. EB is the initials of the Bugatti found named Ettore Bugatti, while the 16.4 represents the engine layout of 16 cylinders and 4 turbochargers. Lil Wayne was one of the first celebrities to own this car, even before the likes of Tom Cruise were able to purchase one. Fellow rapper and hip hop artist Jay-Z also has one, courtesy of a gift from his wife, Beyoncé Knowles.
Cadillac CTS
The Cadillac CTS is a mid-sized luxury car whose top model boasts of a 6.2-liter V8 engine with capacity to deliver up to 556 horsepower. It also has a six-speed transmission. The car has the distinction of garnering several prestigious awards, like the North American Car of the Year Award in 2002 and the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award in 2008. It was also named to the top 10 list of Car and Driver for two consecutive years from 2009 to 2010. The top model, called the CTS-V, also made that top 10 list from 2011 to 2012. It is quite simply the best car ever made in the United States.
Campagna T-Rex 14R
The Campagna T-Rex is a motorcycle that has a 1.4-liter engine made by Kawasaki and a six-speed manual transmission. It is a vehicle with three wheels though it could safely accommodate the driver and the passenger side by side. The transmission resembles that of a motorcycle, though it is also like a car in the sense that it has a foot pedal box, adjustable seat backs and retractable seat belts with three points. It can go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.9 seconds. Lil Wayne’s Campagna T-Rex came as a gift from Nicki Minaj, the artist behind the hit song called “Super Bass.” Minaj gave it to him as a show of appreciation for all the help he has given to her career. She is part of the Young Money family established by Lil Wayne. The motorcycle comes in an eye-catching chrome red, which is the color of the Young Money group. To ensure that everyone gets the message, Minaj had the back of the motorcycle painted with the words “Nicki Loves Tunechi,” Tunechi being Lil Wayne’s nickname. It cost more than $70,000.
Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe
The Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is a two-door convertible vehicle handmade in England. It can accommodate four passengers and it boasts of a V12 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Production started in 2007. Those who saw the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London may recall the vehicle being brandished heavily during the event. While it takes off from the platform provided by the 2003 Rolls Royce Phantom, it also borrows heavily from the 100EX, the Rolls Royce concept car unveiled in 2004 to mark the company’s centennial year. It is the most expensive Rolls Royce currently in the market with cost amounting to $443,000.
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