S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne discusses his Young Money camp and only releasing solo projects from Nicki Minaj and Drake in the new issue of GQ Magazine.
Within his cover feature, Weezy said a rap retirement is inevitable primarily due to wanting to focus more time on his family and Young Money artists.
“Basically, I have been doing this for eighteen years. That’s reason number one. I have accomplished all that I have set out to accomplish and more. Also, I have a label, and I’ve only put out two artists [Drake and Nicki Minaj]. I have a lot more work to do, and it’d be selfish to not focus on being the boss and focus on their projects,” Wayne explained when asked about retiring at 35. “But the main reason is my kids, my children. Now, if I thought I’d be selfish to my artists, imagine what I think I would be doing to my kids. I have enough money that they don’t have to ever do anything–which, they will do everything, ’cause they ain’t getting sh*t. [cackles wildly] Six [more] years, I can do this Lil Wayne thing, and my boys will be about 7 and 8 years old. And man, it’s all about them then. You know, whatever they’re doing. Sports. Whatever they’re into. That’s where I am. I’m at every game. I’m the dad with the hat on. The jersey. That’s me.” (GQ Magazine)
After Weezy recently said his platinum-selling Carter IV could be his final album release, Young Money President Mack Maine said retirement was premature for the 29 year-old rap star.
“As far as that retirement goes, I don’t know what he’s talking about,” YM President Mack Maine told XXLMag.com. “I’m not trying to hear that — I mean technically he can. We paved the way where Young Money the brand is gonna be so big. And he’s done so much where he can just tour. But I know his love and passion for the music…. I also know he has love and passion for his kids and family and he sacrificed a lot of this life we living. So at 30, if he says he wants to hang it up and be a family and a businessman, I wouldn’t be mad at it. He’ll be like 18, 19 close to 20 years in the game. And [have put out] that many albums. He’ll be a vet at a young age. It’s not like we’re gonna need to put out albums, it’s just the passion. Can you walk away from it?” (XXL Mag)
Around mid-July, Wayne opened up about an early retirement plan.
“I’m not sure; I’m not gonna Brett Favre y’all,” Wayne said referring to the former Green Bay Packers quarterback who finally handed the NFL his walking papers in January after years of talking about it. “I’m not gonna draw it all the way out the whole year: ‘We wondering, is Wayne gonna do this?’ But the honest answer is I don’t know…I’m so settled in my life right now. I have my kids; they’re wonderful. My daughter has her career ahead of her now. I have to focus on that, and I have to put the same focus that I put in my career.” (MTV)
Last March, Wayne promised he would call it quits before any of his Young Money artists.
“I would say me, I’ll be the first to retire,” Wayne told radio host Angie Martinez when asked who would be the first to retire in Young Money. “I’m gone at like 35. I promise, I’m retiring early. Nah, I’m serious… I have four kids and I would feel selfish not to at that age. At 35, I would feel selfish still going to the studio when it’s such a vital point in their lives, not to be there. That would be very selfish of me. This is a solid plan and I stick with my plans. I’m gonna be a dad, a full-time dad.” (Hot 97)
To date, Drake’s Thank Me Later and Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday have both sold over a million copies respectively.
Check out a recent Lil Wayne interview below:
