Rapper, singer, songwriter, record executive, entrepreneur and actor Lil Wayne (DeWayne Michael Carter, Jr) was born on September 27, 1982, in New Orleans. He was discovered in 1995 at age 12, and was part of several groups, and he released his debut solo album in 1999, which was certified platinum. His popularity grew and he gained prominence, with albums being certified gold, and culminating in a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2008. Lil Wayne’s success continued but was interrupted by an 8-month jail sentence in New York due to a 2007 weapon possession incident. His 8th studio album was released during his incarceration in 2010, and another was released following his release from jail. In September 2012, Lil Wayne became the first male artist to achieve 109 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, surpassing Elvis Presley. Lil Wayne has sold over 15 million albums in the United States, and more than 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He is also the CEO of his own label, Young Money Entertainment.