Five Revelations From Lil Wayne Doc 'The Carter'
Our eyes have barely adjusted after emerging from the Egyptian Theatre for a packed screening of The Carter, Adam Lough's riveting, all-access Lil Wayne documentary. Here's five things we learned about the rap genius:
1. His first sexual experience was at age 11, in front of a packed house.
Wayne teases a 15-year-old hanging out amongst his entourage about his virginity, leading into a graphic retelling of his "rape" ("..and I loved it") at age 11. His older friends ordered the group's Honorary Ho to service the young Dwayne Carter. "That's when I became Lil Wayne," he recalls with bravado—though his eyes suggest he's still a little fucked up from the experience.
2. He never writes anything down.
As hard as it is to believe, he stores it all in his head. Nothing gets jotted down. Not lyrics, not thoughts, not ideas for future songs. He has a portable studio that he carries around in a black bag, allowing him to record tracks literally anywhere. He says "with all respect to my man Kurt" (Cobain—a huge influence), he doesn't want his diaries sold after his death.
3. Sippin' on sizzurp is getting to be a problem.
Wayne is frequently seen pouring his beloved "syrup" into large bottles of soda and sipping on the deadly concoction. While he defiantly refuses to acknowledge it's an addiction, it's pretty obvious it is. DJ/manager Cortez Bryant, the doc's secondary subject, refuses to get on the tour bus because of how it makes Weezy act.
4. His 12-year-old daughter Reginae has inherited his rap chops.
Sitting on her bed and positively beaming with pride over her dad, Weezy's impossibly cute daughter Reginae launches into a flow ("...I'm the heir to the throne...") that would put most aspiring rappers to shame.
5. Lil Wayne For President in 2012.
You watch Wayne submit to countless interviews throughout the film, frequently losing patience with their questions ("Do you write poetry?" "Have you ever pictured your own death?"). But one question—"What would be your presidential platform?"—gets a hilarious response, in which the multi-platinum recording artist explains he'd legalize "weed first. I'd do that twice," that he'd "put cocaine back in Coca Cola," "get rid of alimony and prenups," and lift the ban on all steroids and growth hormone in professional sports.