Lil Wayne has been speaking frankly about ending his hip-hop career for a little over two years now. The biggest star in the Cash Money Records universe, Wayne has been releasing hit records since before he was old enough to drive. In a recent interview with MTV, Weezy reiterated his desire to end his career following the release of his upcoming album Tha Carter V. Or, at least, he plans to end his solo career.
“I personally plan on this being my final solo album. Yes, and it’s definitely the final Carter album,” Lil Wayne says in an interview with MTV. “It’s the final Carter album. It’s stopping at five. I didn’t smile when I said it.”
Lil Wayne, who says “25 to 35 million” dollars would entice him to make another solo album after Tha Carter V, also says this won’t be the last time he records material.
“I plan on it being my final solo album,” Wayne reiterates. “Whenever I have to pitch in for a Young Money album, a Like Father, Like Son [his collaboration with Birdman] album and something like that and maybe something out the blue; but the way I’m working on this album … it’s to me … the way it seems like now, it seems like it’ll be impossible for me to work this hard again for anything else.”
In 2013 Weezy said, after the release of Tha Carter V, “I can retire.” It appears he’s sticking with that plan for now; but fans have an understandable skepticism regarding rappers and “retirement.” Everyone from Too $hort to Jay Z has claimed over the years that they were done, only to return to full-fledged recording and touring after taking a hiatus.
