Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. born September 27, 1982 ( I was in high school!) known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American hip hop recording artist and author from New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1991, at the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo The B.G.’z, alongside fellow New Orleans-based rapper Lil’ Doogie. In 1996, Lil Wayne joined the southern hip hop group Hot Boys, with his Cash Money label-mates Juvenile, Young Turk and Lil’ Doogie (who now goes by B.G.). Hot Boys debuted with Get It How U Live!, that same year. Most of the group’s success came with their platinum-selling album Guerrilla Warfare (1999) and the 1999 single “Bling Bling”. Along with being the flagship artist of Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of his own label imprint, Young Money Entertainment, which he founded in 2005.
July 22, 2007: Lil Wayne is arrested after his first headlining concert in New York and charged with one count of criminal weapons possession and one charge of criminal possession of a loaded weapon. March 8, 2010: Wayne is finally sentenced and begins his jail term. Hours before the sentencing, he sends a tweet that says: “Law is mind without reason. I’ll return.“
I really enjoy reading memoirs and journals, you can usually get a better feel of the person and who they are. It is also how I feel about reading poetry and lyrical verse prose books. This book by Lil Wayne, Gone Til November, was really interesting. I got to really appreciate him as a person with his honesty in this book. His love for his children oozed through the pages. Also his love for his Mama. Truthfully I did not know much about him, other than I have heard his music and I have seen him on various television guest shows. I have, however, had many of the kids I mentor do time in the system. So I am familiar with some aspects of prison life. I was very happy that Lil Wayne stated in the book how prison is not the place to be. He also was well aware of his own privilege, which is refreshing. The importance of mail, visitors and having money for commissary is also something that, unless you are in the situation or have a loved one incarcerated, you have no idea how very important this is. I agree with his synopsis of the time is just time, its endless, there is no rehabilitation in there, it’s just time and survival. The entire system has been in need of overhaul for decades. The unfairness of needing a good lawyer is also something Lil Wayne witnesses while there. The term was only eight months, I do sincerely hope he never goes back to prison, that he learned a great lesson, and that people reading this can gain insight without prejudice on what you go through, even though it is such a tiny snapshot. It’s a good start. Knowledge should always lead to understanding. This book has huge potential for that. Plus you can read it in a day or two.
Very well done.
Peace.
