Another Day, Another Lawsuit in Wayne’s World

Posted: Wednesday – November 25, 2009

Lil Wayne’s new documentary/movie “The Carter” seems to depict the tatted rapper as a sizzrup sippin, weed hittin, shallow junkie. They are running into some trouble with its release now:

An 2008, superstar rapper Lil’ Wayne allowed a film crew full access to his hectic life. Cameras rolled as he smoked marijuana, drank soda mixed with prescription cough syrup, recorded rap lyrics almost constantly, toured the world and enjoyed the trappings of fame.
The finished product, a documentary titled “The Carter,” premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival and the rapper reportedly enjoyed the movie. That’s why Quincy Jones III was left scratching his head when the rapper sued to block distribution of the documentary.

“The interesting thing is that Wayne saw the film and liked it,” said Jones, son of the legendary Quincy Jones and the movie’s producer. “Even in the declaration of the lawsuit, it says that he likes the movie — so we’re not sure if [the suit] is coming from him or that’s someone else.” The rapper, who was born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., is no stranger to contradictions.

Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was a rough, gun toting young “G” who accidentally shot himself at the age of 12. He was also an honor student who dabbled in the drama club in middle school. Though in the film, the 27-year-old rapper imbibes his drugs of choice, he also claims to avoid alcohol and says he would never use heroin because of the effect it might have on his body.

The man who penned the song “Georgia Bush” as criticism of the government handling of his beloved city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina appears angered in the film by a writer who asks about his contribution to the New Orleans sound and the influence of jazz on his “poetry.” “No I don’t want to do poetry, I’m not into poetry, this interview is with a rapper,” Wayne tells the reporter in the film before demanding the writer be ejected from the room.

According to several published reports, Wayne’s lawsuit is based on his assertion that he had been given final-cut approval of the documentary. Variety reported that a California state judge rejected the rapper’s request, clearing the way for the film to be released recently on DVD at TheCarterDoc.com.

His attempt to control the film’s release is in keeping with Wayne’s personality as he asserts in the documentary that his genius cannot be controlled. Fans seem to love such bravado which the film displays along with his characteristically profane lyrics and innumerable tattoos. The film also depicts his grinding work ethic which allows Wayne to produce so much music that his adoring public doesn’t have a chance to miss him.

As seen in “The Carter,” the artist records almost constantly and wherever he can — in the studio, in his hotel room, on the tour bus — often through a haze of marijuana smoke. And his admirers also get to see the infamous Lil’ Wayne ego as he does not shy away from singing his own praises. “I’m going to quit very rich, very successful and the game is going to be begging me to come back,” he says in response to a question about how he might leave the music industry. “Mr. Brett Favre.”