That Lil Wayne was signed to Cash Money as a teen is a remarkable fact on its own, but it's just a footnote in his epic tale of greatness. After honing his craft as a lyricist with the Hot Boys and finding commercial success as a solo artist at the turn of the millenium, Weezy had a major productivity streak between 2006 and 2008 that culminated in Tha Carter III, one of the most essential rap LPs of the aughts. Not content with just being at the top, Lil Wayne has mentored the likes of Drake and Nicki Minaj though YMCMB, building his own hip-hop empire to further his legacy.