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He Is Music: Lil Wayne's Rise to Super-Stardom - Lil Wayne is one of the best and most successful MCs to ever touch the mic. But it didn't have to be that way. He first met success with the Hot Boys in the late '90s, overshadowed in many ways by  Juvenile and B.G. After the Hot Boys dissolved, Wayne released 2002's 500 Degreez to middling acclaim and commercial success. The other members of the HBs began to fade from the spotlight for the most part, and there wasn't anything to suggest that Wayne wouldn't follow in their footsteps. But it all turned around with 2004's Tha Carter. That landmark album was the start of Weezy's meteoric rise from mere Hot Boys supporting member to "superstar." Here, in honor of Lil Wayne's big 30th birthday (he's not so little anymore) today, September 27, BET.com breaks down Wayne's journey from Tha Carter to the top. —Alex Gale

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Tha Carter (2004) - The one that started it all. Led by the Mannie Fresh–produced grinder "Go DJ," this album showcased a rapidly maturing Wayne who could effortlessly hold his own without the Hot Boys. This is when Weezy first started calling himself the "best rapper alive," but no one believed him – yet.    (Photo: Courtesy Cash Money Records)

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Destiny's Child, "Soldier" (2004) - Lil Wayne's appearance on Destiny's Child's hit single "Soldier" was a major breakthrough for the young MC, hinting at his crossover potential. (Photo: Courtesy Sony BMG Music Entertainment)

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Tha Carter II (2005) - Wayne's fifth solo album was another huge step. His first without long-time collaborator Mannie Fresh on the boards, the LP proved he could hold his own without the hit producer's bounce, debuting at No. 3 on the charts and eventually hitting platinum. This time, when Weezy called himself the "best rapper alive," it was hard to disagree. (Photo: Courtesy Young Money Records)

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Dedication II - There was three-year gap between Tha Carter II and III, but Wayne wasn't sitting on his laurels; he flooded the game with a dizzying series of mixtapes that showcased his artistic growth and won over legions of new followers. The most impactful of his many mixtapes in this period — it's hard to keep track — was Dedication 2, which showed up on many critics' year-end lists. (Photo: Courtesy of 101 Distribution Records)

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Tha Carter III (2008) - After his three-year mixtape monsoon, Wayne's new fans were desperately hungry for a real album, and Tha Carter III delivered and then some. With the Auto-tuned "Lollipop" and the woofer-blowing "A Milli" leading the way, the long-delayed album sold over a million copies in its first week and proved what his long-time supporters had known for years — that Weezy F Baby was a superstar. (Photo: Courtesy of Universal Motown records)

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2009 Grammy Awards - In the wake of Tha Carter III's stunning success, Weezy dominated at the Grammys, snagging four awards, including Best Rap Album. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Lil Wayne Signs Nicki Minaj (2009) - After a huge year, Wayne had starpower to share. Signing Nicki Minaj — a Queens femcee who shared Wayne's knack for bizarro, stream-of-consciousness rhymes — to Young Money, Wayne showed he was more than just another dope artist — he was a savvy businessman. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup) 

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Lil Wayne Signs Drake - Wayne made it a one-two punch when Young Money signed Drake, a young Toronto MC undoubtedly influenced by Wayne's singsongy flow and nonstop mixtape hustle.(Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

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We Are Young Money (2009) - With this compilation album showcasing the impressive young talents he had signed, Wayne completed his transition from "worker bee" to "boss." (Photo: Courtesy of Young Money Records)

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Lil Wayne Jailed - Lil Tunechi's reign at the top came under siege when the rapper was convicted for gun possession and sentenced to a year at Rikers Island in New York. Would he recover? (Photo: Michael Dominic /Landov)

Photo By Photo: Michael Dominic /Landov

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I Am Not a Human Being (2010) - Even prison bars can't hold Lil Wayne back — I Am Not a Human Being, released in September 2010 while he was still incarcerated, topped the charts. It was the first time since Tupac's 1995 opus Me Against the World that a musician hit No. 1 while in prison. (Photo: Courtesy of Cash Money Records)

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Tha Carter IV (2011) - August 28, 2011 marked Weezy's return to the top after his prison sentence. He closed out the VMAs with an epic adrenaline rush of a performance, and then released his anxiously awaited Tha Carter IV, which debuted at No. 1. (Right Photo: Courtesy Young Money Records)