Lil Wayne is well-known for his rap abilities and distinct voice. At the pinnacle of his career, he dominated both the Global North and the Global South.
His biggest hits, including as “Lollipop” and “How To Love,” reportedly sold more than 100 million records globally, with 15 million sold in the United States, according to Universal Music Enterprises. Forbes estimated his net worth to be $27 million in 2012.
He also wrote several successful songs, with at least three of them reaching No. 1 and 24 others reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard charts. He had 24 Grammy nominations and won five, working with stars such as Jay-Z and DJ Khaled.
Aside from music, the rapper is a shrewd entrepreneur and businessman, having founded and invested in various enterprises.
Looking beyond the stage and into the business realm, here are four enterprises owned by Lil Wayne that you probably didn’t know about.
Young Money APAA Sports Agency
Lil Wayne’s enthusiasm for the sports industry motivated his decision to enter the profession as a radical sports lover. He established the Young Money APAA Sports Agency in 2016, following a conversation with his COO, Cortez Bryant. The brand purchased PlayersRep Sports Agency in 2017.
The agency of Lil Wayne has signed a slew of NFL players, as well as basketball, baseball, and softball players. To name a few, the agency signed Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets, Te’a Cooper of the WNBA, and Demarcus Robinson of the Kansas City Chiefs.
GKUA Ultra Premium
GKUA Ultra Premium, a cannabis brand that launched in California, was founded by Lil Wayne. “I used to smoke to get high, but now I smoke to get inspired.” “With GKUA, I’m sharing a feeling that I adore,” he stated about his brand in a statement.
The business just expanded into Michigan. According to Forbes, in order to develop in Michigan, he partnered with Choice Labs, a Michigan-based producer and processor of medical and adult-use marijuana.
Tidal
Lil Wayne joined Jay Z’s music streaming site, Tidal, as a co-founder. In 2021, Jay-Z sold his majority ownership stake in Tidal to Square, a digital payment platform run by Jack Dorsey.
“TIDAL is a great way to share music directly with fans,” said Lil Wayne in a statement. “I’m hyped for people to hear my latest track and can’t wait to show fans love through a special TIDAL X.”
Young Money Radio
Lil Wayne is also the founder of Young Money Radio. In an interview with Variety, he vowed to take the radio station as far as it can possibly go;
“I’d love to take YM Radio as far as it can possibly go because I truly didn’t expect it to be so satisfying for the consumer and that’s always first. I damn sure didn’t think I’d enjoy the whole hosting thing but I’m having a blast with it. I also like helping get my guests’ opinions across on whatever the case may be. I know that they know it’s all love with me,” the rapper said.