Lil Wayne might catch a bad rap at times. But that doesn’t mean that all the heat he catches is actually warranted. In fact, of all the rappers out there, I would put Weezy atop my list as the most lyrical genius, as he often talks about the struggles that he grew up while in New Orleans and how he truly went from rag to riches. While other artists do this, Wayne’s passion really comes through in his voice, leading to those listening to the music to truly feel what he’s speaking about. Sure, he has songs like, “Bling, Bling,” which literally changed a culture with the adoption of a new way to talk about being rich, but there are other lyrics that show Lil Wayne is actually a lot deeper than he might show on the surface. And because I think everyone needs to be inspired every once in awhile, I’m giving you a few of those lyrics today, so be ready to feel like doing something great—thanks to Lil Wayne.
10. “I like people that enjoy life, ’cause I do the same.”
In the craziness of life, there are way too many times where we all forget to take a step back and appreciate the things that we have. Sure, bills may start adding up, your boss may be driving you crazy and there are unexpected turns that always come up—even when you try planning for them—but Lil Wayne reminds us all that we shouldn’t let bad thoughts consume us, and instead remember that life should be about enjoyment and good vibes.
9. “I’ve been criticized for the things I chose and things I’ve chosen to do.”
Want to shrug off the feelings, looks or words that people think about you? Just engrain these lyrics into your brain, because that’s exactly what the rapper is doing. We all try to tone out and forget about any insecurities that we might have, hoping that they don’t effect how we think others view us, but Wayne steps up and pretty much takes it to a whole new level, saying that, basically, everything he has done in his life has been questioned—and he’s not only aware of it, but doesn’t care.
8. “The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done… you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do.”
As you’ll see with another lyric in from Wayne, the rapper reminds people not to live on regret. Some people have adapted to and accepted the fact that hindsight is always 20/20, and, just when you think something bad happened to you, there’s some positives that might show you things really aren’t as bad you may think. Rather than worry so much about things you can’t control both in your past, present and future, plan for what you can to be prepared for what might occur in your future.
7. “I’m an addict, I’m addicted to success. Thankfully, there’s no rehab for success.”
Want to go out and become the best at whatever it is you do during the day? Go ahead and take on this bit of advise from Wayne, who, might come across as a bit arrogant and overly ambitious in his words, but it’s a little bit refreshing for someone who has built up his personal brand by sticking to this motto. There’s nothing wrong in striving to be successful, right? Besides, unlike some who say they want to be successful—no matter how they define that—Wayne actually did.
6. “Make jokes. No stress. Love. Live Life. Proceed. Progress.”
Remember to never take yourself too seriously, because, just when you do, you lose sight of the fun things in life. Joke with each other. Laugh as much as you can. Find the little things in life to be great. It’s in those moments that you do that will make you the happiest—while also allowing you to progress in the crazy journey that life is. Even in the worst of times, stay positive and don’t allow stress and anxiety bring you down. Stand tall.
5. “Music is another form of news. Music is another form of journalism to me, so I have to cover all the areas with my album.”
If anyone was actually questioning the knowledge and/or passion of Lil Wayne, he shows with this line that they should be debunked. Displaying the type of expression that helped him achieve what he has in his musical journey, Wayne reminds people to use their talents to educate and lead people. In his case, his outlet is with music, so he doesn’t hold back in voicing his opinion on some of the issues that society deals with. You should do the same thing and stand up for what you both believe in, while inspiring others to do the same.
4. “Surround yourself with love, not friends.”
They say to surround yourself will good people. Well, while we all hope that those are people we can call friends, it’s not always the case. Just as we’re different in our viewpoints and beliefs, we react differently to situations that we’re put in. Rather than allow yourself to be in toxic relationships that make you question your decisions or who you are, only allow those who love you for you, as well as the world around them, to stay close to you. It’s better to have a few, great friends than thousands who are just average.
3. “I don’t need it to be easy. I just want it to be worth it.”
No one said that life was going to be easy, so when you have a challenge in front of you, take it on with a head of steam without backing down. Sure, we would all love to be millionaires who get handed a wad of cash for doing nothing at all. But isn’t the journey to get there more fun? If you don’t think so, than you should pay more attention to what Lil Wayne is trying to say, because the best lessons a person can have is through failing, and staying persistent in getting to wherever you set your sights on—just remember to make it worth the ride.
2. “Trying to tear down the past prohibits you from building up your future.”
There’s always going to be regrets in life and times where you find yourself asking that, if you had done something differently, would an outcome have changed. There’s a saying that goes, “everything happens for a reason,” and, while Weezy doesn’t say those words verbatim, his lyrics certainly point in a similar direction, reminding us that each time we focus on something that happened before, stops us from focusing on what can help us in the future. How do you turn a negative into a positive? By following these lyrics.
1. “Never apologize for what you feel. It’s like being sorry for being real.”
Although every single person on the planet is different, no one should ever apologize for being themselves. Straight, gay, bisexual, white, black, or orange, we all have unique traits that make us who we are. Rather than look at those as insecurities or things you should change to “fit in,” find a way to express yourself and take pride in doing so. Not only will you feel liberated for sticking to what your heart and mind feel, but however people react is their problem, not yours. Own yourself.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
ncG1vNJzZmiblaGyo77IrbCtp5%2BXe6S7zGhoaWWcnrluw8CypZ5loaq8tbHSZq6ipJxitq%2B%2Fz6Kpnmc%3D