If you’ve ever wondered about the man behind the "Carter" in Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., you aren’t alone. It's a question that gets complicated fast. You see, when people ask who is Lil Wayne’s father, they’re usually looking for one name. But in the world of the self-proclaimed "Best Rapper Alive," the answer comes in threes. There is the man who gave him his name, the man who gave him his life, and the man who gave him a career.
Most fans know him as Weezy, but his birth certificate says something else. He was named after his biological father, Dwayne Michael Turner. However, if you look at how Wayne carries himself today, you’ll notice he rarely mentions that name. In fact, he famously dropped the "D" from his first name. Why? Because he didn't want to share anything with a man who wasn't there.
The Biological Father: Dwayne Michael Turner
Let’s be real for a second. Being a "Junior" is usually a badge of honor. For Wayne, it was a reminder of abandonment. Dwayne Michael Turner and Wayne’s mother, Jacida "Cita" Carter, split up when Wayne was just a toddler. By the time Wayne was two years old, his biological father was essentially a ghost in his life.
Wayne has been blunt about this. He once told Katie Couric in a now-legendary interview that he dropped the "D" because he's a junior, and his father is living but "not in my life." He’s never been in his life. When Couric asked if the elder Dwayne knew how his son felt, Wayne just chuckled. "He knows now," he said. It’s a cold reality, but it’s the one that shaped the rapper’s fiercely independent streak.
There’s a specific kind of pain that comes with seeing your father’s face every time you look in the mirror while knowing the man himself doesn't care. Wayne has mentioned in interviews—specifically with GQ—that he’s seen his biological father around New Orleans. He described the man as "typical," someone who might brag to friends about his famous son but never actually did the work of being a parent. To Wayne, Turner is a stranger who happens to share his DNA.
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The Real Dad: Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald
If you want to know who Lil Wayne considers his actual father, you have to talk about Rabbit. Reginald McDonald entered Wayne’s life when things were tough in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans. He wasn't just some guy dating his mom; he was the first person to show Wayne what a father figure looked like.
Rabbit was the one who encouraged Wayne’s interest in music. He was the one who moved the family out of the project-stricken areas of Hollygrove to East New Orleans. Wayne has often said that Rabbit was the only man he ever truly called "Dad."
But their story is tragic.
- Rabbit was the one who took the fall when a young Wayne accidentally (or intentionally, as he later admitted) shot himself in the chest at age 12.
- The gun belonged to Rabbit, and he ended up going to jail for it.
- Shortly after getting out of prison in 1996, Rabbit was kidnapped and murdered.
Wayne was only 14 when Rabbit died. It’s a loss that clearly still haunts him. If you look at Wayne’s arm, you’ll see a tattoo that simply says "In Memory of Rabbit: It’s Up To Me." That tattoo isn't just ink; it’s a mission statement. After Rabbit died, Wayne felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. He felt he had to provide for his mother and his family. He quit school shortly after to pursue rap full-time.
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The Industry Father: Bryan "Birdman" Williams
Then there’s the "Stunner." While Rabbit was the emotional foundation, Birdman became the professional one. Wayne met Birdman when he was just eight or nine years old. He used to leave freestyle raps on Birdman’s digital pager. Talk about persistence.
Birdman stepped in right around the time Rabbit passed away. He became the mentor, the protector, and eventually, the business partner. For years, they were inseparable. They even released a collaborative album titled Like Father, Like Son in 2006. For a long time, Wayne referred to Birdman as his "Pa" or "Pops."
Of course, that relationship famously soured. The multi-year legal battle over Tha Carter V and unpaid royalties turned the "father-son" dynamic into a courtroom drama. They eventually reconciled, but the "father" title there has always been complicated by the millions of dollars at stake. It’s a business relationship that wore a family mask for a long time.
Why This Matters Today
Understanding who is Lil Wayne’s father is basically a roadmap to his lyrics. When he raps about being a "hustler" or "providing for his seed," he’s drawing directly from the hole left by Dwayne Turner and the example set by Rabbit.
He didn't have a blueprint, so he made his own. Wayne is now a father himself to four children: Reginae, Dwayne III, Cameron, and Neal. By all accounts, he is incredibly present in their lives. He seems obsessed with being the opposite of what his biological father was.
Actionable Takeaways from Wayne’s Story:
- Identity is a choice: Wayne’s decision to drop the "D" from his name shows that you don't have to be defined by your lineage. You can curate your own identity.
- Biology isn't destiny: He chose Rabbit as his father because Rabbit showed up. Real parenting is about presence, not just birthrights.
- Turning pain into fuel: The abandonment Wayne felt didn't break him; it drove him to become one of the most successful artists in music history. He turned a "junior" status he hated into a legacy he owns.
If you’re looking into the history of Cash Money Records or the Hollygrove rap scene, keep Rabbit’s name in mind. He’s the unsung hero of the Lil Wayne story. Without Rabbit’s early support and the tragedy of his passing, the "Wayne" we know today might never have existed.
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Check out Wayne's 2018 track "Let It All Work Out" if you want to hear him speak more on the trauma of those early years and the role his "Uncle Bob"—the cop who saved his life—played alongside the memory of his fathers.