The guitar playing was part of Wayne's new involvement with rock music, including his help in signing Kevin Rudolf to Cash Money plus an appearance on Rudolf's massive hit 'Let It Rock.' His planned rock album was previewed with the 2009 single 'Prom Queen,' but when the album failed to meet its promised April release, the music press began to portray the rapper as the king of missed street dates. He also performed at that year's Country Music Awards with Kid Rock, but rather than rap, he played guitar. A year later he collaborated with Birdman for the Like Father, Like Son album, featuring the hit single 'Stuntin' Like My Daddy.' His mixtapes were still flooding the underground, including the stunning Dedication 2, which came with an iconic image of the rapper on the cover plus the much talked-about track 'Georgia.Bush,' a venomous response to President George W.Īn appearance on Saturday Night Live and four Grammy Awards - including Best Rap Album - spoke to Wayne's mainstream acceptance. It also introduced his Young Money posse, with appearances from Currensy and Nicki Minaj, and initially came with a bonus disc featuring Wayne's greatest hits screwed and chopped by Swishahouse DJ Michael '5000' Watts.

'Fireman' and 'Shooter' with Robin Thicke were released as singles, while the album - which for the first time featured no Mannie Fresh productions - went platinum. With his alternative marketing scheme working in overdrive, the 2005 landing of Tha Carter II was a major event, selling over a quarter-million copies the week of its release. 'Get Something' was another bold move, as a Universal-funded video was made without the track ever seeing official release.

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