If you look at the cover of Tha Carter V, you aren't seeing some high-budget, glossy fashion shoot. You’re looking at a grainy, old-school photo of a young boy with a wide grin and the woman who essentially willed his career into existence. That’s Lil Wayne and his mom, Jacida "Cita" Carter.
Most fans know her as a name-drop in a verse or a voice on an intro. But honestly? The bond between Lil Wayne and his mom is the only reason the "Best Rapper Alive" exists. It wasn't always just about the music. It was about survival in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans.
She was 19 when she had him. Just a teenager herself, really. Dwayne Michael Turner, Wayne's biological father, split when Wayne was only two. Cita was left to navigate the 17th Ward alone. That kind of pressure either breaks a person or turns them into steel. Cita chose steel.
The Night Everything Almost Ended
We have to talk about the gun.
For years, the story was that 12-year-old Wayne accidentally shot himself while playing with a 9mm. He even let that narrative stick for a long time. But the truth is much heavier. In recent years, specifically through his music and raw interviews with people like Emmanuel Acho, Wayne admitted it was a suicide attempt.
Cita had told him he couldn't rap anymore. She wanted him to focus on school because he was getting into trouble, lying about his schedule. To Wayne, rap wasn't just a hobby; it was his breath. When she took it away, he felt like he had nothing left.
He found a gun in her bedroom—belonging to his stepfather, Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald—and pulled the trigger.
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The bullet missed his heart by centimeters.
Imagine being Cita in that moment. You're trying to protect your son from the streets, and he nearly dies by his own hand in your own bedroom. It changed everything. It was after this that she realized he didn't just want to rap; he needed to. She eventually let him drop out of school at 14 to pursue it full-time with Cash Money.
Rabbit, Birdman, and the Father Gap
Cita eventually married Reginald "Rabbit" McDonald. He’s the man Wayne actually considers his father. When people talk about Lil Wayne and his mom, they often overlook how much Rabbit mattered to both of them.
Rabbit was the one who encouraged the rap career. He’d drive Wayne to the studio. He saw the spark. But tragedy followed Cita like a shadow in those early years. Rabbit was murdered when Wayne was just starting to see real success.
Suddenly, Cita was a widow, and Wayne was a 14-year-old kid trying to be the man of the house.
He's talked about this a lot. He’d walk into her room and see her lonely. It’s actually why he became a father so young. Cita told him she didn't want to be alone in the house while he was away on six-month tours. She basically asked him for a grandchild. That’s how Reginae Carter came into the world—Lil Wayne was 16, and Cita was a grandmother in her mid-30s.
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Why Cita is the Secret Architect of Young Money
You’ve probably heard Wayne say "Momma gave me the swag" in "Momma Taught Me."
It’s not just a lyric.
Cita was the one who insisted on respect. She’s the reason Wayne, despite the tattoos and the "Martian" persona, is known for being incredibly polite in interviews. "Yes ma'am," "No sir." That's all Cita.
She also had a complicated relationship with Birdman. In the song "Like Father Like Son," Wayne reflects on how her opinion of "Baby" shifted. At first, she thought Wayne was "with the devil." Later, seeing the checks and the stability, she thought he was "sent from heaven."
But make no mistake: when the legal war with Cash Money broke out, Cita was the one in his ear. She’s his "rock," a word she uses herself on the intro to Tha Carter V.
The Voice on the Tracks
If you listen to Tha Carter V, it's basically a Cita tribute album disguised as a rap blockbuster.
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- "I Love You Dwayne": The intro is just her crying, telling him how proud she is. It’s visceral.
- "Used 2": She talks about the shooting. She admits she still doesn't know if it was an accident or not, showing the lingering trauma they both carry.
- "Open Letter": She discusses his early fatherhood and her pride in the man he became.
She doesn't rap, but her presence provides the emotional stakes. Without Cita, Wayne is just another talented kid from New Orleans. With her, he’s a man with a legacy to protect.
What This Means for You
Understanding the relationship between Lil Wayne and his mom gives you a different lens for his music. It’s not all about the punchlines. It’s about a son who spent his entire life trying to make up for the fact that his father left and his stepfather was taken.
If you’re a fan or just someone interested in the psychology of success, here is how you can apply "The Cita Method" to your own life or creative pursuits:
- Honesty over Image: Wayne’s biggest career shift happened when he stopped lying about his past (the shooting) and started being vulnerable about his mental health and his mother's influence.
- Loyalty is a Currency: In an industry where people switch sides every week, Wayne’s circle—centered around his mother—has remained remarkably tight for decades.
- Acknowledge the Source: Never be too big to credit the person who gave you your "swag." It keeps you grounded.
The next time you hear a Lil Wayne track, listen for the "Cita" mention. It’s not just a shout-out; it’s a prayer of gratitude.
To dive deeper into this history, go back and listen to "London Roads" or "Tie My Hands." You'll hear the sound of a man who knows exactly who he’s fighting for. Take a moment to look at your own support system. Who is the "Cita" in your life? Acknowledge them today.
Stop looking at the icons and start looking at the people who raised them. That's where the real story lives. Every "Best Rapper Alive" has a mother who believed it first.
Check out the full lyrics of "I Love You Dwayne" to hear the raw emotion in Cita’s voice yourself. It’s the most important two minutes in modern hip-hop history.