Lil Wayne Discusses Absent Father in Pre-Grammy Special
It seems like we've seen more than enough of rapper Lil Wayne, yet just when he was getting a tad over-exposed he revealed another layer to CBS news anchor Katie Couric. Wayne, who sat down with Couric for the annual 'All Access Grammy Special,' spoke candidly about his relationship with his estranged father and namesake.
"I'm a junior and my father is living ... he's never been in my life, so I don't want to be Dwayne. I'd rather be Wayne," he said of dropping the "D" from his name. When asked if his father knew of his feelings towards him he replied "He knows now."
Couric also asked Wayne about his successful music career and whopping eight Grammy nominations. "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." On his latest, 'Tha Carter III,' the New Orleans native expresses his feelings towards the government's response to Hurricane Katrina on the song 'Tie Me Down,' which he will perform at the award show.
2009 Grammy Nominees
See the full list of 2009 Grammy winners here.
Lil Wayne: Album Of The Year, Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group, Best Rap Album
Christopher Owyoung, Retna
Coldplay: Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Album
Mark Venema, WireImage
Ne-Yo: Album Of The Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best Contemporary R&B Album
John Shearer, WireImage
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, Best Country Collaboration With Vocals, Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album
Mark Cornelison, WireImage
Radiohead: Album Of The Year, Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, Best Rock Song, Best Alternative Music Album, Best Short Form Music Video
Nick Pickles, WireImage
Adele: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Jo Hale, Getty Images
Duffy: Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album
Matt Cardy, Getty Images
Sheryl Crow: Best Pop Vocal Album
AP
Estelle: Song Of The Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Simone Joyner, Getty Image
Jason Mraz: Song Of The Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Jordan Strauss, WireImage
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Among Wayne's other interests are smoking marijuana, which he shows his adoration for during the interview. "I will stand up for marijuana any day...I'm a rapper. That's who I am, Miss Katie, and I am a gangster and I do what I want. And I love to smoke. And I smoke."
The 'All Access Grammy Special' will air February 4 on CBS at 10:00pm EST. The special will also feature interviews with Ne-Yo, John Legend and Katy Perry.
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