Rapper Lil Wayne a.k.a. Dwayne Carter

Lil Wayne and Pepsi split after a controversy over the rapper’s lyrics. (David Goldman / Associated Press)

March 15, 2013 5:37 PM PT

A look at rapper Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, over the past few years.

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., 30, is one of the biggest stars in hip-hop and pop music, having sold more than 12.9 million albums and 37 million digital singles. (Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images)

Rapper Lil Wayne, shown in 2013, was not at home when police were falsely alerted about a shooting there, his record label said. (Jordan Strauss / Invision/Associated Press)

Lil Wayne poses for a photo during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets on Feb. 6, 2013. (David Santiago / Associated Press)

Rappers Lil Wayne, left, and Snoop Dogg attend DirecTV’s Seventh Annual Celebrity Beach Bowl at DTV SuperFan Stadium at Mardi Gras World on Feb. 2, 2013, in New Orleans. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)

Lil Wayne performs at the Lacoste/GQ Super Bowl Party at the Elms Mansion on Feb. 2, 2013, in New Orleans. (Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images)

Lil Wayne speaks during the launch of his skate park. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

Lil Wayne performs at the Caesars Entertainment “Escape to Total Rewards” in Los Angeles on March 1, 2012. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

Rapper Lil Wayne and a companion take in the Lakers-Heat game on March 4, 2012, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lil Wayne performs onstage during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Sept. 21, 2012. (Christopher Polk / Getty Images)

Lil Wayne performs onstage during the BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2011, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Lil Wayne performs in concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Drake, Eminem and Lil Wayne perform together during the 52nd Grammy Awards on Jan. 31, 2010. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lil Wayne at the 51st Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 8, 2009. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Rapper Lil Wayne arrives on the red carpet for a party in Tampa, Fla. (Steve Nesius / Associated Press)

Lil Wayne performs in New Orleans. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

Lil Wayne and MIA perform at the 51st Grammy Awards. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Rapper Lil Wayne enters Manhattan criminal court on Oct. 21, 2009, in New York, for a hearing on a DNA profiling technique used in the rapper’s 2007 gun possession case. (Louis Lanzano / Associated Press)

Lil Wayne walks on stage to accept the MTV Video Music Award for best hop hop video for his hit “Lollipop” on Sept. 7, 2008. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Lil Wayne performs during the taping of MTV’s “FNMTV” on June 18, 2008, in Hollywood, Calif. (Polk Imaging / Getty Images)

Lil Wayne attends a BET event with other award nominees on May 15, 2008. His hit “Lollipop” won a Viewers’ Choice Award that year. (Gary He / Associated Press)