Lil Wayne Still Rolling as Visionary Force behind 'Shooter'

NEW YORK (By Vickie Charles/ Universal Motown) - Never let it be said that Cash Money hip hop superstar Lil Wayne doesn't know how to keep it coming. Still basking in the platinum-plus success of his '05 masterpiece Tha Carter II, and fresh off a 2006 VMA nomination for MTV2 Artist Of The Year, the New Orleans superstar finds himself on one of the biggest urban tours of the year (rolling with Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, and Dem Franchize Boys) as he continues to garner multi-platform acclaim as the visionary force behind the never-ending buzz surrounding his single "Shooter."

The song, produced by Robin Thicke, (yes, son of TV Talk Show ringer Alan Thicke), and culled from Tha Carter II, has been christened by magazines such as The Village Voice as 'song of the year,' thanks to - as the Voice puts it - 'Lil Wayne's 'breathlessly fierce whine' and ability to take tracks and 'toy with them like a bored cat does with a mouse.' That's exactly what Wayne does with Thicke's original offering from his all-but-forgotten disc, "Oh Shooter," laying his Midas touch to it in a wondrous piece of rhymes-manship that none other than the New York Times called a genre-defying 'cross-under' promotion genius.

Premier video outlets such as MTV 2, MTV Jams (where it was jam of the week), BET and TRL (where it was selected as a 'First Look') embraced the song, with the single becoming an online and digital phenomenon, as well. But it's been the steady drum of adulation from hip hop tastemakers and culture-watchers saluting Wayne for his ability to transform 'Shooter's' easy lope into a stinging anthem - 'stop being rapper-racist' he declares - that has made it a timeless classic.

Lil Wayne will be performing live this week on the Up Close And Personal Tour in Charlotte, NC on September 10, and Columbus Ohio on September 13, with the nearly-sold out trek running until October 8. The acclaimed jauggernaut caps a year that has seen Lil Wayne launch two previous smash singles, "Fireman," and "Hustler Musik," steal the show as a featured performer on All That Rocks (MTV's inaugural awards show at which nominated Wayne as Sucker Free MC Of The Year).