All About Lil Wayne's Mom Jacida Carter

Mar. 15, 2025

Jacida Carter and Lil Wayne in 2014.Photo:Prince Williams/FilmMagic

Prince Williams/FilmMagic

Lil Wayneand his mother, Jacida Carter, have gone through a lot together.

Lil Wayne never took his mother’s sacrifices for granted. In a Mother’s Day letter that he wrote to her in 2010, Lil Wayne commended Jacida’s strength throughout the years.

Jacida and Lil Wayne have had a strong relationship throughout his life. Here’s everything to know about Lil Wayne’s mom, Jacida Carter.

She raised him as a single mother

Reginae Carter, Lil Wayne and Jacida Carter attend at the BET Hip Hop Awards 2018 on October 6, 2018 in Miami Beach, Florida.Prince Williams/Wireimage

Prince Williams/Wireimage

Jacida was born on Aug. 30, 1962, in New Orleans. She met Lil Wayne’s father, Dwayne Michael Turner, and gave birth to her son at 19. The pair went on to get married when Jacida was 21, but divorced when Lil Wayne was 2 years old.

Jacida got remarried to a man named Terry. However, they divorced in an unknown year when Lil Wayne was young.

Jacida was not initially supportive of her son’s passion for rap. Lil Wayne toldEmmanuel Achoon hisUncomfortable ConversationsYouTube series that he experienced mental health issues throughout his childhood. He recalled that after Jacida found out that he was lying to her about his school schedule, she said she was not going to let him continue to pursue rap.

“When I was told that I couldn’t have what I wanted, what I dreamed of and what I desired and that was to rap, I was willing to die for it," Lil Wayne explained.

One day, he found a gun in his mother’s bedroom that belonged to Reginald andattempted suicideat the age of 12.

Lil Wayne rapped about the tragic incident on his track “London Roads.”

Jacida spoke about Lil Wayne’s attempted suicide on his 2018 album,Tha Carter V, in the song “Used 2.”

“I still don’t know today. Was he playing with the gun or was it an accident? I still, I just don’t, I be wanting to ask him but I never asked him after all these years. Was that an accident or did he, was he playing with the gun? So I never really found out about what, you know, really happened with him and that shooting," she said.

Lil Wayne recovered from the incident but soon faced another tragedy. In 1997, Reginald was murdered. Lil Wayne considered Reginald his father, and even got a tattoo to commemorate his life.

“Happy Bday Reginald ‘Rabbit’ McDonald,” Lil Waynewrotein a Facebook post on March 9, 2016. “I miss u pops. Hope u proud.”

Jacida wed her now-husband, Avery Goff, on April 14, 2012. The ceremony was held in New Orleans, and they have been married since.

She asked Lil Wayne for a grandchild when he was 14

Reginae Carter and Jacida Carter attend Reginae’s “All White” Sweet 16 birthday party on November 29, 2014 in Atlanta.Prince Williams/FilmMagic

After he started seeing early success and went on a six-month-long tour, Jacida was feeling lonely in the wake of Reginald’s death.

She knew Lil Wayne would be a great father

Lil Wayne and his kids.Lil Wayne/Instagram

Lil Wayne/Instagram

Another snippet of Jacida onTha Carter Vfeatures her talking about how she knew her son would make a great father. Lil Wayne’s ex-wife Antonia “Toya” Jackson got pregnant when she was 14 and he was 16 with their first daughter,Reginae Carter, who was born in November 1998. Though they were both young teenagers, Jacida was certain that Lil Wayne would find success as a father.

Lil Wayne’s daughter Reginae wasnamed after his stepfatherReginald.

Jacida is featured on the cover ofTha Carter Vand also in several of the album’s tracks

Lil Wayne in 2023.John Salangsang/Shutterstock

John Salangsang/Shutterstock

Jacida is front and center with a young Lil Wayne on the cover of his 12th studio album,Tha Carter V. Lil Wayne toldESPNthat it was important for him to include the picture of himself with Jacida for the album’s cover art.

When revealing the cover art, he shared that his mother had no idea she would be featured on the front of the album.

“I didn’t tell her about the picture that I was using for the album cover,” he told ESPN. “I don’t think she’s going to be upset, but I know personally that she doesn’t really like that picture of herself ’cause she’s not looking in the camera.”

Jacida is featured in multiple other songs on the album, mostly in speaking parts.Tha Carter V’s opening track, “I Love You Dwayne,” is a tribute from Jacida to Lil Wayne, commemorating his success and expressing how much she loves him.

“Lil Wayne, Mama proud of you. You done came so far, I can’t wait for your album to come out,” she said on the track. “I’m just proud of you. You’s my rock, you’s always been my rock. Mama love you, I love you.”

Jacida has another son, Semaj Carter

Dean Carter, Semaj Carter and Jacida Carter attend Reginae Carter’s 13th Birthday party on November 19, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia.Prince Williams/FilmMagic

Aside from Lil Wayne, Jacida has one other son, Semaj Carter, born in 2001. Jacida and Semaj’s lives are kept mostly private, though she did thank Lil Wayne for taking care of them in her track “I Love You Dwayne.”

“You take care of me and my son. Your little brother, we never wanted for nothing. I thank the Lord everyday for keeping us on this Earth,” she said.

source: people.com