A Milli: Difference between revisions

| name = A Milli

| cover = A milli (Lil Wayne) single cover art.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = [[Lil Wayne]]

| album = [[Tha Carter III]]

| released = {{Start date|2008|4|23|mf=y}}

| recorded = 2007

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]

| length = 3:41

| label = {{hlist|[[Young Money Entertainment|Young Money]]|[[Cash Money Records|Cash Money]]|[[Universal Motown]]}}

| writer = {{hlist|[[Lil Wayne|Dwayne Carter]]|[[Bangladesh (record producer)|Shondrae Crawford]]|[[Q-Tip (musician)|Kamaal Fareed]]|[[Ali Shaheed Muhammad]]}}

| producer = [[Bangladesh (record producer)|Bangladesh]]

| prev_title = [[Lollipop (Lil Wayne song)|Lollipop]]

| prev_year = 2008

| next_title = [[Love in This Club Part II|Love in This Club, Part II]]

| next_year = 2008

The original version of this song [[Music leak|leaked]] early on several mixtapes. Then, a second version, with the first verse from the album version, a verse from [[Cory Gunz]] and the final two verses from the original version, was leaked prior to the album version. "A Milli" was played several times when sampling the record before its release,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem|title=Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III Preview: Does The Year's Most Anticipated Hip-Hop LP Live Up To The Hype?|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1588601/20080603/lil_wayne.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828183613/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1588601/20080603/lil_wayne.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2008|work=MTV News|date=June 3, 2008|access-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref><ref>Paul W Arnold (March 6, 2008). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6505/title.dx-clusive-jae-millz-speaks-on-deal-with-lil-wayne DX-clusive: Jae Millz speaks on deal with Lil Wayne]. HipHopDX. Accessed March 7, 2008.</ref> and was originally slated to appear on ''[[Tha Carter III]]'' in multiple versions as "skit-like" tracks, featuring artists such as [[Tyga]], Cory Gunz, [[Hurricane Chris (rapper)|Hurricane Chris]], and [[Lil Mama]]<ref>Shaheem Reid (April 29, 2008).[https://web.archive.org/web/20080501143929/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1586492/20080429/lil_wayne.jhtml]. MTV. Accessed May 2, 2008.</ref> though the tracks never made the final cut. They were rumored to appear on the re-release of ''Tha Carter III'', until Wayne revealed that the aforementioned album would be a [[rap rock]] album called ''[[Rebirth (Lil Wayne album)|Rebirth]]'' with no connection to ''Tha Carter III''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597594/20081021/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022210350/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1597594/20081021/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2008 |title=Lil Wayne Wants A Carter III Do-Over – News Story |publisher=Mtv.com |date=October 21, 2008 |access-date=August 22, 2012}}</ref> "A Milli" was ranked the number one hip hop song of 2008 by [[MTV]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601236/20081212/lil_wayne.jhtml |title=Lil Wayne's 'A Milli' And More Top Hiparchive-Hop Songs Of 2008; 50 Cent Pledges Loyalty To Eminem: Mixtape Monday – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref> The song samples "Don't Burn Down the Bridge" by [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=httphttps://wwwweb.whosampledarchive.comorg/sampleweb/1426020081216170905/Lil-Wayne-A-Milli-Gladys-Knight-&-the-Pips-Don't-Burn-Down-the-Bridge/|title=Lil Wayne's 'A Milli' – Discover the Sample Source|website=WhoSampled|access-date=May 16, 2017}}</ref> The sample is different in both early and final versions. While the early version plays the sample as it is,<ref>{{Citation|last=simperative|title=Lil Wayne ft. Corey Gunz – A Milli (FULL, CDQ, Dirty)|date=March 20, 2008|url=httpshttp://www.youtubemtv.com/watch?v=fywzpAP9guo |archive-url=https:news/articles/ghostarchive.org1601236/varchive20081212/youtube/20211221/fywzpAP9guo |archive-date=2021-12-21lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=livedead |accessarchive-date=MayDecember 16, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>2008 the final version adds a filter effect to the sample. In addition, the main vocal sample is from the Vampire Mix of "[[I Left My Wallet in El Segundo]]" by [[A Tribe Called Quest]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whosampled.com/sample/2583/Lil-Wayne-A-Milli-A-Tribe-Called-Quest-I-Left-My-Wallet-in-El-Segundo-(Vampire-Mix)/|title=Lil Wayne's 'A Milli' –And DiscoverMore theTop Sample Source|website=WhoSampled|accessHip-date=MayHop 16,Songs 2017}}</ref>Of The2008; line50 "I'mCent okay,Pledges butLoyalty myTo watchEminem: sick"Mixtape wasMonday originally– fromMusic, "[[GoCelebrity, CrazyArtist (YoungNews Jeezy song)|Gopublisher=MTV Crazy]]" by [[Young Jeezy]].<ref>{{Cite web|urldate=http://www.whosampled.com/sample/75183/Lil-Wayne-A-Milli-Young-Jeezy-Jay-Z-Fat-Joe-Go-Crazy-(Remix)/|title=LilDecember Wayne's15, 'A2008 Milli' – Discover the Sample Source|website=WhoSampled|access-date=MayMarch 161, 20172012}}</ref>

The song won the [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance|Best Rap Solo Performance]] at the [[2009 Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx#07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011133036/http://www2.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx#07 |archive-date=October 11, 2010 |title=The 51st Annual Grammy Award Winners List |publisher=Grammy.com |access-date=August 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604545/20090208/story.jhtml|title=Grammy 2009 Winners List|author=MTV News Staff|date=February 8, 2009|publisher=MTV|access-date=February 9, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090215063113/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604545/20090208/story.jhtml| archive-date= February 15, 2009 | url-status= livedead}}</ref>

''[[Rolling Stone]]'' named it the 10th best song of 2008,<ref>{{cite web|title=Readers' Rock List: Best Songs of 2008|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/staff-blog/readers-rock-list-best-songs-of-2008-20081222|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717091814/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/staff-blog/readers-rock-list-best-songs-of-2008-20081222|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2014|publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 4, 2013}}</ref> the 63rd best song of the 2000s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2009/rs100songs2.htm |title=Rolling Stone: 100 Best Songs of the Decade (2000–2009): 51–100 |publisher=Rock on the Net |access-date=August 22, 2012}}</ref> and the 486th best song of all time.<ref>{{Cite webmagazine|date=September 15, 2021|title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/lil-wayne-a-milli-3-1224851/|url-status=live|access-date=September 18, 2021|websitemagazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918112453/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/lil-wayne-a-milli-3-1224851/ |archive-date=September 18, 2021 }}</ref>

''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' critic [[Josh Tyrangiel]] named "A Milli" the number four song of 2008,<ref>''Time'', December 22, 2008, pages 47–8.</ref> and it was ranked as the number one song of 2008 in the [[MTV News]] Bigger Than the Sound poll.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601017/20081209/lil_wayne.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211235515/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601017/20081209/lil_wayne.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |title=The Best Songs Of 2008, In Bigger Than The Sound – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=December 10, 2008 |access-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref>

The video premiered on ''[[106 & Park]]'' July 2, 2008. It consists of Lil Wayne preparing for the shoot of his following single "[[Got Money]]". The video, which was directed by Dayo Harewood, Lil Wayne and Jeff Panzer,<ref>Steven Gottlieb (July 24, 2008). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110605115942/http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2008/07/lil-wayne-is-a.html WATCH IT: Lil Wayne "A Milli"] Video Static</ref> features appearances by [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]] (giving Wayne his brand new car for his record sales), [[Lil Twist]], T-Streets, [[Gudda Gudda]], Kidd Kidd, [[Drake (musician)|Drake]] and Brisco.

! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite webmagazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/hot-100-songs|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2008|workmagazine=Billboard|access-date=August 20, 2019}}</ref>

! scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite webmagazine|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2008|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|websitemagazine=Billboard|access-date=November 26, 2019}}</ref>

! scope="row"| US Rhythmic (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite webmagazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/rhythmic-songs|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2008|workmagazine=Billboard|access-date=November 26, 2019}}</ref>

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United KingdomGermany|title=A Milli|artist=Lil Wayne|type=single|award=Silver|digital=trueGold|relyear=2008|certyear=20182023|access-date=JanuaryJune 162, 2021|id=15098-967-12023}}