Lil Zane

Zane R. Copeland Jr. (born July 11, 1982), better known as Lil Zane, is an American rapper and actor born in Yonkers, New York and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He is best known for his debut album Young World: The Future, released in 2000, which featured the single "Callin' Me" featuring 112.^[1][2][3][4]

Early life

At age 10, Zane was inspired by Another Bad Creation and Kris Kross, and he got more serious about his eventual career and started rehearsing with his cousin E.Greene. He was first recognized by his fans when he was in a group called Kronic signed to RCA Records. They were signed from 1993 to 96. They never put out any projects. Then 1996 he went solo and started entering local Atlanta talent shows. Then in 1999 he started touring with 112 while recording his debut album.

Music career

1999-02: Young World: The Future

In 1999, his first ever single, "Money Stretch", was included in the Next Friday soundtrack. In 2000 Lil' Zane released his debut album Young World: The Future which featured his smash single "Callin Me". The album debut at #25 on the Billboard 200 with 40,000 copies sold in the first week.^[5] The album also hit at #4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 2001 he made appearance on the Hardball soundtrack on the track of the same name with Bow Wow, Lil Wayne and Sammie.^[6] He later stated in an interview that he was working on an album titled It Ain't Over but later decided to change the title to The Big Zane Theory.

2003: The Big Zane Theory

In 2003 Lil Zane released his second album, The Big Zane Theory With it, he formally changed his stage name from Lil’ Zane to simply Zane. Copeland explained "Zane is my real name, that’s the name that’s on my birth certificate and my mom likes that name" for changing his name in a BallerStatus.net interview. The album failed to match the success of Zane's previous album, as it charted at #191 on the Billboard 200's chart with 6,423 copies sold. It also charted at #39 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The only single that was released on the album was "Tonite I'm Yours" which peaked at # 87 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Soon afterwards Zane would leave Priority Records due to lack of financial compensation, artist support, and promotion to go on a 5-year hiatus from music to focus on his acting career. To date the album sold close to 40,000 copies.^[7]

2004-08: Under the Radar & Tha Return

On December 30, 2004 it was announced that Zane has formed a new record label by the name of "3 Mill Entertainment" together with MAM Group, Inc. with it he announced that he had started working on his third album, Under the Radar. The album was to feature artist like Real Young, Raz B, John B, and Bone Crusher, Akon, Young Crunk also Rich Boy. The album was going to get released in Spring of 2005 but then was pushed back to fall and was never released. In late 2006 Zane started to work on another new album, Tha Return. The album was released on February 26, 2008. The album failed to match the success of Zane's previous albums, as it failed to make it to any Billboard charts. The only single that was released on the album was "Like This" which also failed to chart also. The single has gotten over 150,000 views on YouTube to date and is known as Zane's comeback single.^{[8][9][10][11]}

2010-present: My World: My Future

In 2010 he made special appearance at the 10 year anniversary of 106 & Park in Los Angeles with Ray J & Tony Marsley also known as AK. He announced he was releasing a mixtape entitled The Missing Link and a new single entitled "Put It In My Lap". March 1, 2010 Zane was featured on We Are The World: The Next Generation. The song has gotten over 2,000,000 views on YouTube alone.^[12] On March 8, 2011 Zane released a promo single off his mixtape The Missing Link Volume 1 called "Must Be Nice".^[13] On April 28, 2011 a rumor circulated that Zane signed to Cash Money Records. Later, the statement was proven false.^[14] On June 7, 2011 Zane released a new single called "My Girl".^[15] On February 2, 2012 Zane announced the title of his fourth album called My World: My Future along with a release of a single called Sippin Hennessy featuring Tupac Shakur. The song has gotten over 100,000 views on YouTube and 150,000 views on world star hip hop alone.^[16][17] On May 14, 2013 Zane released a new song called "When I Get Home" featuring Young Joe which is featured on his mixtapes Champagne & Dirty Sprite and R.A.W (Raps About Women).^[18] On September 18, 2013 Zane announced that the lead single off his upcoming album is called "Roof Gone".^[19] As of January 1, 2016 it is known that Zane is now working with battle rapper, Levi Fresco, to help ghostwrite his upcoming single ("Don't Spill My Liquor") & album ("Life I Live").^[20]

Other Ventures

Acting career

Zane has been in several movies and television shows, including Cuttin' da Mustard, The Parkers, A Day in the Life, Motives, The Fighting Temptations, Dr. Dolittle 2, Girlfriends, and Finding Forrester.

Money Making Muzik (MMM)

In 2004 Zane signed a 2-year agreement with MAM Group, Inc, Inc which granted him his own record label 3 Mill Entertainment (3ME) but then changed it to U.S. Entertainment in 2006. Then in 2010 he changed it again to Money Making Muzik (MMM) after buying B1 Music Group for a significant amount of money which is yet to be disclosed. In 2010 Zane signed many talents including spotlight florida artist Soulja P & others. In early 2013 Zane partnered his own company with 480 Films.

Current artist

• Lil Zane (2004–Present)
• D Phlo (2012–Present)

Former artist

• Real Young (2004 - 2006)
• Young Crunk (2005 - 2006)
• Miss Honey (2010 - 2012)
• Indyspensablz (2011 - 2012)
• cool Gang (2012)
• G$C (2012)
• Ya Gurl Ree (2012)
• J RockStar (2012)
• Fly High Gang (2012)
• Soulja P (2010 - 2015)
• The Triple M Boyz (D Phlo, Soulja P, Lil Zane) (2014–2015)

Personal life

In 2007 he attended St Andrews University.

In 2010 Zane had his first daughter named Nina.

In 2012 Zane was injured in an early morning car collision leaving 2 of his crew members including security personnel in the ICU with internal bleeding.

He was leaving a charity event in Tampa, Fl. which he performed at, The power steering of the vehicle failed causing the vehicle to be stalled parallel along the lanes of a busy highway before being struck by a speeding SUV.

On September 14, 2014 Zane was sent to the hospital due to kidney failure.

Controversy

Young Buck

On September 20, 2011 Lil Zane said on Street Disciplez Radio, G-Unit CEO 50 Cent would have made more money by signing him over former group member Young Buck. In addition to revealing his interest in working with 50 Cent, Zane also taunted Buck's music."Yo, he's garbage, he's garbage," Zane told radio host EI8HT referring to Young Buck. "He's garbage though, I don't think he's a good rapper. He might be a good person but you know, he probably feels the same way about me. So the feeling's mutual, you know? But I don't think he's the best rapper. I think I would have made 50 Cent a little more money. I think 50 needs to sign me, man. I think it needs to be 50 & 60 Cent or something because I'm more like 60 Cent. You know what I'm saying?^[21]

Game & Tyler, The Creator

In September 2011 on an interview with DJ Vlad, Game named Lil Zane one of the wackest rappers. Zane responded on a freestyle over the song "Niggas in Paris". In the freestyle he disses not only the Game but also Tyler, The Creator.

Discography

Studio albums

Note: In 2006 Lil Zane made an album called Under The Radar; it was never released.

Compilation albums

Mixtapes

Singles

Main-artist singles

Promotional singles

Featured singles

Filmography

• 2000: Finding Forrester (as High School Student)
• 2001: Lil' Bow Wow: Barking on the Road (as Interviewee)
• 2001: Dr. Dolittle 2 (as Eric)
• 2001: One on One (as Himself)
• 2000/2002: The Parkers (as Himself)
• 2003: Rap City (as Performer)
• 2003: The Fighting Temptations (as Derek)
• 2004: A Day in the Life (as Himself)
• 2004: Motives (as M'Kai)
• 2007: After Autumn (as Zane)
• 2008: Cuttin' da Mustard (as Patrick)
• 2008: The Black List: Volume One (as Interviewee)
• 2014: The 4th Quarter (TBA)

References

External links

• Lil Zane's channel on YouTube
• Lil Zane on Twitter
  
• Lil Zane at the Internet Movie Database
• Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived April 28, 2006)