"Just buy it back" - Fans react as Lil Wayne's old lyric notebook goes up for sale at $5 million after long legal battle

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., a.k.a. Lil Wayne's old lyric notebook, featuring his iconic We On Fire, officially went on the market for sale for a staggering $5 million. The sale comes after a long-fought legal battle over the ownership was resolved earlier this year.

The amount comes as a shock because the notebook was listed at $250k back in 2019 by an unnamed man. At the time, the rapper sued for ownership, but the unnamed man argued he was the owner, stating, "Finders keepers."

However, Moments in Time, the company behind the sale, defended the new price, citing Wayne's status as one of the greatest rappers, adding:

""We on Fire" was the turning point in 1999 which made the world recognize the true sound of a group known as "HotBoys." This was the 2nd Single for the "HotBoys" but the 1st to put them on the map."

For the uninitiated, Weezy began his career with the hip-hop group Hot Boys with Cash Money Records labelmates B.G., Turk, and Juvenile. He was just 14 at the time. Their second album, Guerrilla Warfare (1999), featured the lead single We On Fire." It debuted atop the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Needless to say, the news caused quite a stir, prompting wild reactions from netizens. One even remarked the Lollipop rapper should:

"Just buy it back."

A comment reacting to the news (Image via X/ @nojumper)

Many remarked that the owner is not smart, making an enemy out of Weezy. Others joked that if they were to come into possession of a similar notebook, they wouldn't sell it but use it to begin their rap career. Here are some comments seen on X:

"making wayne your opp is the dumbest thing you can do," one fan wrote.

"that n*gga gon sell it to somebody for $5m? I could take that and rap that sh*t," a user quipped.

"Hell nah son lmao. Founders keepers is crazy lol," FENDI SEAN added.

Many argued that the man's claims of "finders keepers" were illogical. Whereas others reasoned that it was Lil Wayne's mistake to leave his "stuff unattended."

""Your honor i will use the nana nana boo boo defense because finder’s keepers,"" a fan joked.

"This why Wayne don't write no more," @RajSaibot added.

"Why would Wayne lift a finger or bat an eye lash? Finders keepers is right. Leave your stuff unattended - for years - and it ain’t yours anymore. Sorry, bud," another commented.

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After a five-year legal dispute, the court ruled against Lil Wayne in February 2024, granting the owner rights to sell Weezy's book

It is a known fact that Carter has not penned his lyrics since the early 2000s. In March 2019, TMZ reported that a notebook featuring Lil Wayne's handwritten lyrics was on sale. Per the publication, Moments in Time priced the item at $250K on behalf of the unnamed owner.

The notebook in question dates back to when Carter was 17 and writing for Hot Boys. The man claimed he found the book in a car previously owned by someone from Cash Money Records at the dealership he works at.

The owner stored the composition book in his garage for safekeeping until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Forced to evacuate, he rediscovered the book to check what was left of his property. He explained that most of his stuff was destroyed save a few things, including the box which contained the notebook.

However, Lil Wayne challenged the claim, sending a cease and desist letter to Moments in Time and demanding the return of his (Weezy's) property. Per the rapper, the owner was lying and trying to capitalize on his work.

The man argued "finders-keepers" and fought in court to prove his ownership. However, with no further response from the rapper, the court ruled against Lil Wayne.

Lil Wayne has not commented on the development at the time of this writing.