Lil Wayne is an American rapper who has been one of the most influential figures in hip hop over the past two decades. He has frequently referenced drinking “sizzurp” in his lyrics, which is a slang term for a drink that mixes prescription cough syrup containing codeine and promethazine with soda. This article will examine what exactly was contained in Lil Wayne’s sizzurp concoction and the impacts it had on his health and career.
What is Sizzurp?
Sizzurp, also known as “lean”, is a recreational drug popularized in the hip hop community. It is created by mixing prescription strength cough syrup containing codeine and promethazine with soft drinks like Sprite or Mountain Dew. The codeine provides the psychoactive effects while the promethazine enhances it. Additional ingredients like hard candy or Jolly Ranchers are sometimes added for extra sweetness.
Some of the street names for sizzurp include “lean”, “purple drank”, “syrup”, “drank”, “barre”, and “Texas tea”. It produces feelings of euphoria and relaxation due to the effects of the codeine. It also impairs motor skills, cognition, and vision. When taken in large doses, it can cause respiratory issues and extreme drowsiness.
History of Sizzurp in Hip Hop
Sizzurp emerged out of the hip hop scene in Houston, Texas in the 1960s and 70s. DJ Screw is credited with popularizing the concoction within the city’s underground rap scene. Southern rappers in the 1990s like Three 6 Mafia, UGK, and Big Moe then helped popularize it in mainstream hip hop.
Lil Wayne and other rappers from Cash Money Records were fundamental in spreading the drug outside of the South. Lil Wayne’s frequent references to sizzurp from the late 1990s onward made it a staple reference in hip hop lyrics. Other proponents included Pimp C of UGK, DJ Screw, Big Moe, Three 6 Mafia, and more recently Juicy J and Justin Bieber.
Lil Wayne’s History of Sizzurp Use
Lil Wayne first started referencing sizzurp in songs at the beginning of his career in the late 1990s as part of the Hot Boys group signed to Cash Money Records. Throughout his solo career and work with groups like the Hot Boys and Young Money, Lil Wayne’s lyrics contain constant nods to drinking lean.
Some examples of songs that reference lean include:
– “Me and My Drank” – This entire song is dedicated to Wayne’s love for sizzurp.
– “Lock & Load” – Mentions “sippin on that syrup”
– “Blowing Up Fast” – “Sippin on that sizzurp, got me cool, got me kissin’ cup”
– “Trippy” – “Sippin’ on, sippin’ on sizz, I sip it on”
In 2005, Lil Wayne released the song “I Feel Like Dying” which describes in detail a dangerous episode of sizzurp overdose. This highlighted just how severe his addiction had become:
“No matter how high I get, I ain’t feelin’ no better
So my shooter load up the chopper, he shot her
I feel like dying, no lie, ain’t no reason
I drink more lean than the Fountain of youth got water”
Contents of Lil Wayne’s Sizzurp
The exact ingredients and amounts of Lil Wayne’s preferred sizzurp concoction over the years is unknown. However, based on his lyrics and information about common sizzurp recipes, the likely contents included:
– Prescription strength cough syrup containing codeine and promethazine – This formed the main active ingredient to generate the high feeling. The most commonly referenced brand in Wayne’s lyrics is Actavis, which was his cough syrup of choice. However other brands like Qualitest and Hi-Tech would’ve also been used. The codeine content per 5ml serving in these syrups ranges from 10mg up to 60mg.
– Soft drink like Sprite, Mountain Dew, or fruit punch – The sweet soda gave the bitter tasting cough syrup a more palatable flavor.
– Hard candy like Jolly Ranchers – For additional sweetness and texture
– Ice cubes – To help chill the drink
The ratio of cough syrup to soft drink can vary based on preferences. A common ratio is 1-2 ounces of cough syrup per 4-6 ounces of soda. It’s been reported that Lil Wayne’s favored ratio was at least 2-3 ounces of cough syrup per serving. This equals a potentially dangerously high codeine dose per drink.
Impacts on Lil Wayne’s Health
Lil Wayne’s sizzurp addiction has caused some severe health scares and may have long term impacts on his health.
In 2013, he spent several days in the ICU after suffering multiple seizures caused by sizzurp overuse. He reportedly was drinking large amounts of sizzurp daily at the time, estimated at around 16-20 ounces. The seizures were caused by codeine withdrawal when he was hospitalized and unable to use the drug.
Repeated seizures like this can lead to permanent brain damage if left untreated. Luckily, Lil Wayne survived the incident but sizzurp likely still took its toll on his neurological health. Wayne has cited this hospitalization and his mom’s tearful plea for him to stop using sizzurp as his motivation to finally quit lean.
Other health impacts stem from the fact that extended opioid abuse suppresses respiratory function. It can lead to oxygen deprivation and damage of vital organs like the lungs and heart. This may have contributed to Lil Wayne’s ongoing issues with epilepsy as well.
The combination of seizures, hypoxic brain damage, and cardiovascular issues makes sizzurp an extremely dangerous habit for long term use.
Impacts on Lil Wayne’s Career
For better or worse, Lil Wayne’s public image has become strongly intertwined with sizzurp. Fans came to expect and enjoy his eccentric behavior and lyricism which were amplified by drug use. However, the consequences of addiction still took their toll.
Some of the negatives impacts of sizzurp on Lil Wayne’s career include:
– Several arrests and legal issues including weapon and drug charges that stemmed from reckless behavior. These resulted in jail sentences that disrupted his music career.
– Last minute cancellations of shows and tours. Lil Wayne’s drug abuse caused some erratic behavior and hospitalizations that prevented him from fulfilling tour obligations.
– A more reclusive public persona and unreliable presence. His addiction made Wayne harder to track down for interviews, features, and other opportunities.
– Diminished output and creativity at times. During low points of substance abuse, the frequency and quality of his music temporarily suffered.
However, Lil Wayne’s career has been defined as much by success as adversity. While the risks of substance abuse are apparent, drug references contributed to his edgy, outlaw image in hip hop. And creatively, his rhymes and flows display a brilliant wordplay and experimentation that was likely amplified by drug use.
So while Wayne’s talent and success made him hip hop royalty, it came with steep costs including health declines and instability caused by sizzurp addiction. His career has persevered thanks to a mix of good fortune and good music.
Lil Wayne’s Quitting of Sizzurp
After over 15 years of excessive sizzurp consumption, Lil Wayne finally made the decision to quit after his hospitalization in 2013. Realizing how close he came to dying, Wayne agreed to stop out of concern for his health and his family.
In subsequent years, he’s spoken honestly about the difficulty of quitting such an addictive habit cold turkey. He continues to fight cravings and the substance abuse mindset even years later. Staying busy and productive making music has been Wayne’s key strategy to avoid relapse.
He’s cited exercise and a healthier diet as important components as well. Lil Wayne also points to the birth of his three children as a motivating factor to preserve his health. While it’s an ongoing battle, stepping back from his dangerous addiction has given Lil Wayne a chance at a long life and sustained career.
Current Status of Sizzurp in Hip Hop
Though Lil Wayne and other rappers highlighting its use made sizzurp a cultural phenomenon in the 1990’s and 2000’s, recent years have seen lean fade from prominence. After the negative health impacts and deaths associated with it, sizzurp today carries a more controversial stigma in hip hop.
However, it remains a problematic addiction for some newer artists like Juice Wrld and ScHoolboy Q who’ve battled ongoing use. Soundcloud rapper Lil Peep died at 21 from an accidental overdose that involved sizzurp. So while no longer as openly promoted, sizzurp remains a serious risks for young artists drawn to its presence in hip hop history.
The future will tell if sizzurp stays relegated as a cautionary tale or makes another resurgence within hip hop culture. For now, the addictive dangers of recreational cough syrup use are well established within the rap community.
Conclusion
Lil Wayne’s heavy promotion and personal use of sizzurp over the past two decades cemented it as a fixture within hip hop. While recreational cough syrup abuse predated him, his incredible success as both a musician and public figure made sizzurp universally recognized as the drink of choice for rappers.
However, Wayne’s frequent seizures and near-death experience demonstrated the very real dangers of overusing the drug. Thankfully, he was able to quit sizzurp for good in 2013 before permanent health damage or accidental overdose. Wayne’s career and life continue to thrive in the years since stepping back from addiction.
But for impressionable fans, his influential presence as an addict complicated the legacy of sizzurp. His music and image glorified drug abuse even while publicly struggling through its consequences. Ultimately the life of Lil Wayne provides a cautionary tale on the toxic allure of dangerous substances even amongst the most talented artists.