Lil Wayne Explains How He Made Music While Serving Time

If there's one thing Lil Wayne is known for, it's his nonstop work ethic. And according to the rap icon, even a jail sentence couldn't keep him out of the studio.

During an interview on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, Wayne revealed that he continued recording music while serving eight months at New York's Rikers Island in 2010. His "studio" just looked a little different than usual.

"I went to the studio every night in jail," Wayne explained, saying he recorded verses over the phone from his cell. To lay down tracks, he'd tap out beats on a table while making sure everyone around him stayed quiet long enough to finish the session. He even timed his nightly phone calls around the facility's 10:45 p.m. lockdown so he could squeeze in as much recording time as possible.

Surprisingly, Wayne says his fellow inmates weren't too concerned about what he was doing. "They didn't really care what I was doing on the phone," he shared, adding that the people around him helped make the experience much easier than he expected.

When asked if serving time was the worst period of his life, Wayne said no. He credited those around him at Rikers for helping him adjust. He eventually settled into a routine that even included watching TV with other inmates.

Lil Wayne was released in November 2010 after serving eight months on a weapons conviction stemming from a 2007 arrest. More than 15 years later, his latest story offers another glimpse into the relentless dedication that's cemented his place as one of hip-hop's most prolific artists. Watch the full episode of the podcast below.