On Nov. 2, 1999, Lil Wayne dropped his major label solo debut album, Tha Block Is Hot.

Produced entirely by legendary producer Mannie Fresh, the project further showcased Wayne's lyrical skills, firmly placing him at the top of Cash Money's roster, alongside Juvenile, whose classic 400 Degreez dropped a year earlier.

The album's title track featured BG and Juvenile and helped propel it to platinum status — it also debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200.

At the time of its release, Wayne, who signed his first record deal at 15, was already recognized as a gifted prodigy, the youthful key to the future of Cash Money. He ended up stretching much further as he continued in his solo career, directly influencing much of contemporary Hip-Hop as a whole.

The starting point for his clever lyricism and innovative style, Tha Block Is Hot is an early reminder of Wayne's genius.