Whatever Happened to Rapper Lil Wayne’s Group Sqad Up?

#NOLAZINE - Before Young Money became one of the biggest labels in hip-hop, launching the careers of Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga, Lil Wayne was part of another New Orleans rap collective known as Sqad Up.

Formed around the end of the 1990s, Sqad Up played an important role in Lil Wayne’s development from the youngest member of the Hot Boys into the unstoppable mixtape rapper who would eventually take over hip-hop.

The group included Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Kidd Kidd—then known as Nutt Da Kidd—T-Streets, Raw Dizzy, Young Yo, Supa Blanco, and other affiliated members. Producer and DJ Raj Smoove also helped shape the crew’s sound.

Although Sqad Up never became a major mainstream group, its mixtapes developed a strong following and introduced fans to the lyrical style Lil Wayne would later perfect.

The Beginning of Sqad Up

Sqad Up was formed while Lil Wayne was still signed to Cash Money Records and building his career alongside Juvenile, B.G., and Turk as a member of the Hot Boys.

Wayne was already successful, but Sqad Up gave him a different creative environment. Instead of relying only on Cash Money’s official album system, he could record freely with his friends, rap over popular industry beats, and release music directly to the streets.

The group’s lineup brought together several young artists connected through friendship, New Orleans, and a shared desire to succeed in music. They were not created by a television show or assembled inside a corporate office. Sqad Up felt like a genuine neighborhood crew.

That chemistry became one of the most appealing parts of the music.

The Legendary Sqad Up Mixtapes

During the early 2000s, Sqad Up released a series of mixtapes commonly known by titles such as SQ1, SQ2, SQ3, SQ4, SQ5, and SQ6. Other releases and remixed installments also circulated among fans.

The group frequently recorded over instrumentals from some of the biggest rap songs of the era. That approach gave Lil Wayne and the other members a chance to demonstrate their skills without the restrictions of creating a traditional studio album.

Songs such as “We Ready,” “Best of Me,” and the crew’s numerous freestyles became favorites among dedicated Wayne listeners.

These recordings captured an important stage in Lil Wayne’s artistic transformation. His delivery was becoming sharper, his punchlines were improving, and his confidence was growing with every release. Listeners could hear him experimenting with the nonstop wordplay that would later define projects such as Dedication 2, Da Drought 3, and No Ceilings.

The Sqad Up run helped establish the work ethic that eventually earned Wayne his reputation as one of the greatest mixtape rappers of all time.

Fans can still find early projects such as SQ1 on Audiomack, while LilWayneHQ’s history of the group documents its members and releases.

Why Didn’t Sqad Up Sign With Cash Money?

Despite Lil Wayne’s position at Cash Money Records, Sqad Up never became an official Cash Money group.

According to accounts of the group’s history, Sqad Up hoped to release an album through the label, but Cash Money co-founder Birdman reportedly did not believe the group was ready for that opportunity. The members eventually established their own independent label, Money Yung’N Records.

Lil Wayne faced a major decision. He could leave Cash Money and continue building Sqad Up, or remain with Birdman and focus on his solo career.

Wayne ultimately stayed with Cash Money.

That choice contributed to tension between him and some of his former group members. Music and lyrical exchanges followed as the relationship became strained. Meanwhile, Wayne continued moving forward with his solo career and released Tha Carter in June 2004.

The album became the beginning of a new chapter for him.

Sqad Up Continued Without Lil Wayne

After Wayne separated from the group, the remaining members continued recording as Sqad Up.

The crew released its independent album Now or Never in 2004. Members also worked with Houston rapper Lil’ Flip and released projects connected to his Clover G’z movement.

However, Sqad Up never experienced the commercial breakthrough its supporters expected. Plans for another album, reportedly titled We Here Now, did not result in a widely released project.

By approximately 2006, the group had largely gone in separate directions.

There was no single moment that ended Sqad Up. The breakup appeared to result from a combination of business disagreements, divided loyalties, missed opportunities, and individual members pursuing their own careers.

What Happened to the Members?

Several members continued working in music after the group’s original run ended.

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne became a global superstar. His Tha Carter album series, legendary mixtape run, and countless guest appearances transformed him into one of the most influential rappers of his generation.

He also founded Young Money Entertainment, which became home to Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tyga, and several former Sqad Up associates.

Gudda Gudda

Gudda Gudda reunited professionally with Lil Wayne and signed with Young Money. He appeared on the label’s 2009 compilation album We Are Young Money and delivered a verse on the hit single “BedRock.”

He continued releasing solo mixtapes and appearing on Young Money projects. Although he did not become as commercially successful as Wayne’s biggest artists, Gudda remained one of his longtime friends and collaborators.

Kidd Kidd

Kidd Kidd also reunited with Wayne and appeared on the 2008 hit “Mrs. Officer.” He later separated from Young Money and signed with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records.

Kidd Kidd became part of the reunited G-Unit lineup and was selected for the 2015 XXL Freshman Class. His journey made him one of the most visible former Sqad Up members outside of Wayne and Gudda Gudda.

T-Streets

T-Streets remained connected to Lil Wayne and Young Money. He appeared on various songs and projects over the years, although he maintained a lower public profile than several other members.

Raw Dizzy

Raw Dizzy continued releasing independent music and established his own movement. In 2016, he released “Heaven,” featuring Lil Wayne, showing that at least some of the old tension had been left in the past.

Young Yo, Supa Blanco, and other members continued their lives and creative pursuits but did not receive the same level of national exposure.

Did Sqad Up Ever Reunite?

Over the years, there have been signs that the original members wanted to reunite.

In 2015, Raw Dizzy shared information suggesting that a Sqad Up reunion project was being discussed. That same year, Lil Wayne brought Raw Dizzy, Kidd Kidd, and Gudda Gudda onstage during Lil WeezyAna Fest in New Orleans.

The reunion was an important moment for longtime supporters. Seeing the members together again reminded fans of the group’s influence on Wayne’s early career.

Raw Dizzy’s 2016 collaboration with Wayne created even more hope that a complete reunion album might happen. However, no full Sqad Up reunion project has received a major official release.

Sqad Up’s Place in New Orleans Hip-Hop History

Sqad Up’s story is bigger than album sales or chart positions.

The group represented an important transition in Southern hip-hop. Its members used mixtapes to build an audience, display their talent, and create excitement without depending completely on a major-label album campaign.

For Lil Wayne, the Sqad Up years served as a training ground. The constant recording, freestyling, and competition helped him develop the style that eventually made him a superstar.

The collective also introduced the world to artists such as Gudda Gudda and Kidd Kidd, both of whom went on to become part of nationally recognized rap movements.

Sqad Up may not be active as a full-time group today, but its music remains an essential part of Lil Wayne’s history. Dedicated fans still return to those early mixtapes to hear a young Wayne finding his voice alongside a hungry group of New Orleans rappers.

So, whatever happened to Sqad Up? The group separated as Lil Wayne’s solo career exploded and its members followed different paths. Some eventually reunited with Wayne, while others remained independent or stepped away from the spotlight.

They never reached their full potential as a group, but their influence lives on. Before Young Money became an empire and before Lil Wayne declared himself the best rapper alive, there was Sqad Up.