Patrick Dhane Lanshaw[1] (born October 6, 1982),[2] better known by his stage name Lil Wyte, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. Lanshaw is a member of the rap collective Hypnotize Minds and owner of the independent label Wyte Music.[3]
Early life
Growing up in Frayser, Lil Wyte discovered his rapping talent at a young age as he could rap Sir Mix-a-Lot's entire song "Baby Got Back" completely. He participated in freestyle battles at high school when he was in ninth grade. Lanshaw rapped with his friend "Lil Black", who inspired him to use the pseudonym "Lil Wyte" and write songs instead of freestyling.[4]
Lil Wyte was part of a local rap group, the Shelby Forest Click.[6]
The group's home-made demo tape came to the attention of Three 6 Mafia. Juicy J and DJ Paul (one song in particular is said to have gotten him signed, a song titled Memphiz Playaz). Three 6 Mafia signed the rapper and worked later with his debut album.[7] Lil Wyte appeared on Project Pat's song "Crash da Club" from his album Layin' da Smack Down in 2002.[1] His debut album Doubt Me Now was released in 2003 and it became popular, selling over 135,000 copies without promotion. The album Doubt Me Now featured Juvenile, Three 6 Mafia, Frayser Boy, La Chat and Josey Scott. The album had three popular songs: "Oxy Cotton", "My Smoking Song", and "Acid".[4][8]
Lil Wyte passed up the opportunity of writing the song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp", because he could not relate to the lyrics of having more than one woman.[10]
