After reading the Lil Wayne cover story in VIBE's November 2007 issue, Antonia "Toya" Carter, Lil Wayne's ex-wife, wanted to give her side of the story. In the first part of this exclusive Q&A, she speaks about their history. She also loaned us a whole gang of photos - which seem to show they did have love, if only for a time - which we'll be publishing here on vibe.com over the next few days. Maybe even this afternoon... if we feel like it. Keep checking back for everything you never knew about Lil Wayne... and the craziest photos you've never seen.
VIBE: How did you first meet Lil Wayne?
Antonia "Toya" Carter: I met Dwayne in middle school. He used to come perform there. We started messing around my seventh grade year up until high school. I got pregnant with my daughter during high school. We were boyfriend/girlfriend, in love.
How old were you then?
We had a baby at fourteen...we were in love. It wasn't about 'His mom was lonely.' I never heard that before. His Dad had passed away and his mom was by herself, but it had nothing to do with how my daughter came about. It was just something that happened.
So he never asked you to have a baby?
No, he never really asked me to have a baby. He mentioned that he wanted a baby someday, but we didn't know it was going to be that soon. It just happened during the time we were dating.
Was it a surprise when you found out you were pregnant?
Yeah, it was a complete surprise. My family wanted me to have an abortion because we were only fourteen and fifteen. I wasn't with that because me and my aunt – who I lived with at the time - didn't really believe in that. His mother [said] she'd help me with the baby. It was a surprise to his mother too. His mother never told him, like he said in the interview, to go out and find someone. She was like, y'all young, but I'll help you out with the baby. It was a complete surprise to everyone.
Why do you think he'd say something like that?
I really don't know. People these days say anything to sell, but you have to realize you can't say anything to sell music anymore. It don't just affect me or him. It affects our child, too, because she reads these things and hears these things. That's the only reason I want to speak out about it.
How old is your daughter?
She's 8 years old. She's extremely bright and talented, just like her Daddy. She's perceptive and attentive. She's a very smart little girl. And I only can protect her from so much.
Me and [Dwayne] were crazy in love. We were inseparable. I would say I was one of his best friends at the time, up until now. I'm still a good friend of Dwayne. We have a good relationship. I really don't know why he said these negative things.
How is your relationship now?
We really don't see much of each other and when we do, sometimes he gets on his kick about family, he wants to be with us, you know, 'f' these b's. You know how men talk.
We really don't have a real relationship where we're together a lot, but we talk here and there. We call and talk to each other once in awhile, maybe say a few things -- "I love you." When he needs someone to talk to, I'm always there for him and when I need someone to talk to, he's there.
How about his relationship with his daughter?
Wayne, he takes good care of his daughter. He's become a better father over the years. He's a great provider. He talks to his daughter more than he ever did. He started this new thing where he has to call her every night before she goes to bed and that's something I love. They have a great relationship.
How about financially?
Wayne is a great provider. He really is. He is a great provider. He gives his daughter everything.
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