Lil Zane
Zane Copeland Jr., known professionally as Lil' Zane or simply Zane, is an American rapper. He is perhaps best known for his 2000 single "Callin' Me", which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his only entry on the chart. The song led him to sign with Priority Records, who released his debut studio album, Young World: The Future, to moderate commercial response. The label also released Copeland's second album, The Big Zane Theory, to commercial failure before parting ways with the rapper.
Early life
At age 10, Zane was inspired by Another Bad Creation and Kris Kross. He got more serious about his eventual career and started rehearsing with his cousin E. Greene. He was first recognized by his fans when he was in a group called Kronic signed to RCA Records. They were signed from 1993 to 1996. They never put out any projects. He began entering local Atlanta talent shows upon the dissolution of the group. Then in 1999, he started touring with 112 while recording his debut album.Music career
1999–2002: ''Young World: The Future''
In 1998, he was featured on 112's single Anywhere as his first song. In 1999, his first solo single, "Money Stretch", was released for the Next Friday soundtrack. In 2000, Lil' Zane released his debut studio album Young World: The Future, which was preceded by the 112-assisted hit song "Callin' Me". The song peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, while the album debuted at number 165 on the Billboard 200 with 7,000 copies sold in its first week, and peaked at number 25 in its second week with 40,000 further copies. Furthermore, it peaked at number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. By 2018, the album sold 490,000 copies. In 2001, he guest appeared alongside Bow Wow, Lil Wayne and Sammie on the song "Hardball", released for the namesake 2001 film soundtrack. He later stated in an interview that he was working on an album titled It Ain't Over, which was later changed to The Big Zane Theory.2003: ''The Big Zane Theory''
In 2003, Lil Zane released his second album, The Big Zane Theory. With the album, he formally changed his stage name from Lil' Zane to simply Zane. Copeland explained "Zane is my real name, that's the name that's on my birth certificate and my mom likes that name" for changing his name in a BallerStatus.net interview. The album failed to match the success of Zane's previous album, as it charted at No. 191 on the Billboard 200's chart with 6,423 copies sold. It also charted at No. 39 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The only single that was released on the album was "Tonite I'm Yours" which peaked at No. 87 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The album sold 40,000 copies in total soon afterwards Zane would leave Priority Records due to lack of financial compensation, artist support, and promotion to go on a five-year hiatus from music to focus on his acting career.2004–2008: ''Under the Radar'' and ''Tha Return''
On December 30, 2004, it was announced that Zane has formed a new record label by the name of "3 Mill Entertainment" together with MAM Group, Inc. He announced that he had started working on his third album, Under the Radar. The album was to feature artist like Real Young, Raz B, Jon B, Bone Crusher, Akon, Drum Up, and Rich Boy. The album was going to get released in Spring 2005, but then was pushed back to fall and was never released. In late 2006, Zane started to work on another new album, Tha Return. The album was released on February 26, 2008. The album failed to match the success of Zane's previous albums, as it failed to make it to any Billboard charts. The only single that was released on the album was "Like This" which also failed to chart also. The single has gotten over 150,000 views on YouTube to date and is known as Zane's comeback single.2010–present: ''My World: My Future''
In 2010, he made special appearance at the ten-year anniversary of 106 & Park in Los Angeles with Ray J and Tony Marsley also known as AK. He announced he was releasing a mixtape entitled The Missing Link and a new single entitled "Put It In My Lap". March 1, 2010, Zane was featured on We Are The World: The Next Generation. The song has gotten over 2,000,000 views on YouTube alone. On March 8, 2011, Zane released a promo single off his mixtape The Missing Link Volume 1 called "Must Be Nice". On April 28, 2011, a rumor circulated that Zane signed to Cash Money Records. Later, the statement was proven false. On June 7, 2011, Zane released a new single called "My Girl". On February 2, 2012, Zane announced the title of his fourth album called My World: My Future along with a release of a single called "Sippin Hennessy" featuring Tupac Shakur. The song has gotten over 100,000 views on YouTube and 150,000 views on WorldStarHipHop alone. On May 14, 2013, Zane released a new song called "When I Get Home" featuring Young Joe which is featured on his mixtapes Champagne & Dirty Sprite and R.A.W. On September 18, 2013, Zane announced that the lead single off his upcoming album is called "Roof Gone". As of January 1, 2016, it is known that Zane is now working with battle rapper Levi Fresco to help ghostwrite his upcoming single and album.Other ventures
Acting career
Zane acted in several movies and television shows, including Cuttin' da Mustard, The Parkers, One on One, A Day in the Life, Motives, The Fighting Temptations, Dr. Dolittle 2 and Finding Forrester.Money Making Muzik (MMM)
In 2004, Zane signed a two-year agreement with MAM Group, Inc, Inc which granted him his own record label 3 Mill Entertainment but then changed it to U.S. Entertainment in 2006. Then in 2010, he changed it again to Money Making Muzik after buying B1 Music Group for a significant amount of money which is yet to be disclosed. In 2010, Zane signed many talents including spotlight Florida artist Soulja P and others.Current artists
- Lil Zane
- Soulja P
- D Phlo
- Real Young
- Drum Up
- Miss Honey
- Indyspensablz
- cool Gang
- G$C
- Ya Gurl Ree
- J RockStar
- Fly High Gang
Other
Controversy
Young Buck
On September 20, 2011, Lil Zane said on Street Disciplez Radio, G-Unit CEO 50 Cent would have made more money by signing him over former group member Young Buck. In addition to revealing his interest in working with 50 Cent, Zane also taunted Buck's music. "Yo, he's garbage, he's garbage," Zane told radio host EI8HT referring to Young Buck. "He's garbage though, I don't think he's a good rapper. He might be a good person but you know, he probably feels the same way about me. So the feeling's mutual, you know? But I don't think he's the best rapper. I think I would have made 50 Cent a little more money. I think 50 needs to sign me, man. I think it needs to be 50 & 60 Cent or something because I'm more like 60 Cent. You know what I'm saying?Discography
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Mixtapes
Singles
;Main-artist singles| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | Album |
| 1999 | "Money Stretch" | — | 122 | — | Next Friday OST |
| 2000 | "Callin' Me" | 21 | 8 | 1 | Young World: The Future |
| 2000 | "None Tonight" | — | 66 | 2 | Young World: The Future |
| 2003 | "Tonite I'm Yours" | — | 87 | — | The Big Zane Theory |
| 2003 | "To da River" | — | — | — | The Fighting Temptations soundtrack |
| 2007 | "Like This" | — | — | — | Tha Return |
| 2010 | "Put It In My Lap" | — | — | — | non-album single |
| 2010 | "So Expensive" | — | — | — | The Missing Link Vol. 1 |
| 2011 | "My Girl" | — | — | — | Cognito Presents That's My Mic |
| 2013 | "When I Get Home" | — | — | — | Champagne & Dirty Sprite / R.A.W |
| 2015 | Pussy On Fleek | — | — | — | No Love Lost |
| 2022 | Say Less | Boxed In Soundtrack |
;Promotional singles
| Year | Song | Album |
| 2000 | "Ways Of The World" | Young World: The Future |
| 2000 | "Top Down" | Young World: The Future |
| 2011 | "Must Be Nice" | The Missing Link Volume 1 |
| 2011 | "Why You Mad" | The Missing Link Volume 1 |
| 2011 | "Stay On My Grind" | The Missing Link Volume 1 |
| 2012 | "Sippin Hennessy" | Champagne & Dirty Sprite |
| 2012 | "Don't Trust Nobody" | Champagne & Dirty Sprite |
| 2012 | "I Learned From You" | non-album single |
| 2013 | "Oh Heavenly Father" | Champagne & Dirty Sprite |
| 2013 | "Call It What You Want" | non-album single |
| 2014 | "Roof Gone" | My World My Future |
| 2015 | "Seen Alot" | No Love Lost |
| 2015 | - | - |
;Featured singles