Zane Copeland Jr. (born July 11, 1982), known professionally as Lil' Zane or simply Zane, is an American rapping. He is perhaps best known for his 2000 single "Callin' Me" (featuring 112), 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, (2000), to moderate commercial response. The label also released his second album, The Big Zane Theory (2003), to commercial failure before parting ways with Copeland.
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 1999, his first single, "Money Stretch", was released for the
Next Friday soundtrack. In 2000, Lil' Zane released his debut studio album
, 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 (LaMar and LaNelle Seymour), 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.
[Lil Zane#cite note-7]
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 (Raps About Women).
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 ("Don't Spill My Liquor") and album ("Life I Live").
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 (
3ME) but then changed it to
U.S. Entertainment in 2006. Then in 2010, he changed it again to
Money Making Muzik (
MMM) 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 (2004–present)
-
Soulja P (2011–present)
-
D Phlo (2012–present)
Former artists
-
Real Young (2004–2006)
-
Drum Up (2005–2006)
-
Miss Honey (2010–2012)
-
Indyspensablz (2011–2012)
-
cool Gang (2012)
-
G$C (2012)
-
Ya Gurl Ree (2012)
-
J RockStar (2012)
-
Fly High Gang (2012)
Other
Zane wrote and performed an original track as the main menu theme for the game
Die Hard Trilogy 2.
Controversy
Young Buck
On September 20, 2011, Lil Zane said on Street Disciplez Radio,
G-Unit Records 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
|
| 1999 | "Money Stretch" | — | 122 | — | Next Friday OST |
| 2000 | "Callin' Me" (featuring 112) | 21 | 8 | 1 | |
"None Tonight" | — | 66 | 2 |
| 2003 | "Tonite I'm Yours" (featuring Tank) | — | 87 | — | The Big Zane Theory |
"To da River" (with T-Bone, and Montell Jordan) | — | — | — | The Fighting Temptations soundtrack |
| 2007 | "Like This" | — | — | — | Tha Return |
| 2010 | "Put It In My Lap" (featuring Tipse) | — | — | — | non-album single |
"So Expensive" (featuring GR Boyz) | — | — | — | The Missing Link Vol. 1 |
| 2011 | "My Girl" | — | — | — | Cognito Presents That's My Mic |
| 2013 | "When I Get Home" (featuring Young Joe)[[1] ] | — | — | — | Champagne & Dirty Sprite /
R.A.W (Raps About Women) |
| 2015 | Pussy On Fleek (featuring Jacob Latimore, Wash, LiL Scrappy) | — | — | — | No Love Lost |
| 2022 | Say Less | | | | Boxed In Soundtrack |
|
- Promotional singles
|
| 2000 | "Ways Of The World" | |
| "Top Down" |
| 2011 | "Must Be Nice" | The Missing Link Volume 1 |
| "Why You Mad" |
| "Stay On My Grind" |
| 2012 | "Sippin Hennessy" (featuring Tupac Shakur) | Champagne & Dirty Sprite |
| "Don't Trust Nobody" (featuring Shawty Lo) |
| "I Learned From You" (featuring Whitney Houston) | non-album single |
| 2013 | "Oh Heavenly Father" | Champagne & Dirty Sprite |
| "Call It What You Want" | non-album single |
| 2014 | "Roof Gone" | My World My Future |
| 2015 | "Seen Alot" | No Love Lost |
|
- Featured singles
|
|
| 1999 | "Anywhere" (with 112) | 15 | 5 | — | Room 112 |
| "Worldwide Renegade (Da Howg featuring Lil' Zane) | — | — | — | 3 Strikes (film) Soundtrack |
| 2001 | "Hardball" (as Lil Rascals with Bow Wow, Lil Wayne, Sammie) | — | 68 | — | Hardball soundtrack |
| 2010 | "Body Rock" (Bass Rock featuring Lil' Zane) | — | — | — | non-album single |
"We Are The World: The Next Generation" (with H. Wood City, Brian McKnight Jr., Taylor Parks, Bobby Tinsley, Tori Kelly, Montana Tucker, Mishon, Tyna Q, Sy Sylvers, Solre, Raz B, Kristy Flores, Marcel Dion, Bobbie Riley, Deja Riley, Naturi Naughton, Porscha Coleman, Ariana Pierce, Alyxx Dione, Lil Mama, Prima J, Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, Chani, Karen Flores) | — | — | — |
| 2011 | "De Gna (Go)" (Official Avo featuring Lil' Zane & Novva) | — | — | — |
| "Elevator" (Hustleman featuring Lil' Zane & J Soul) | — | — | — |
| "Body Rock 2" (CityStarz featuring Lil' Zane) | — | — | — |
"Go Hard" (J Bigga featuring Lil' Zane) | — | — | — |
| 2012 | "Take You There" (K-Tone featuring Lil' Zane & Ray Lavender) | — | — | — | The Real Tone Pt. 2 |
| 2013 | "Motivation" (Soulja P featuring Lil' Zane) | — | — | — | The Boot Camp |
| "When I Was 15" (Mac Trip Tha Don featuring Lil' Zane) | — | — | — | MOB Money's Everything |
| 2014 | "Pocket Watchin" (D Pholo featuring Lil' Zane, Shawty) | — | — | — | non-album single |
|
Filmography
Film
|
| 2000 | Finding Forrester | Damon | credited as Zane Copeland Jr. |
| 2001 | Dr. Dolittle 2 | Eric | |
| 2003 | The Fighting Temptations | Derek | credited as Zane Copeland Jr. |
| 2004 | Motives | M'Kai | credited as Zane Copeland Jr. |
| 2006 | The Sun Will Rise | Malachi | |
| 2007 | After Autumn | Derrick Parks | |
| 2008 | Skeletons in the Desert | Marcus Jackson | |
| 2008 | Cuttin Da Mustard | Patrick | |
| 2009 | A Day in the Life | Red | |
| 2014 | The 4th Quarter | Austin Graves | TV movie |
| 2017 | Love by Chance | Travis | |
| 2017 | When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story (TV Movie) | DJ Pierre | TV movie |
| 2017 | Good Streets | Ryan | |
| 2019 | The Bottom | Trap | Web Series (2 episodes) |
| 2022 | Gutter | Lil' Angry | |
| 2022 | Boxed In | Von | Peacock original |
Television
|
| 2000, 2002 | The Parkers | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | One on One | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2007 | All of Us | n/a | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Cold Case | Jester | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Moonlight | Clint | 1 episode |
| 2016 | Atlanta | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2021–2023 | BMF | Sockie | Recurring role |
| 2024–present | | Himself | Recurring role: Season 12 |
External links
