Lil Wayne is still enjoying the success of last year’s “Tha Carter III.” The record went on to sell more than a million copies its first week. It was the best selling album of 2008 and was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album at the 51st Grammy Awards.So what’s next for the “best rapper alive?” How can he possibly top the success of “Tha Carter III?”By releasing a rock album.Lil Wayne announced on Jan. 23 on MTV that his next album due out April 7 will not be a re-release of “Tha Carter III,” but a new rock album titled “Rebirth.”Lil Wayne making a rock album? Seems a bit odd. But on Jan. 27 the first track from the album “Prom Queen” appeared on Lil Wayne’s MySpace page.I have to be honest when I say I didn’t really care for Lil Wayne’s new material. After listening to “Prom Queen” and “Hot Revolver,” a track leaked from the new album, I was skeptical this album would prove to be successful.I really wasn’t a big fan of “A Milli” when it came out either, but after repeated listens I fell in love with the track. I’m hoping the same thing happens with his new material.And while “Rebirth” might not be an album I’ll enjoy, I am glad Lil Wayne chose to do this.It sends a message that regardless of what’s popular in the music scene today, some artists can be successful while taking a new direction in their musical careers.Kanye West was put under the radar late last year when he released “808’s and Heartbreak.” The album was filled with auto-tuned lyrics over tribal drum beats, a different direction from tuned up soul samples.The album received mixed reviews but maintained a strong position the Billboard charts, reaching  No. 1 on Dec. 13. The album proved to be a success for West, calling it his best album to date in Vibe magazine.It goes to show some musicians can be successful even when they branch out from the sound that made them famous.Some musicians pursue other goals besides music and take their chances with acting.After the success of Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé went solo and found immediate success. She was cast in an MTV made-for-television movie “Carmen: A Hip Hopera.” The musical film was directed by Robert Townsend and starred Mos Def, Wyclef Jean and Mekhi Phifer.Beyoncé also had other success in acting, like starring in the movies “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “The Fighting Temptations” and “The Pink Panther.”Other celebrities have even tried their luck in music.After recording minor hit songs “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “Summertime” as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Will Smith landed his own show, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”Smith began a dual career, releasing “Big Willie Style” in 1997 while also starring in “Independence Day” and “Men in Black.” Smith is now one of the most popular actors in Hollywood, commanding at least $20 million per film.While these actors and musicians found success in either television or music, other celebrities don’t receive the same warm response.After playing John McClane in the “Die Hard” film series, Bruce Willis released a pop blues album entitled “The Return of Bruno” which was received with mixed reviews, not scoring higher than 14th on the billboard chart.Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael even started their own band called The Bacon Brothers. They have released four albums since 1997.And while The Bacon Brothers aren’t one of the artists on my iTunes, it still proves actors and musicians can pursue other goals in different fields and find more fame and success.The latest addition to this gang is Joaquin Phoenix. The actor who has starred and written music for “Walk the Line” while also appearing in “Gladiator,” “Ladder 49” and “We Own the Night.”Phoenix announced his retirement from acting in October to focus on a music career.He performed his first rap show earlier this month and is said to be working on an album with the Charlatan’s front man, Tim Burgess.Whether Phoenix will succeed as a rapper is to be determined, but he definitely has the ability to have some kind of successful music career.He is another example of a celebrity with the ability to conquer more than one genre in his career.So until the release of “Rebirth” on April 7, I’ll just keep an open ear out for some new songs from Lil Wayne and hope they grow on me. And if not, it won’t be too much longer before “Tha Carter 4” comes out.