Contentious Lil Wayne documentary gets DVD release

A documentary that U.S. rapper Lil Wayne tried to block from release will be distributed on DVD in the U.S. starting next week.

The Carter is a 90-minute film that follows the New Orleans performer while he tours and promotes his 2008 album Tha Carter III.

Directed by Adama Bhala Lough, the film reportedly depicts the popular rapper's addiction to cough syrup. It premiered at the Sundance film festival in January.

Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., made legal attempts to block the film's cinematic distribution in April.

He argued the filmmaker and the film's producers, QD3 Entertainment, had portrayed him in a "negative light." He recently lost that claim but still has a lawsuit pending against the producers.

The documentary had originally been slated for general release but now, because of the lawsuit, it will only be distributed as a DVD in the U.S., starting Nov. 17.

It's been a rough time for the rapper, who is facing jail time after pleading guilty to a charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

He was also recently slapped with a copyright lawsuit by a Florida man who says he wasn't adequately compensated for spoken-word recordings used in Lil Wayne's joint album with hip hop artist Birdman, Like Father, Like Son.