Lil Wayne | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Lil Wayne began his career as a near-novelty, a preteen delivering hardcore Southern hip-hop. Through years of maturation and prolific output, during which the delivery of his humorous and wordplay-heavy rhymes gradually changed from ringing and pugnacious to stoned and rasped, he developed into a million-selling artist with a massive body of work, one so inventive and cunning that it makes his claim of being the "best rapper alive" worth considering. Wayne debuted at the age of 12, received his first platinum certification only five years later as a member of the Hot Boys, and immediately thereafter became a formidable solo artist with Tha Block Is Hot (1999), his first of nine Top Ten pop albums. During a period of constant output entailing not just successful albums but also reputation-building mixtapes and featured appearances on pop hits like Destinys Childs "Soldier" (2004), he reached mainstream superstar status with Tha Carter III (2008). A triple-platinum blockbuster, it spawned the number one pop hit "Lollipop" and the number six follow-up "A Milli," and netted three Grammy awards, including Best Rap Album. Throughout the 2010s, despite numerous legal and creative battles, Wayne continued to be a regular presence on the upper reaches of the charts with albums such as Tha Carter IV (2011) and I Am Not a Human Being II (2013), additional smash singles as a headliner, and a continually lengthening list of collaborative hits, including the multi-platinum "Sucker for Pain" (for the Suicide Squad soundtrack in 2016) and "Im the One" (headlined by DJ Khaled in 2017). Born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. and raised in the infamous New Orleans neighborhood of Hollygrove, Lil Wayne was a straight-A student but never felt his true intelligence was expressed through any kind of report card. He found music was the best way to express himself, and after taking the name Gangsta D he began writing rhymes. Combining a strong work ethic with aggressive self-promotion, the 11-year-old convinced the Cash Money label to take him on, even if it was just for odd jobs around the office. A year later, in-house producer Mannie Fresh partnered him with the 14-year-old B.G. and dubbed the duo the B.G.z. Although only B.G.s name appeared on the cover, the 1995 album True Story has since been accepted as the B.G.z debut album both by fans and the Cash Money label. The 1997 album Chopper City was supposed to be the follow-up, but when Wayne accidentally shot himself in the chest with a 9mm pistol, it became a solo B.G. release. That same year, he officially took the moniker Lil Wayne, dropping the "D" from his first name in order to separate himself from an absent father. He joined B.G., Juvenile, and Young Turk for another Fresh project, the teen hardcore rap group the Hot Boys, who released their debut album, Get It How U Live!, in 1997. Two years later, Cash Money signed a distribution deal with the major-label Universal. Mainstream distribution helped that years Hot Boys album Guerrilla Warfare to reach the number one spot on Billboards Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 1998, Lil Wayne appeared on Juveniles hit single "Back That Thing Up," or "Back That Azz Up" as it appeared on Juvies album 400 Degreez. Wayne launched his solo career a year later with the album Tha Block Is Hot, featuring the hit single title track. It went double platinum but the rapper was still unknown to Middle America, since his hardcore rhymes and the rough Cash Money sound had not yet crossed over. His second album, Lights Out (2000), failed to match the success of its predecessor but it did go gold, and with an appearance on the Big Tymers hit single "#1 Stunna," his audience was certainly growing. While Fresh was primarily responsible for launching his career, Wayne was now much closer to Freshs fellow Big Tymer and Cash Money CEO Birdman. When Juvenile left the label, Wayne -- or "Birdman Jr." as he was calling himself -- showed his allegiance to his CEO by releasing an album with a title much hotter than Juvies breakthrough effort. 500 Degreez landed in 2002 and while it went gold, rumors began flying about Cash Moneys financial troubles and possible demise. The rest of the Hot Boys had defected and Waynes planned 2003 album was scrapped, coming out instead as an underground mixtape called Da Drought. Wayne became enamored with the mixtape world after Da Drought drew so much attention from the hip-hop press. He used these underground releases to drum up anticipation for his next official album, the breakthrough effort Tha Carter. Released in 2004, the album seemed familiar on one hand with Mannie Freshs production, but the Wayne on the cover was a dreadlocked surprise, and the rhymes he laid on the tracks showed significant growth. His marketing skills had become sharper, too, and it was no mistake that the albums hit single, "Go DJ," mentioned hip-hops greatest tastemakers right in the title. It reached number five on the singles chart, and with a guest shot on Destinys Childs number three single "Soldier," Wayne had officially crossed over. On the flipside, his street cred was supported by a slew of mixtapes released in 2005, including the popular titles Dedication with DJ Drama and Tha Suffix with DJ Khaled. Cash Moneys future was no longer in doubt and traditional music business rules no longer seemed to apply, as tracks were leaked onto the Internet and various DJs mixtapes. "Get Something" was another bold move, as a Universal-funded video was made without the track ever seeing official release. With his alternative marketing scheme working in overdrive, the 2005 landing of Tha Carter II was a major event, selling over a quarter-million copies the week of its release. "Fireman" and "Shooter" with Robin Thicke were released as singles, while the album -- which for the first time featured no Mannie Fresh productions -- went platinum. It also introduced his Young Money posse, with appearances from Curren$y and Nicki Minaj, and initially came with a bonus disc featuring Waynes greatest-hits screwed and chopped by Swishahouse DJ Michael "5000" Watts. A year later he collaborated with Birdman for the Like Father, Like Son album, featuring the hit single "Stuntin Like My Daddy." His mixtapes were still flooding the underground, including the stunning Dedication 2, which came with an iconic image of the rapper on the cover plus the much talked-about track "Georgia...Bush," a venomous response to President George W. Bushs handling of the Katrina disaster. With no official follow-up to Tha Carter II in sight, numerous collaborative tracks kept the rapper in the mainstream with "Gimme That" by Chris Brown, "Make It Rain" by Fat Joe, and "Duffle Bag Boy" by Playaz Circle becoming three of the biggest hits. Tha Carter III was promised for 2007 but didnt arrive until a year later, setting off Waynes reputation for delayed releases. Part of the problem was the unauthorized leaks of the albums tracks, something combatted by the official downloadable EP The Leak, released that same year. Preceded by the number one hit "Lollipop," Tha Carter III arrived in May 2008, selling more than a million copies in its first week of release. An appearance on Saturday Night Live and a handful of Grammy Awards -- including Best Rap Album -- spoke to Waynes mainstream acceptance. He also performed at that years Country Music Awards with Kid Rock, but rather than rap, he played guitar. The guitar playing was part of Waynes new involvement with rock music, including his help in signing Kevin Rudolf to Cash Money plus an appearance on Rudolfs massive hit "Let It Rock." His planned rock album was previewed with the 2009 single "Prom Queen," but when the album failed to meet its promised April release, the music press began to portray the rapper as the king of missed street dates. Unconcerned, Wayne forged ahead with his Young Money crew, releasing the underground mixtape Young Money Is the Army, Better Yet the Navy, the aboveground single "Every Girl," plus the official album We Are Young Money that same year. His rock album, Rebirth, finally appeared in early 2010, and coincided with Wayne being sentenced to a nine-month prison term for criminal possession of a weapon. The rapper may have been behind bars on Rikers Island, but that didn’t stop his ten-song EP, I Am Not a Human Being, from seeing the light of day in September 2010. Tha Carter IV was finally released in 2011 along with its lead-off single "6 Foot 7 Foot." The album reached the top spot on the Billboard 200. In 2013, unfazed by criticism that a controversial verse he contributed to Futures "Karate Chop" -- he made a reference to Emmett Till, a black teenager gruesomely murdered in 1955 by white men -- was in poor taste, Wayne released a second volume of I Am Not a Human Being. The album debuted at number two and featured the singles "No Worries" and "Love Me." A sequence of singles intended for the repeatedly delayed Tha Carter V ensued, with "Believe Me," featuring Drake, an addition to Waynes stockpile of certified platinum hits. Another track -- "Nothing But Trouble" featuring Charlie Puth -- was released in 2015 as a contribution to the soundtrack for 808: The Movie. That same year -- to make up for fan disappointment over Tha Carter Vs delays -- Wayne self-released Sorry 4 the Wait 2. By 2016, Wayne had become embroiled in a legal battle with Birdman and Cash Money Records, further complicating the fate of Tha Carter V. These continued delays prompted the release of Free Weezy Album, yet another mixtape to tide over his fans. By the end of the year, he published a memoir about his time spent at Rikers Island (Gone Til November) and scored another hit with "Sucker for Pain," a collaboration for the chart-topping Suicide Squad soundtrack. The all-star track topped the Billboard rap chart and rose to number three on the R&B;/hip-hop chart. DJ Khaleds "Im the One" became one of Waynes biggest collaborations the following year, topping the pop chart on its way to quintuple-platinum status. Primarily collaborative work continued well into 2018, including a contribution to the Future-driven soundtrack for Superfly. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 20 Title: Tha Block Is Hot Released: 1999-11-02 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:10:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro (01:47) 2 Tha Block Is Hot (04:12) 3 Loud Pipes (05:14) 4 Watcha Wanna Do (03:50) 5 Kisha (04:17) 6 High Beamin (04:09) 7 Lights Off (04:06) 8 Fuck tha World (04:46) 9 Remember Me (03:53) 10 Respect Us (05:01) 11 Drop It Like Its Hot (05:23) 12 Young Playa (03:47) 13 Enemy Turf (04:19) 14 Not Like Me (04:03) 15 Come On (03:35) 16 Up to Me (04:31) 17 You Want War (03:25) |
| Tha Block Is Hot : Allmusic album Review : Shortly after establishing himself as a prominent member of the Hot Boys, Lil Wayne entered the solo realm with Tha Block Is Hot. From beginning to end, the teen rapper gets plenty of assistance from his former group mates (Juvenile, B.G., and Turk), who back him on just over half of the albums 17 songs. In addition, the Big Tymers (Brian "Baby" Williams and Mannie Fresh) make several appearances as well, and Fresh produces the entire album. Considering all this, Tha Block Is Hot isnt much different from other late-90s Cash Money releases like 400 Degreez, Chopper City in the Ghetto, and How You Luv That? Like those albums, Tha Block Is Hot is essentially a group effort despite Waynes solo billing. Even so, he still gets plenty of time to shine here, particularly on the fiery album-opening title track, which proved to be one of Cash Moneys biggest hits to date. The remainder of the album is as solid as late-90s Cash Money albums get -- a few standouts here and there, mostly because of Freshs beats, with lots of filler toward the latter half of the album. Taken as a whole, Tha Block Is Hot surely has its moments, though Wayne still seems a little green here. Thankfully, the Cash Money posse comes to his aid often, resulting in an excellent debut for the youngster, highlighted by the title track. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 20 Title: Lights Out Released: 2000-12-19 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:15:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro (Watch Them People) (00:34) 2 Get Off the Corner (04:45) 3 On the Grind (03:51) 4 Hit U Up (05:11) 5 Everything (04:41) 6 Fuck Wit Me Now (04:33) 7 Lil One (03:11) 8 Break Me Off (04:25) 9 Skit (00:42) 10 Wish You Would (04:14) 11 Grown Man (04:33) 12 Shine (05:04) 13 Jump Jiggy (04:13) 14 Realized (04:00) 15 Tha Blues (03:49) 16 Lets Go (04:22) 17 Biznite (04:44) 18 Act a Ass (04:08) 19 Beef (04:24) |
| Lights Out : Allmusic album Review : Lil Wayne may still be a youngster on his second album, Lights Out, but he shows substantial growth, dropping serious lyrics over some of Mannie Freshs wildest production to date. More than anything, the serious tone and the wild beats come as somewhat of a surprise. Up until this point, the Cash Money camp had churned out a staggering number of releases during the late 90s. These releases were anything but serious or wild, instead prototypically Dirty South with their big, bass-heavy bounce beats and brash, bling-bling boastful banter. Lights Out retains plenty of this but is notably ambitious. Wayne is out to prove himself as more than a teen phenomenon, showcasing a socially conscious side largely absent on his debut, and Fresh is out to prove himself as a versatile producer, crafting a sonically adventurous sound denser than his past work. This ambition is somewhat fascinating, particularly for anyone who has followed Cash Moneys evolution to here; however, its also a bit overreaching. Wayne is deep on heartfelt songs like "Everything" and "Grown Man," and he is street-smart on insightful songs like "Lil One" and "Get off the Corner." Hes much more effective, though, when he lightens up his lyrics and has fun, as on "Shine," "Lets Go," and "Hit U Up," three album highlights. Similarly, Mannie Fresh misfires here and there on Lights Out, like on the oddly bluesy "Fuck Wit Me Now" but, for the most part, has never been more creative. His stuttering beats on "Tha Blues" are breathtaking, as are the Eastern-style ones on "Hit U Up," and the album-opener, "Get off the Corner," sounds absolutely massive. The only problem with all of these is that you have to find them among the whopping 19 songs on Lights Out, making it somewhat of a frustrating album despite its several highlights. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 20 Title: 500 Degreez Released: 2002-07-23 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:11:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Fly Talkin (01:37) 2 Look at Me (04:02) 3 Way of Life (04:01) 4 Big Tigger Live on the Radio (01:33) 5 Gangstas and Pimps (04:43) 6 Lovely (04:04) 7 Gangsta Shit (03:42) 8 Big Tigger Live on the Radio (01:00) 9 Bloodline (04:23) 10 Where You At (03:52) 11 Worry Me (04:08) 12 500 Degreez (03:47) 13 Go Hard (03:32) 14 Youngn Blues (04:34) 15 Believe That (04:14) 16 Rob Nice Live on the Radio (01:15) 17 Fuck You (04:22) 18 What Does Life Mean to Me (01:27) 19 Get That Dough (03:40) 20 Fo Sheezy (03:46) 21 Fly Talkin Go Home (03:20) |
| 500 Degreez : Allmusic album Review : Following Big Tymers Hood Rich on up the charts, Lil Waynes third album tries to trump the big Cash Money hit by ex-labelmate Juvenile (400 Degreez). With the smooth, laid-back productions of Mannie Fresh leading the way for Waynes drawling delivery, 500 Degreez does just that. Yes, its a little top-heavy, but the highlights come quickly, with the leadoff (after the intro) "Look at Me" sporting a freakfest vibe along with Freshs top-flight beats. The whole albums powered by the infectious party hit "Way of Life," building on the rocksteady rhythm of Eric B. & Rakims "Paid in Full." Even better is "Gangsta Shit," a synth-heavy roller with Petey Pablo besting even Wayne himself on the mic. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 20 Title: SQ6 Released: 2003 Tracks: 19 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Intro (?) 2 Throwback Track (?) 3 In the Club (?) 4 Don’t Give a Fuck (?) 5 Monster Music (?) 6 What We Do (?) 7 Wanksta (?) 8 Ignition (?) 9 Don’t Fuck With Me (?) 10 Excuse Me Miss (?) 11 Young Money, Cash Money (?) 12 I’m Doin’ OK (?) 13 Beautiful (?) 14 We Grind (?) 15 What Happened to Dat Boy (?) 16 I’m About It (?) 17 Sqad Check In (?) 18 Roll On (?) 19 Made You Look (?) |
 | Album: 5 of 20 Title: Tha Carter Released: 2004-06-22 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:19:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Walk In (03:04) 2 Go DJ (04:41) 3 This Is the Carter (04:36) 4 BM J.R. (04:58) 5 On the Block #1 (00:18) 6 I Miss My Dawgs (04:35) 7 We Dont (04:09) 8 On My Own (04:28) 9 Tha Heat (04:36) 10 Cash Money Millionaires (04:42) 11 Inside (01:30) 12 Bring It Back (04:21) 13 Who Wanna (04:32) 14 On the Block #2 (00:24) 15 Get Down (04:32) 16 Snitch (03:55) 17 Hoes (04:32) 18 Only Way (04:33) 19 Earthquake (05:16) 20 Aint That a Bitch (04:16) 21 Walk Out (01:08) |
| Tha Carter : Allmusic album Review : It would be easy to read too much into the title of Lil Waynes fourth album, especially in light of a mixtape (cunningly titled The Prefix) that preceded this, which featured the MC over a handful of tracks off Shawn "Jay-Z" Carters Black Album. The title actually refers to Lil Waynes actual last name (hint: it isnt Wayne), in addition to referencing the apartments run by Wesley Snipes character in New Jack City. Although much has been made about Waynes growth and new world view, theres about as much change as youd expect from a Southern rap star who has been in the public eye from his late teens to his twenties. Mannie Freshs stout production is in effect as ever, and to the MCs credit, the rhymes are less measured and are all the better for it. To beat that dead horse one more time, the album is far too long and not concerned enough with the quality control, despite including more than enough bright spots to keep the followers following. At just over 79 minutes in length, its made evident that the length would actually be just over 89 minutes if a CD could hold 90 minutes worth of music. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 20 Title: Tha Carter II Released: 2005-12-06 Tracks: 37 Duration: 2:29:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Tha Mobb (05:20) 2 Fly In (02:23) 3 Money on My Mind (04:31) 4 Fireman (04:23) 5 Mo Fire (03:23) 6 On tha Block #1 (skit) (00:38) 7 Best Rapper Alive (04:53) 8 Lock and Load (04:46) 9 Oh No (03:11) 10 Grown Man (04:06) 11 On tha Block #2 (skit) (00:26) 12 Hit Em Up (04:07) 13 Carter II (02:24) 14 Hustler Musik (05:03) 15 Receipt (03:48) 16 Shooter (04:35) 17 Weezy Baby (04:18) 18 On tha Block #3 (skit) (00:13) 19 Im a D-Boy (04:00) 20 Feel Me (03:48) 21 Get Over (04:42) 22 Fly Out (02:24) 1 The Block Is Hot (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:30) 2 Bring It Back (Screwed & Chopped mix) (05:01) 3 Get Off The Corner (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:14) 4 On The Grind (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:40) 5 F**k the World (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:56) 6 BM J.R. (Screwed & Chopped mix) (05:30) 7 Fireman (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:41) 8 Go DJ (Screwed & Chopped mix) (05:56) 9 I Miss My Dawgs (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:55) 10 This Is the Carter (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:44) 11 Way of Life (Screwed & Chopped mix) (03:56) 12 500 Degrees (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:03) 13 Where You At (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:44) 14 Bloodline (Screwed & Chopped mix) (04:16) 15 Everything (Screwed & Chopped mix) (05:40) |
| Tha Carter II : Allmusic album Review : An appropriately titled album, Tha Carter II builds on the Lil Wayne of the first Carter, the Lil Wayne who was not only cocky, but also truly confident, confident enough to loosen up his rhymes and create a winning mixture of slick baller posturing and slippery flippancy. If the first Carter found him somewhere between a crazed Silkk the Shocker and a thuggish Devin the Dude, the excellent follow-up finds him more toward the latter. Take "Money on My Mind," a track that covers the usual "get money" territory but this time with scatological whimsy and off-the-wall rhymes that would make Tracy Morgan proud. This uninhibited style is also the reason the many hookless, freestyle-ish tracks work, and while these hardcore, mixtape-sounding numbers may alienate those who dont appreciate dirty street music, they balance the slicker club singles. Recalling the gutter hits of the Hot Boys -- the crew where Lil Wayne spent his teen years -- the stomping "Fireman" was rightfully lighting up the request lines at the albums release, but the rest of the radio-worthy polish -- "Grown Man," "Hustler Music," and "Get Over" -- is much more soulful, with smooth R&B in its heart rather than tacked-on to land it on the play list. For longtime fans of Lil Wayne or the Cash Money label, the absence of regular producer Mannie Fresh is worth noting, but the Heatmakerz along with Tmix & Batman offer plenty of brilliant grime and glitter while two newcomers deliver the curveballs. Producer Yonny loops a reggae bounce and makes the smoking song "Mo Fire" drip out of the speakers like the dankest sticky-icky while Thicke -- as in Alan Thickes son -- reprises his slinkiest number from his overlooked 2003 album Beautiful World for "Shooter," arguably the most adventurous and stylish Lil Wayne song yet. Lyrical triumphs like the epic "Tha Mobb" and the pimp-hand-showing "Receipt" seal the deal, leaving only the short, ignorable skits and the black-on-red printing in the liner notes to complain about (the latter is hell on the eyeballs). The sturdy Carter II caps off a year when the man was appointed president of Cash Money by founders Birdman and Ronald "Slim" Williams, then watched his 17th Ward, New Orleans, neighborhood destroyed by hurricane Katrina -- something bitterly touched upon during "Feel Me"s FEMA dis, but most likely too late for press time for most tracks. The well-rounded, risk-taking, but true-to-its-roots album suggests he can weather the highs and lows like a champion and that Birdman and Slim knew something everyone else didnt when they bet the farm on the formerly "raw talent," now "fully formed" Lil Wayne. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 20 Title: Dedication 2 Released: 2006 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:17:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Best in the Business (00:41) 2 Get em (03:20) 3 They Still Like Me (02:18) 4 Im the Best Rapper Alive (01:16) 5 Cannon (AMG remix) (05:52) 6 Workin em (03:12) 7 SportsCenter (02:49) 8 Welcome to tha Concrete Jungle (02:29) 9 Spitter (03:15) 10 South Muzik (03:27) 11 This What I Call Her (02:44) 12 Dedication 2 (02:43) 13 Weezy on Retirement (00:42) 14 Poppin Them Bottles (03:51) 15 What U Kno (01:40) 16 Where the Cash At (04:55) 17 Ridin With the AK (04:10) 18 Weezy on the Streetz of N.O. (00:26) 19 Walk It Off (05:30) 20 Hustlin (04:00) 21 Gettin Some Head (03:47) 22 A Dedication After Disaster (00:48) 23 No Other (05:27) 24 Outta Here (00:53) 25 Georgia... Bush (07:27) |
| Dedication 2 : Allmusic album Review : Philly-born, Atlanta-based DJ Drama soared to the heights of the mixtape world in a lightning flash with his swirling, raw, crunked-out remixes featuring a practically unfathomable cast of rap luminaries. DEDICATION 2, co-hosted with Lil Wayne–at the height of the gravel-voiced MC’s ascendancy, no less–is the best example of the young hip-hop lion’s startling skill. The affair reaches a washed-out high on the spare track “Cannon,” where two of the best, Wayne and Freeway, along with an embarrassment of other rappers, trade rhymes. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 20 Title: The Carter 2, Part 2: Like Father Like Son Released: 2006 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:06:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Intro (01:32) 2 Long Time Comin (03:07) 3 So Fly (05:47) 4 Aint Worried Bout Shit (03:26) 5 Dont Give a Fuck (04:21) 6 Im Hot (03:48) 7 Whrr tha Cash (05:06) 8 Mob (04:19) 9 Lil Nigga (03:39) 10 Feelin Myself (02:43) 11 My Girl (02:46) 12 Neighborhood Superstar (03:39) 13 Strap (skit) (01:20) 14 Problem Solver (04:49) 15 Gangsta Dont Die (03:24) 16 4 tha Haters (03:12) 17 Holla at Me Baby (04:35) 18 Allstar (04:41) |
 | Album: 9 of 20 Title: Like Father, Like Son Released: 2006-10-31 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:35:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Loyalty (skit) (01:57) 2 Over Here Hustlin (04:52) 3 Stuntin Like My Daddy (04:27) 4 1st Key (04:14) 5 Like Father, Like Son (04:22) 6 You Aint Know (04:24) 7 Family Rules (skit) (00:44) 8 Know What Im Doin (04:31) 9 Dont Die (03:55) 10 Aint Worried Bout Shit (03:46) 11 Out the Pound (04:17) 12 Leather So Soft (04:51) 13 Army Gunz (04:04) 14 Protector (skit) (00:37) 15 Get That Money (04:43) 16 No More (04:40) 17 High (04:02) 18 Cali Dro (04:31) 19 About All That (04:31) 20 Respect (skit) (00:35) 1 Stuntin Like My Daddy (Rock remix) (04:40) 2 Brown Paper Bag (03:45) 3 Neighborhood Superstars (03:41) 4 Im Ridin (04:22) 5 Shooter (04:38) |
| Like Father, Like Son : Allmusic album Review : Cash Moneys rise and fall has been talked to death, but its important to note that the 2006 collaboration between Birdman (Cash Money CEO) and Lil Wayne (Birdmans "surrogate son" and Cash Moneys president) lands while the label is on the upswing. Critically, theyre doing better than ever, respected in a way they werent back when they had Juvenile and Mannie Fresh. The biggest reason of all is Lil Waynes Tha Carter 2, so Birdman bumps him up to president and suddenly the rapper who was evolving with more complex lyrics, strange vocal rhythms, and risky production choices is creative director of the label that used be the down-low dirty-dirty. Like Father, Like Son is a celebration of Wayne and Cash Moneys success, a testament to the allegiance the two feel toward each other, and most likely a way for Birdman to set Wayne on the right path as label boss. When it came to singles, Tha Carter 2 stalled after the leadoff "Fireman," so its no big surprise this album is filled with hooks, infectious beats, and that trunk-rumbling weekend music Cash Money was built on. Synthesized horns blast out "Stuntin Like My Daddy"s triumphant melody, while the instantly gripping "Know What Im Doing" works because its keep-it-simple-stupid swagger music like the Big Tymers used to kick. Birdman might be reinforcing what Cash Money was built on, but hes well aware of his boys talent and gives the freedom-craving, forward-looking baller adequate room to roam. The woozy "Leather So Soft" had to be Waynes idea, "Army Gunz" features one of his most broken deliveries yet, and on the title track he offers, "Ill put you niggas in the closet in the shirt space/Niggas yellow like Sesame Streets Bert face." Production comes primarily from TMIX -- the UGK-sampling "1st Key" is his masterwork -- although Scott Storch stops by for the so-so "You Aint Know," a great argument the beat-maker is spread too thin in his prolific 2006. The mix of familiar and strange is fascinating, the team-up feels like family, and at 20 tracks long, the album doesnt wear out its welcome. Theres probably too much get money/stack-paper for those who want Wayne to speak on the injustices New Orleans has suffered post-Katrina, or to get to work on Tha Carter 3, but thats not what Like Father, Like Son is about. This is the sure sound of Cash Money steadying the ship and getting back on course. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 20 Title: The Carter Files Released: 2007 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:17:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Carter Talk, Part 1 (00:46) 2 When I Land (04:56) 3 We Want Weezy (05:08) 4 Carter Talk, Part 2 (00:37) 5 Rawtoon (05:12) 6 Roll On (04:24) 7 She Feelin’ Me (04:28) 8 Carter Talk, Part 3 (01:20) 9 Bust Somethin’ (04:00) 10 Wayne Is Here (04:36) 11 Carter Talk, Part 4 (00:44) 12 Heat (04:49) 13 Get It Poppin’ (04:11) 14 Carter Talk, Part 5 (00:08) 15 Million (04:23) 16 Man Up (03:41) 17 Carter Talk, Part 6 (00:30) 18 Who Wanna (04:37) 19 I Miss My Daws (04:36) 20 Carter Talk, Part 7 (00:15) 21 I’m Gansta (05:03) 22 Make Hoes Say (04:11) 23 Hoes Sing (05:19) |
 | Album: 11 of 20 Title: Da Drought 3 Released: 2007-04-13 Tracks: 29 Duration: 1:43:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Intro (02:19) 2 Black Republicans (03:13) 3 Upgrade (04:12) 4 Put Some Keys on That (03:58) 5 Ride 4 My Niggas (Skys The Limit) (05:19) 6 Don’t Stop, Won’t Stop (02:31) 7 We Takin’ Over (remix) (02:21) 8 Get High, Rule tha World (03:49) 9 I Can’t Feel My Face (03:41) 10 Dough Is What I Got (03:48) 11 Seat Down Low (03:12) 12 New Cash Money (04:17) 13 Promise (04:30) 14 Outro (00:29) 15 Intro (00:33) 16 Blooded (04:07) 17 Live From 504 (02:21) 18 King Kong (04:11) 19 Dipset (04:07) 20 Forever (02:14) 21 Walk It Out (03:02) 22 Swizzy (02:22) 23 Boom (03:22) 24 N.O. Nigga (02:49) 25 Back on My Grizzy (04:12) 26 Dipset 2 (04:00) 27 President (03:38) 28 Crazy (04:30) 29 Outro (10:00) |
 | Album: 12 of 20 Title: Tha Carter III Released: 2008-06-09 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:18:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 3 Peat (03:19) 2 Mr. Carter (05:16) 3 A Milli (03:42) 4 Got Money (04:05) 5 Comfortable (04:25) 6 Dr. Carter (04:24) 7 Phone Home (03:12) 8 Tie My Hands (05:19) 9 Mrs. Officer (04:47) 10 Let the Beat Build (05:09) 11 Shoot Me Down (04:30) 12 Lollipop (04:59) 13 La La (04:22) 14 Pussy Monster (05:14) 15 You Aint Got Nuthin (05:27) 16 DontGetIt (09:52) |
| Tha Carter III : Allmusic album Review : How Tha Carter III came to be "the most anticipated rap album of 2008" is a story that involves the usual delays and promises of a masterpiece, plus a whole lot of bullet points that could only exist in the absurd world of Lil Wayne. Theres his complete annihilation of the mixtape game, the ridiculous amount of guest shots he granted since Tha Carter II made him a hip-hop superstar, that photograph of him kissing his mentor, Birdman, rumors of addiction to the sizzurp, plus the gargantuan ego and aggravating aloofness (Wayne will ignore all incoming beefs and infuriate challengers even further by offering the lethal "I dont listen to your records"). His "best rapper alive" quote is discussed to death, but if that claim includes creating perfectly crafted full-lengths in a 2Pac style, the evidence wont be found here. Tha Carter III is instead a surprisingly casual album that takes numerous listens to sort out, and only part of a puzzle that is scattered across mixtapes, guest shots, and Internet leaks. Had he included another easy-access single like "Rider" from The Drought Is Over, Pt. 4 -- just one of his mixtape series that made it to a Pt. 5 -- the "classic" argument could be considered, but figuring out what to sacrifice from this high-grade jumble is difficult. It wouldnt be the electro-bumpin "Lollipop," an infectious track that contains the wonderfully Wayne line "I told her to back it up/Like burp, burp." You certainly wouldnt want to lose key cut "Phone Home," where the maverick adopts an alien voice and drops "I could get your brains for a bargain/Like I bought it from Target." Another Weezy special from way outside the hip-hop universe comes in the striking "Dr. Carter," when the football reference "And you aint Vince Young/So dont clash with the Titan" dances on a David Axelrod sample and an unexpected jazzy production from Swizz Beatz. Giant meets giant when Jay-Z stops by for the velvet-smooth hangout session "Mr. Carter," and with Babyface laying the stylish swagger all over "Comfortable," Wayne gets the opportunity to convincingly vibe in the land of true class. Just like on Tha Carter II, Robin Thicke ends up the most complementary guest, coating Waynes post-Katrina tale "Tie My Hands" in warm buttery soul. As the track flows from political commentary ("My whole citys underwater, some people still floatin/And they wonderin why black people still votin/Cuz your Presidents still chokin") to despair and onto some moving "keep your head up"-styled verse, it proves Wayne can go deep and connect with his audience if he chooses. You can fault him for not connecting enough on the album and further complicating his unmanageable body of work with this disjointed effort, but Waynes true masterpiece is the bigger picture and how hes flipped the script since the first Carter rolled out. Filled with bold, entertaining wordplay and plenty of well-executed, left-field ideas, Tha Carter III should be considered as a wild, somewhat difficult child of Weezys magnum opus in motion, one that allows the listener an exhilarating and unapologetic taste of artistic freedom. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 20 Title: No Ceilings Released: 2009-10-31 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:12:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Swag Surf (04:10) 2 Ice Cream (03:25) 3 D.O.A. (04:32) 4 Skit (01:19) 5 Wasted (04:14) 6 Watch My Shoes (04:39) 7 Break Up (03:48) 8 Banned From T.V. (02:55) 9 Throw It in the Bag (02:55) 10 Thats All I Have (03:56) 11 Skit (01:40) 12 Wayne on Me (04:16) 13 Im Good (02:27) 14 Poke Her Face (02:17) 15 Run This Town (02:45) 16 I Got No Ceilings (03:46) 17 Skit End (01:36) 18 No Ceilings (03:58) 19 Oh Lets Do It (03:46) 20 Single (05:33) 21 Sweet Dreams (04:47) |
 | Album: 14 of 20 Title: Rebirth Released: 2009-12 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 American Star (03:36) 2 Prom Queen (03:37) 3 Ground Zero (03:57) 4 Da Da Da (03:40) 5 Paradice (03:57) 6 Get a Life (03:12) 7 On Fire (04:08) 8 Drop the World (03:49) 9 Runnin (04:31) 10 One Way Trip (04:38) 11 Knockout (04:09) 12 The Price Is Wrong (03:28) |
| Rebirth : Allmusic album Review : When the 2009 documentary The Carter hit DVD, much was made of Lil Wayne’s reckless syrup sipping during the film, but longtime fans had already accepted their hero was a drug abuser because they had bothered to listen to his lyrics. What made the faithful flip was a scene where the previously unstoppable Weezy announced he was a rock star, picked up a guitar, raised a fist in the air, brought the pick down, and then proceeded to deliver one of the most lackluster guitar solos caught on video, and that’s including YouTube. After the widespread indifference to his debut rap-rock single “Prom Queen,” the late 2009 hip-hop mixtape No Ceilings was greeted with universal acclaim, so it seems Wayne’s sense of quality control is strong when it comes to rap, but very weak when it comes to rap-rock. Like “Prom Queen,” the rap-rock album Rebirth is dragged down by drab backing tracks which are akin to the canned heavy metal the world of video games gave up years previously. Hearing Wayne bark “I’m so high that the ground is gone/I don’t even know what cloud I’m on” over a tribal rock beat could be special if this wasn’t some uninspired, studio musician’s idea of “tribal”. While his lyrics are still peppered with the usual wit and laugh-out-loud punch lines, crunching guitars bring out a tedious mopey side of the man you won’t find elsewhere, and many cuts go into downward spirals of weeping and wailing. Then, out of nowhere, comes the jittery new wave of “Get a Life,” and suddenly Weezy’s riding the beats with his usual flair and dropping F-bombs through the Auto-Tune as if Cash Money just signed Devo and couldn’t be happier. Wayne connects with the tune perhaps because of its synthetic, synth pop nature. The rest of the album finds him trying hard -- mostly too hard -- to interact and feed off live musicians when he’s well aware, and has often said, he’s best on his own. It’s more interesting to ponder Waynes reasons for making Rebirth than to actually listen to it, because the end result is a loud and ignorable bore. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 20 Title: I Am Not a Human Being Released: 2010-09-27 Tracks: 13 Duration: 55:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Gonorrhea (04:23) 2 Hold Up (04:11) 3 With You (03:50) 4 I Am Not a Human Being (04:05) 5 Im Single (05:34) 6 Whats Wrong With Them (03:32) 7 Right Above It (04:32) 8 Popular (04:41) 9 That Aint Me (04:03) 10 Bill Gates (04:19) 11 YM Banger (03:56) 12 YM Salute (05:15) 13 I Dont Like the Look of It (03:17) |
| I Am Not a Human Being : Allmusic album Review : Released with less fanfare than you’d expect from the self-proclaimed “greatest rapper alive,” Lil Wayne’s I Am Not a Human Being landed on the streets while the rapper was behind bars. Any effort finished while in prison automatically falls into the “stopgap release” category, but what was originally planned as an EP to mark Weezy’s birthday somehow became a ten-track mini-album, and its quality is just a shade below any given entry in his Carter series. The biggest flaws are run time and an overall layout that just doesn’t flow like his albums, but when sci-fi beats (“shout out to all my moon men”) and sexually transmitted diseases collide on the vicious “Gonorrhea,” it’s obvious these arent just leftovers. Human Being barely seems concerned with current affairs either, as grand single “Right Above It” swaggers and struts like a free man cruising through the club (“I been fly for so long/I fell asleep on the f’n plane”), while Weezy’s good luck with the ladies is the topic that drives three killer cuts (the freaky doo wop “With You,” the woozy porno dream “I’m Single,” and the free-association smut number “Popular”). His Young Money crew is well represented with Drake on four tracks and Nicki Minaj on one and the production is as slick and clever as ever, making a full recovery after the drabness found on his rap-rock effort, Rebirth. This is too short and scattered to put on his top shelf, but it comes awfully close, which is downright astonishing considering the circumstances. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 20 Title: Sorry 4 the Wait Released: 2011-07-13 Tracks: 12 Duration: 41:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Tunechi’s Back (02:23) 2 Rollin (02:58) 3 Throwed Off (02:58) 4 Gucci Gucci (03:11) 5 Marvins Room (03:32) 6 Sure Thing (02:29) 7 Grove St. Party (04:14) 8 Racks (02:27) 9 Hands Up (My Last) (04:00) 10 Sorry 4 the Wait (02:37) 11 Inkredible Remix (05:03) 12 Run the World (Girls) (05:21) |
 | Album: 17 of 20 Title: Tha Carter IV Released: 2011-08-29 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:19:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro (02:52) 2 Blunt Blowin (05:12) 3 Megaman (03:18) 4 6 Foot 7 Foot (04:09) 5 Nightmares of the Bottom (04:41) 6 She Will (05:05) 7 How to Hate (04:38) 8 Interlude (02:01) 9 John (04:46) 10 Abortion (03:43) 11 So Special (03:52) 12 How to Love (04:00) 13 President Carter (04:15) 14 Its Good (04:01) 15 Outro (03:52) 16 I Like the View (04:41) 17 Mirror (03:48) 18 Two Shots (02:45) 19 Novacane (03:38) 20 I Got Some Money on Me (04:05) |
| Tha Carter IV : Allmusic album Review : An interesting story came out as Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV leaked to the Internet five days early. Special guest Busta Rhymes, being interviewed from his tour bus, had not even heard the leak within those first 48, and seemed fascinated to hear that Bun B, Nas, and Shyne were also on his track. This was in spite of the his line “Tunechi, thanks for giving us a whole nother classic with Tha Carter IV” the albums final words, delivered by Busta during the “Outro,” one of two tracks on which Wayne doesn’t even appear. Busta’s mix of excitement and confusion perfectly captures this album’s magic in that there’s an electricity in the air here, one so attractive that you don’t care about what’s missing, so don’t hold this up next to Tha Carter II or III because you just might miss a grand Jay-Z diss (“Talkin about baby money, I got your baby money/ Kidnap your bitch, get that how much you love your lady money”) while considering the differences. If II and III were the arguable masterpieces, this one is less convincing, but it is a solid, above average hip-hop album that would be in held high and wide regard if it carried any other name. Wayne seems to address this new, sometimes B+ era with “Some of us are lovers/Most of y’all are haters/But I put up a wall/And they just wallpaper” on “Blunt Blowing,” a track which is Young Money’s seductive and flossy version of the blues. If dazzling rhetoric and shameless bombast is what grabs his audience, it absolutely overflows during the album’s unstoppable first quarter, which boils over when the short blue mobster called “Megaman” shoots forth “Life is shorter than Bushwick.” The totally T-Pain track “How to Hate” is the album’s first speedbump, and Wayne remains a guest on his own album as Tech N9ne and Rick Ross dominate the following cuts, but the uncontroversial “Abortion” (“I know your name, your name is unimportant/We in the belly of the beast, and she thinkin’ of abortion”) puts the spotlight back on Weezy. After John Legend adds some purposeful polish, it’s all smooth sailing plus with those high Carter standards, bouncing between tracks fans can singalong and connect with (the pure and simple “How to Love”) or marvel at (“It’s Good” where Jay-Z diss meets Alan Parsons sample). In the end, Busta’s pre-cog declaration of “classic” is the download generation’s more “in the moment” definition of the word, and it is fittingly delivered while the venerated Wizard Weezy is out the door and off the track in that “pay no mind to that man behind the curtain” style. On Tha Carter IV, Wayne’s world feels more like a dream than reality, but the loyal subjects of Young Money get a wild ride and the great feeling of flashing those ruby slippers one more time. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 20 Title: I Am Not a Human Being II Released: 2013-03-26 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:17:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 IANAHB (05:38) 2 Curtains (04:32) 3 Days and Days (03:13) 4 Gunwalk (04:31) 5 No Worries (03:41) 6 Back to You (05:29) 7 Trigger Finger (04:32) 8 Beat the Shit (04:29) 9 Rich as Fuck (03:43) 10 Trippy (04:23) 11 Love Me (04:13) 12 Romance (04:21) 13 God Bless Amerika (05:03) 14 Wowzers (03:45) 15 Hello (04:03) 16 Lay It Down (04:06) 17 Hot Revolver (03:21) 18 My Homies Still (04:07) |
| I Am Not a Human Being II : Allmusic album Review : Compared to the albums hes released under the name Tha Carter, Lil Waynes I Am Not a Human Being series is noticeably looser. The quality control is certainly above mixtape or street-release level, but stray tracks and Carter leftovers are given their homes here, while the overall album flow is allowed to be reckless. Here, Weezys wisecracking rebel songs get bunched together, coming off as redundant blasts of evil genius narcisswagger, where flaccid penises are "sleeping giants," codeine, promithazene, and weed are the recommended vitamins, and spending your birthday in jail aint no biggie because the Playboy Mansion can always reschedule. In other words, he lives on this earth but this stopgap releases title is apt, and also believable, since Waynes real world bio plays more like a comic book origin story, being raised by surrogate father Birdman in the halls of Cash Money. Bundle that background with stunning talent, true wit, and a John Holmes level of cocksure, and it doesnt matter that the bedroom-bragging "Curtains" is next to the conquest-listing "Days and Days," because the first has a rock-solid hook and pop-rap craftsmanship, while the second has a 2 Chainz feature and "You know Im on that grass/Dont turn on the sprinkles" amongst its many quotables. 2 Chainz is back for more boasting on "Rich as Fuck," a winner with an enticing and eerie beat from T-Minus. Producer Mike WILL Made-It offers a posh and radio-friendly version of the traditional swagger track, covering the "good kush and alcohol" number "Love Me" in sounds so buttery smooth that hitmakers Drake and Future sound wonderfully couch-locked and comfortable. Brilliant single "My Homies Still" is only on the Deluxe version, in frustrating "its not really an official, official album" fashion, and yet all this redundancy and the scattershot complaints become minor when the album breaks character and gives up surprising diversions like power-baller "Back to You" (rap-rock that really works), the raw, Dirty South winner "Wowzers" (diva Trina wants sex "till daybreak, then you can go skate"), and the quite good political commentary sketchbook dubbed "God Bless Amerika" ("I saw a butterfly in hell" might not read well, but the way its dropped in the song is superb). This is an indulgent jumble of a sideline release, but that doesnt mean Wayne isnt in fine form. He is, and anyone with four Carters already on their shelves will certainly want this one. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 20 Title: FWA Released: 2015-07-04 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:04:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Glory (05:06) 2 He’s Dead (04:31) 3 I Feel Good (03:11) 4 My Heart Races On (03:49) 5 London Roads (03:55) 6 I’m That Nigga (03:44) 7 Psycho (04:05) 8 Murda (03:49) 9 Thinking Bout You (04:04) 10 Without You (04:16) 11 Post Bail Ballin (03:55) 12 Pull Up (04:15) 13 Living Right (05:02) 14 White Girl (04:44) 15 Pick Up Your Heart (06:10) |
 | Album: 20 of 20 Title: Tha Carter V Released: 2018-09-27 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:27:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 I Love You Dwayne (02:00) 2 Don’t Cry (04:09) 3 Dedicate (03:09) 4 Uproar (03:14) 5 Let It Fly (03:06) 6 Can’t Be Broken (03:13) 7 Dark Side of the Moon (04:02) 8 Mona Lisa (05:24) 9 What About Me (03:36) 10 Open Letter (04:29) 11 Famous (04:02) 12 Problems (03:28) 13 Dope Niggaz (03:25) 14 Hittas (03:43) 15 Took His Time (04:22) 16 Open Safe (03:43) 17 Start This Shit Off Right (04:40) 18 Demon (03:34) 19 Mess (03:32) 20 Dope New Gospel (03:27) 21 Perfect Strangers (04:09) 22 Used 2 (04:00) 23 Let It All Work Out (05:16) |