By Joseph Ferry

If you have listened to rap music in the past 25 years, you have heard of the New Orleans-raised, self-proclaimed “best rapper alive,” Lil Wayne. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, also known by Lil Tunechi, Weezy, or, most commonly, Lil Wayne, is without a doubt an imposing force in the rap game. From his beginnings at the age of 12 in Birdman’s Cash Money Records, in 1995, throughout the 2000s, the 2010’s, and into 2020, Lil Wayne has been continually crafting exquisite music for his many fans.

Wayne started making music with Cash Money Records in a group called the Hot Boys, along with Juvenile, B.G, and Turk, in 1995. The group found great success in their hometown of New Orleans, rapping about their lives on the streets. Wayne’s personal journey in music, however, started with the release of his first studio album, Tha Block is Hot. The album, released in 1999, reached third in the charts and was later certified platinum, solidifying Wayne’s name in the rap genre. Following the release of this album, Wayne’s following increased dramatically, and he followed up with albums such as Lights Out (2000) and 500 Degreez (2002).

The Hot Boys. Photo credit: Cash Money Records. 

In 2004, Wayne released the legendary album Tha Carter, which was the first in possibly the greatest rap album series ever recorded. Tha Carter features standout songs such as “Walk In,” “Go DJ,” and “This is Tha Carter,” featuring Mannie Fresh. With the album being led by these future classics, Tha Carter became Wayne’s second certified platinum album. Tha Carter series continued in Tha Carter II (2005), Tha Carter III (2008), and Tha Carter IV (2011). These albums were all met with love from Wayne’s fans, but Tha Carter III is the most memorable, as it sold over 1 million copies in its first week and is now platinum six times over. 

Seeking to continue his successful series, Wayne completed his next installment, Tha Carter V, and set its release date to be October 27, 2014. When the time came to drop the album, however, Birdman and the Cash Money Records label would not allow Wayne to release it. Over the next four years, Wayne battled Birdman in court and dropped mixtapes including FWA (Free Weezy Album), Sorry 4 The Wait, and Sorry 4 the Wait 2, all containing disses to Birdman and the Cash Money Records label. Finally, after a long seven years since Tha Carter IV, Wayne was able to release Tha Carter V on September 28, 2018. The album contained 23 tracks, with its most notable features from Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Wayne’s own daughter, Reginae Carter. Reaching no.1 on the Billboard, Tha Carter V had the second most streams for an album in a single week and sold 480,000 copies its first week. On September 25, 2020, Wayne added 10 tracks that he had been holding on to since the album’s original release date in a deluxe version of Tha Carter V. The newly released songs included new features from Raekwon, 2 Chainz, and Post Malone, and they proved to be the perfect addition to the album, which was already a masterpiece. 

Album cover for Tha Carter V, depicting Wayne and his mother. Image credit: Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records.

Lil Wayne proved that he may very well be “the best rapper alive” in Tha Carter V and its deluxe version. The album’s 33 tracks last two hours and six minutes, and every second is worth the listen. Wayne’s lyricism is virtually unmatched, and with many variations of beats in the album, there are songs for all to enjoy. That being said, there are songs that stand out more than other.

“Dedicate” is a magnificent song where Wayne proves his lyrical genius in a series of verses. The line that screams Lil Wayne the most is: “billion dollar smile, I sell myself short if I grin, I’m bargaining them,” in which Wayne brags about his smile, but he does so in a way that forces the listener to laugh. At the end of the song, he includes a quote from Barack Obama, who says, “they might think they have a pretty good jump shot or pretty good flow, but our kids can’t all aspire to be LeBron or Lil Wayne.” With the inclusion of this quote from a past President of the United States praising Wayne’s skill, Wayne shows the confidence that he has in his position on top of the rap game, and backs it up with such high praise. 

“Uproar” is, without a doubt, also an outstanding song on Tha Carter V. The collaboration with Swizz Beats has a fast tempo and is full of well-thought-out bars. Wayne made sure to prove his confidence again on this song, rapping: “I don’t bluff, bro, I come out the scuffle without a scuff, woah.”  

“Mona Lisa” is possibly the most memorable song on the album, as Lil Wayne comes together with fellow legend and Pulitzer Prize-winner Kendrick Lamar. The two exchange heavy lyrics as they each tell stories; Wayne raps about the hypothetical setup of robbery on a man with the help of a woman, and Kendrick talks about his experience as the man being set up. Whether the stories told in this song are fact, fiction, or somewhere in between, the lyricism is genius, and the song is a must-hear. 

“Let it All Workout” is my personal favorite song on the album. Each of the three main verses of the song are beautifully crafted. The most impactful part of the song, however, is the third verse, where Wayne tells a story that gave me goosebumps. Wayne uses the verse to come out about his attempted suicide at the age of 12, which he had always played off as an accident prior to the release of the song. Wayne raps the abbreviated: “Tunechi, you a monster… I found my momma’s pistol where she always hide it… too much was in my conscience to be smart about it, too torn apart about it, I aim where my heart was pounding, and I shot it.” Until this point, not even Wayne’s own mother knew that his accidental shooting was not really an accident. It took great courage for Wayne to make this information public, and the way that he does so in song makes it all the more powerful. 

“Famous,” featuring Wayne’s daughter Reginae Carter, is another song where the rapper uses deep, introspective lyrics to further connect with his listeners. Wayne raps about the lifestyle that has come with his fame in the chorus: “Welcome to your name in the lights… this is how you live your life, different city every night, you must be famous.” Instead of praising his fame, however, Wayne mocks it, and crafts lyrics talking about his fame as a burden. He cleverly says, “Can’t talk to myself, ‘cause mama said don’t talk to strangers,” implying that his fame has made him a different person, and he feels like a stranger to himself. 

Lil Wayne, and his daughter Reginae Carter. Photo credit: newsbreak.com. 

“More to the Story,” featuring Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, is another song that uses its lyrics to tell a story. Wayne begins the story in the first verse, talking about an unpopular “dope man” who had raised the prices on his goods. The dealer was driving and got pulled over “cause you know he fit the description of a black male that sell white.” Unluckily for him, he had an “AK” in the car and cocaine in his trunk, so he chose to speed off, and Wayne ends his verse with the man escaping the police. Raekwon comes in for verse two to finish the story, depicting a shootout where the dealer was killed, along with many others. I interpreted Wayne’s inclusion of this story as an effort to realign himself with his past lyrics. When Wayne was new to the game, and a member of the Hot Boys in New Orleans, his main style was gangster rap. Topics such as drugs and shootouts were what he grew up rapping about in this group. Wayne’s decision to incorporate a song like “More to the Story” on Tha Carter V reconnects his listeners to his old style and shows how far he has come as an artist. 

Aside from these, other favorites that deserve honorable mentions are “Used 2,” “Demon,” “Open Safe,” “Open Letter,” “Can’t Be Broken,” “Let it Fly” ft. Travis Scott, “Don’t Cry” Ft. XXXTentacion, “In This House” ft. Gucci Mane, “Lost,” “Scottie,” “Holy,” and “Life of Mr. Carter.” 

Overall, Tha Carter V should be seen as a great success and a wonderful continuation to Wayne’s Tha Carter series. If I had to give the album a rating, I believe the album deserves a 10/10. The fact that Lil Wayne released an album that has over two hours of music, and all of it engaging to the listener, is incredible. Wayne’s consistency, ingeniously crafted lyrics, and his distinct sound make him a truly generational talent.

Featured image credit: Megan Elice Meadows.