Tha Carter five is the fifth installment of the Carter series as Dwayne Michael Carter, known to the world as Lil Wayne. After years of speculation from the last album, problems with management and his record label, even with the head of the label Birdman the long-awaited album is here and people are back on the Wayne train. Before I go any further, for all the young people background may be necessary.
Lil Wayne started his career with his debut album “The Block is Hot” in 1999 and has since then been consistent and relevant for over 2 decades, releasing a plethora of albums and a gang of mixtapes to go with it. At the same time another southern native Gucci Mane was doing the same and either of the two could be labeled Mixtape King.
The immaculate series of projects as we know them today started in 2004 with his nearly self-titled album “Tha Carter”. Since then life and rap has never been the same Lil Wayne would continue to be an important figure in Hip-Hop and being a favorite not only by fans but those on the outside as well Lil Wayne was considered to be a gem. No matter who listened everyone liked him, and his personality and his music were an addition to that.
Four years later Wayne released what is widely said to be his best album, “Tha Carter 3”. When this dropped he was the hottest rapper in the game and alongside his friend T-Pain, the autotune duo created hit, after hit, after hit. These songs were accompanied by two monstrous songs that took him to the top of the charts. Both “Lollipop”, and “A Milli” where fan favorites and this not only ushered in possibly the best era of Wayne but Young Money as well.
Lil Wayne and Birdman brought in a squad one that would produce the biggest Hip-Hop star some would say since Hov, or Tupac, and a woman MC that would take the world by storm calling herself a Barbie and influencing millions of women and girls around the world. Although artists such as Gudda Gudda are not heard as much without the backing of Young Money, other such as Tyga who was gone through tremendous highs and lows has now found his place and his song “Taste” is making its way through everyone’s phone. Not only was Lil Wayne labeling himself the greatest rapper alive, he should be toted as having a great business acumen as well.
After several more mixtapes which includes another series called The Dedication series, which produced “The Dedication 1–6”. More albums like “Rebirth”, “I am not a Human Being”, and “Tha Carter 4”, all of this leads us to Tha Carter 5 which is the album most recently dropped. This album shows why Lil Wayne is in the upper echelon of Hip Hop acts. Not only is his music approved by so many, he is one of the most influential rappers as well with the face tattoos, different flows, and production of music he has started many trends that are still found in today’s rap. Of course, with all the good comes the bad and drugs are also part of the conversation, as mention before Gucci Mane who is another influential rapper was rapping about both selling and using drugs. If you listen to a lot of music made by young artists drugs are heavily brought up in the genre.
The whole album flows seamlessly where it shows that putting together a body of work is not just throwing songs together. The first 8 tracks give us beautiful music, that has a message, bangers that will be played heavily in the club, and even a concept song about how people can deceive you. I tweeted out that I couldn’t believe others were doubting Lil Wayne as much as they were. I am happy that they are pleased, and it shows how much different generations love his music. The Louisiana native has done it again let’s hope “Tha Carter 6” isn’t that much farther away from being released.
STAND OUT TRACKS
- “Don’t Cry” (Feat. XXXTentacion)
- “Uproar”
- “Dedicate”
- “Let It Fly” (Feat. Travis Scott)
- “Mona Lisa (Feat. Kendrick Lamar)
