Young Money
At long last here it is — Lil Wayne’s first proper album since serving 11 months at Rikers Island penitentiary for weapons possession. Fans were likely expecting this album to go one of two ways. Either it would be an angry post-prison rap monstrosity teeming with pent-up aggression or a top-notch hip-hop production solidifying Weezy’s status as the best rapper alive after honing his craft in a prison cell.
In reality as countless critics have pointed out the album is neither as none of the beats will really push you over the edge and Wayne’s once-sharp lyrical prowess remains on autopilot for much of the record.
But if you’re looking for some sort of genre-forwarding rap statement that album was already released last month in Kanye West and Jay-Z’s grandiose Watch the Throne. Where Tha Carter IV succeeds is in pure stupid fun. Guests like Bun B Andre 3000 Tech N9ne and the typical Young Money stable keep things colourful while dumbed-down testosterone anthems like “John” will have you beating your chest alongside Rick Ross’ dog bark.
Still Tha Carter IV ’s most redeeming — and ridiculous — moment is the T-Pain-assisted break up anthem “How to Hate” all R. Kelly-esque melodrama and over-the-top disses like “I guess I’m single for the night and you can sit right on my middle finger for the night.”
