If this year has proven anything is that our OGs in Hip-Hop are going out real sad. All Kendrick Lamar did was put a sensitive rapper back in his pajama clothes and all the senior citizens are losing their collective shits. Hating, backhanded compliments, goal post pushing. But no one is going out sad more than Dwayne Carter aka Lil Wayne.
It all started the moment it was announced that Kendrick Lamar was performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The floodgates opened for more bitching and moaning than congratulations all because of one thing. The Super Bowl was in New Orleans… Lil Wayne’s hometown.
I stand by this, that the only reason people wanted Lil Wayne to perform at the Super Bowl and not Kendrick had nothing to do with his legendary status or his extensive catalog or because of home turf advantage, it was all so Drake could get a W through his mentor, by any means necessary. It didn’t work. Kendrick Lamar killed it, broke numerous TV and streaming records and all Wayne could do was get on a lotion commercial promoting Tha Carter VI.
Now my expectations for this album was very low, mainly because I’ve reached the point where I’ve outgrown Lil Wayne. Wayne hasn’t really put out quality…anything in years. Put him with the right rapper and you’ll get a dope feature verse here and there but outside of that, my last bit of interest in Weezy was back in 2011 around Tha Carter IV and although that album has aged like milk left out in the sun too long, I still have fond memories of that time. Tha Carter V came and went to me outside of a few songs and Funeral, much like the pandemic I wanna forget about altogether. So, for all that crying, we better get a great album. Did we get it?
1. King Carter
Produced by Manny G, Chris Townsend & Lil Wayne
It’s the intro.
2. Welcome to the Carter
Produced by ONHEL
This gave me hope. Wayne is rapping like he has a point to prove, like he’s been counted out for too long and he’s back to prove the naysayers wrong and at this moment I’m thinking…
“Maybe this album won’t be that bad…”
Until…
3. Bells
Produced by Lil Wayne & Manny G
So this is the “Uproar” of the album. Take a classic rap song and Weezy it all up I suppose. The problem is, this is “Rock the Bells” bro. I don’t need an update. The original is fine. This song hit like bar bells….and then you’re left with a concussion and you’re trying to figure out what the hell happened to you.
4. Hip-Hop
Featuring BigXthaPlug & Jay Jones; Produced by Infamous, Ben Billions, Einer Bankz, & Synco
The song is not bad but I just don’t have anything to say that is noteworthy. Alright let me say something nice, umm…BigXThaPlug’s voice is cool…………pause.
5. Sharks
Featuring Jelly Roll & Big Sean; Produced by Boi-1da, Fierce, & Coleman
I am not okay…I’m barely getting by….listening to ANOTHER Jelly Roll feature. And I have to hear him in three different formats (Hip-Hop, country, and rock). But here’s the thing…this chorus may get stuck in my head. Wayne is on autopilot and Big Sean is rapping on his “Fuck the Big 3, it’s just BIG ME!” shit. He too old enough to have them voice cracks though. Drop your balls, Sean! Pause.
The more I hear this, the more I don’t mind it, but that initial listen was rough. I’ll say passable here.
But the conspiratorial bar about kids with no gender gets points taken off. Grow up, Dwayne.
6. Banned From NO
Produced by TheNightAftr & Kamo
You know what’s crazy? He has a song where he is freestyling over the original “Banned From TV” beat off of No Ceilings. I would much rather go to that, instead of whatever this is here.
Sidebar: Nicki Minaj’s verse on the remix….yeah, this girl is washed, bathtub.
7. The Days
Featuring Bono; Produced by RedOne & DVLP
“XXX” off of Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. was a surprise on how good it was, but I stand by this, Bono needs to stay far away from Hip-Hop as he possibly can. You will definitely hear this song on car commercials and recap packages for whatever WWE premium live event is coming up, but man….this song lacked edge…..get it?
Also, Wayne….what were you doing in Manhattan on 9/11?
8. Cotton Candy
Featuring 2 Chainz; Produced by Manny G, Swede, & Lil Wayne
I am not a fan on this sample and a song like this reminds me of the elements of Tha Carter series that I don’t like. But 2 Chainz gave me a chuckle here and there with his verse so I’ll give it a pass. Don’t expect me to go looking for Collegrove 3 anytime soon though.
9. Flex Up
Produced by Rex Kudo, Charlie Handsome, & Bobby Raps
This song is the textbook definition of saying a lot and saying a lot of nothing all at the same time.
10. Island Holiday
Produced by Manny G, Julian Munro, & Lil Wayne
I will never forgive y’all for letting Wayne think he’s a rock star. I’ll never forgive Wayne’s team for clearing that Weezer sample. I’ll never forgive myself for playing this song in its entirety on my walk through the neighborhood. It’s not cute, it’s not clever and it is just a further reminder that Lil Wayne does not exist anywhere but in his own echo chamber where only he and what he likes matters. NEXT.
11. Loki’s Theme
Produced y DJ Clue, Rizzo, Amiri, Julian Munro, & Manny Galvez
This was almost salvageable. I like the west coast bounce even though him still playing Blood on records in 2025 is laughable. But towards the end it turns into this generic rock song and it’s so sudden, you would’ve thought Kevin Rudolf pulled up from obscurity, socked the producers in the mouth and said “Yo Tune, I got you!”.
12. If I Played Guitar
Produced by MarcLo & Midi Jones
Aight, Kevin. You can leave the studio now, your services are no longer needed here. It is not only Wayne abusing the Auto-Tune button. It is not only Wayne sounding like Jack Johnson if he strolled through Hollygrove and got lost. Wayne just doesn’t know how to write a somber song or a love song without having something in here that makes him sound fucking ridiculous.
13. Peanuts 2 N Elephant
Produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda
This Crash Bandicoot meets Ace Ventura ass beat.
Lin-Manuel Miranda… Fuck. Right. Off.
14. Rari
Featuring Kam Carter; Produced by Wheezy & Bobby Raps
I will not insult a child.
But I will say this though. As generic as this song is, it’s definitely better than “Island Holiday” and “Peanuts 2 N Elephant”. But it’s still autopilot for Weezy, content-wise.
15. Maria
Featuring Andrea Bocelli & Wyclef Jean; Produced Wyclef Jean, Lil Wayne, & Wavie Boi
What are we doing here? Rapping over “Ave Maria,” that’s what!
Everything about this song is just bizarre. Wyclef sounds like he’s just there, the opera sample is very distracting and at least Wayne sounds competent here…even if slightly. Hearing Wyclef had a major part in this album is not surprising because that only speaks to Wayne being stuck in a bubble. The last time these two worked together was what? 2007? The last time Wayne was great….makes sense.
16. Bein Myself
Featuring & Produced by Mannie Fresh
I’m floored… this song is not bad?
The production is cool and the rhyme scheme is competent. Wayne stays somewhat on topic until the second verse where he goes right back into how much pussy he eats. Also, the songs starts to falter in that second hook where he starts thinking he’s a Martian again.
It’s not bad but it’s not good either. It’s passable at best.
17. Mula Komin In
Featuring Lil Novi; Produced by AdamsAwake & Keyboard Kid
We’re already off to a bad start. I don’t know who this Lil Novi dude is but he definitely sounds like AI Playboi Carti. Maybe Timbaland can sign him.
Some of yall that slather your voice in Autotune, I need yall to know…YOU’RE NOT SINGERS!!!
I’m not even gonna stick around for Wayne’s verse because there is no saving this. Is it unfair, sure…but it’s my review so deal with it. PASS.
18. Alone In the Studio With My Gun
Featuring MGK & Kodak Black; Produced by MOD SUN & No Love For The Middle Child
MGK back to reapplying for his hood pass here. Wayne sounds alright here but Kodak Black…is Kodak Blacking here. Which further raises the question…is Kodak okay?
I don’t mind this song but the bar has been dragged so low here that even a compliment sounds like an insult.
19. Written History
Produced by Wheezy, Alex Lustig, & Harley Arsenault
When Wayne is motivated, he’s up there with the best of them and I think this track shows it. I think this is a cool way to close the album and definitely reminds me of a time where I thought to myself
“Maybe this album won’t be so bad…”
But it’s too little too late.
This album confirmed what I had figured out since 2010. Lil Wayne is a bad rapper.
Now I don’t mean bad as in his skill set, like I said, when Wayne wants to (when he’s not fried out his god damn mind) he can hold his own if not be better than your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper, but here’s the thing, this is someone who doesn’t want to change. This is someone who doesn’t want to evolve. Jay-Z, Nas and others in the late stages of their careers made their most mature work and reminded people that you can be at your age and still talk in a way where your peers can relate to you in addition to the younger generation catching gems here and there. Lil Wayne is in his 2nd childhood. He’s never adapted because he didn’t have to. All because his fan base of lean sippers, weed heads and YNs didn’t allow him to. Wayne is well into his 40s and rapping about the same nonsense he rapped about in his 20s. At some point, you have to wonder, is there more than you than just rapping, skating, drug use, and bitches? Apparently not.
Tha Carter VI is proof that not only has the self-proclaimed “Best Rapper Alive” lost his touch but further confirms that Lil Wayne only pays attention to Lil Wayne and in a genre where trends and styles switch up as quick as the seasons, you end up stunting your own growth. However, the reality is, Wayne’s growth has been stunted for a long time….we’re just finally waking up to see it. Kendrick Lamar didn’t kill his career, much like Aubrey Graham, Lil Wayne’s downfall is self-inflicted.
Weezy F. Baby… the F is for finished.
“Welcome to the Carter” is the only song I like… but that’s not saying much.
