Lil Wayne ‘ Tha Carter V’ – Track By Track Album Review

What up 5!?? Tha Chains free, Tha wait is over, Lil Wayne’s twelfth studio album is finally here; Tha Carter V. Fans (myself included) thought Tha day would never come. It’s been 6 years since its initial announcement; a period which has seen the python grip of Birdman (Cash Money) get stronger and stronger.

Weezy is never truly quiet, with a plethora amount of music in his stash. Although, with the exception of FWA the microwave(by his standards) mixtapes e.g. D6 & D6 Reloaded just haven’t cut it. Simple and plain greatness only will be accepted with this project. I feel like right now, this album is make or break for Weezy, as I alluded to in my warmup post. I need moments, moments like; God Bless Amerika, Tie My Hands, Best Rapper Alive and Blunt Blowin. Let’s go!

1. I Love You Dwayne

A very sentimental and heartwarming segment from his mother Jacida Carter, nothing much else to say on this one. Respect to Weezy for putting this as an opener, a complete contrast to the previous intro on the  Carter IV.

2. Don’t Cry ft XXXTENTACION

Wow, the darkness which X brings on this chorus is so intense(bit groany though). Hearing the artists back to back really makes it clear who these new artists draw from. A powerful tribute to XXX, he was such an amazing talent.

I lost control but knew I’d find control
I let God control what I cannot control
Can’t control the tears, let ’em drop and roll  – Lil Wayne

3. Dedicate

From the heaviness of Don’t Cry Weezy F is back on the triple, quadruple and so on entendre flow. It almost sounds like 2 Chainz in the background on this fun bouncy track. This is cool, will take me a few listens to catch it all but there’s nothing new with that ha.

4. Uproar

Aye Swizzy! what a classic to re-touch. I had to look up the origins and pause the song mid-flow. Weezy’s bringing the Bad Boy era back, some Puff keys would’ve rounded it off nicely. I think with this he went in the booth with no concept and just blacked out,Bcrazy!

5. Let It Fly ft Travis Scott*

Ok, my energy is way-way-way up now! the last collaboration I remember with these two is Tourist and that was trash. The melodies Travis kicks off with on this has elements of Motorcycle Patches from Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho. The drop on this song kicks in disgustingly, this is the SMOKE for anyone who wants it. Only 5 tracks in but Weezy I apologize for ever doubting you, wow I haven’t heard this in a while.

6. Can’t Be Broken*

I hope by the title this is to be the deep conceptual Weezy now, otherwise, it begins to fall into the box of a D6 etc. Ok, I like this song, its got an undertone of resilience under the spotlight and love to his family. This is real rap, championing your obstacles type of music.

They can do all they can do but they can’t break unbreakable
They scared to face the truth because they hate the view
They taste the juice, I hope it make ’em puke, I’m breakin’ loose

7. Dark Side of the Moon ft Nicki Minaj

This the How to Love of the project I’m guessing, the song could’ve started at the 1.15 mark (a bit slow to get going). It’s cool for a lovey-dovey/ turn up hybrid but not my cup of tea.

8. Mona Lisa ft Kendrick Lamar

The last one wasn’t it bro and despite how controversial this is going to sound, neither is this. Don’t get me wrong, the number of bars he drops on this is crazy. As a song itself through the construct isn’t great. Bring Kendrick in earlier.

9. What About Me ft Sosamann

I thought the only Sosa was Chief Keef?! Weezy is back in the Loverman /Tiller vibe. This song actually had potential with a better feature(PND) Sosamann is redundant.

10. Open Letter

With Weezy exposing his mental issues and thoughts of dying prior to releasing this album this makes sense. Wayne is looking around and into himself for some deep reflection. This is a more mature and open I Feel Like Dying. I’m guessing there may be more examples later in the project.

I live and I learn, then die tryna teach ’em, Lord
Die tryna reach ’em
They care more about how much I leave ’em
Where’d I leave it?
I hope I leave more of an impression on my kids
To be destined to have blessings to believe in, Lord

11. Famous ft Reginae Carter

Weezy is a real one for getting his daughter on such an iconic album. This is another open letter, my expectations for this were low but Weezy and his daughter gave us some real inspirational moments here. All that glitters isn’t gold.

12. Problems

The more the song goes on the more I I like it. The New Orleans slang “that’s rich ni**a problems, lil whoadie” adds to the flavor of it. Not a standout cool vibe though.

13. Dope Niggaz ft Snoop Dogg

Generally, I just can’t deal with Snoop’s recent rapping but this is an exception. The Xxplosive sample suits Snoop’s west coast rhyme pattern perfectly. Weezy also continues to mix the serious storytelling with comedic lines ha ha.

I could change the world, but I done lost the remote – Weezy

14. Hittas

“Hittas whoadie” the bounce is back, cool but nothing special. This is I’m not a human being Weezy we’ve multiple versions of Weezy so far.   

15. Took His Time

Soulful start and greasy trap drop, one of the better hooks blends in nicely. It’s sort of the same concept whereby the chorus and the verses don’t actually remotely relate with each other. I dont think he took he took his time with this.

16. Open Safe*

This is the KOD clapper anthem for strippers hella twerking. Weezy is really another breed to these other rappers man, how can go from 0-100 in no time is ridiculous. This brings me back to the pinnacle of Mustard when all the songs in the mainstream sounded like this.

JIGGY SHVT BRUHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

17. Start This Shit Off Right ft Ashanti & Mack Maine

Man, I need to calm down, that last one was way too JIGGY BRUH. Mack pack it in man, Weezy couldn’t you get Ja on this? this didn’t Mack he did alright. Man Ashanti voice comes in too nicely, this is concept Weezy, album Weezy. This song is that grown throwback feel, completely different to all the rest I can tell Mannie Fresh was on the keys.

18. Demon

Interesting empty start which then takes a Let The Beat Build style layering up gradually. It’s kind of hard to follow it though, maybe this will be a grower.

19. Mess

I like this Weezy the best, he takes us on a fast pace journey and then slows it down for crystal clear clarity. You can hear Alphabet flow in this one(listen to them both and tell me if you hear it too). It’s reflection on the mess in his life and his attitude towards it” FVCK IT MORE ONES“.

Cause my days is a mess
My nights is a mess, my life is a mess
My life is a mess
My life is a mess of happiness
Lust, sex, obsession, desire with no love
But fuck it, more one’s

20. Dope New Gospel ft Nivea*

Nivea voice is too dam angelic though come through sounding like some TLC member. Lil Wayne liking these Drizzy esque gospel samples ain’t he. This is the soulful reflection that I would’ve liked even more of on the album of this caliber. He’s looking at the man in the mirror and telling us everything he sees and the things we see when we look at him and criticize. This is it for me, he ain’t going to top this track, I’m certain of it.

Man in the mirror, my hero
He helped me center my evil
When I think I’m bad like Michael
He bring me back down to Tito
Man in the mirror, my hero
He helped me see like a eagle
He helped me hear enemies cry wolf
Then he see me take off my sheep clothes

21. Perfect Strangers

He’s back looking at the man in the mirror again, its almost like he did a batch of these songs in the same period where he was feeling lost or low. The contrasts between the feelings of the album are complete opposites. This album Weezy again, a cohesive concept from top to bottom and extremely relatable to pretty much everyone. Listen in close on this one.

22. Used 2

Very ghostly production, Weezy F and the F-F-Fearless. There drop is a bit later It should’ve come in at around the 45-second mark. Another gradual layer up to the production like Demon. He should’ve called this one Demon, cool one.

You still ain’t seen a FVCKIN thing until you C5

23. Let It All Work Out*

I need a big closeout, come on Weezy. He’s back looking in the mirror again on this piano-led soulful cut. Why couldn’t we get more of this and fewer Hittas, whoever is doing these backing vocals is too nice wid it. He let it all out on this one I felt he was waiting on this day for so long.

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In my introduction, I said I needed moments on the iconic Tha Carter V. Weezy most definitely delivered in a similar fashion to what Drake did on Scorpion. I almost feel like I’ve got the best of Weezy on this album Mixtape and Album mode Carter.

Mixtape Weezy cares less for staying on subject and just blacks out with bars on bars picking up from last lines constantly(Uproar and Open Safe). The album mode Weezy gives us that but also slows it down from time to time to give the tangible and grown moments(Open Letter, Start This Shit Off Right and Mess). With those contrasting styles to the rapping, there are some points where you can get lost in what the song is even about ha which is typical Weezy(e.g. Took his Time).

The album was certainly an enjoyable experience and on the length alone, I feel was a fairly safe bet for Weezy with all expectation he gave two albums. Although, the grown introspection of the man in the mirror, the mistakes he’s made and his thought process he’s far excelled on the last Carter(not sure about 3 and 2). He could’ve made it classic at 18 tracks but you know what, this is a one time listen I’m good with this Mr. Carter, no need to say Sorry 4 The Wait it was worth it. Give us another Young Money Album(Drake, Nicki, and Weezy only cheers) and you can bow out if you wish.

Top 5 Tracks: Let It Fly, Can’t Be Broken, Open Safe, Dope New Gospel and Let It All Work Out