Disco de Lil' Wayne: “Tha Carter [Edited]”

I have never been a Cash Money fan. I can't handle the bling-bling-look-at-me-I'm-hoodrich mentality and I always thought their lyrics were wack. But when I heard "Go DJ", I had to ask my brother "Did I sleep on Lil' Wayne or did he get better?" and my brother had to admit that this man STEPPED UP in the game. Although the video version is much more impressive to me than the PA'd version, I still really liked this song. But I still had no intentions of buying his cd until my cousin also recommended it. I figured I might as well give it a try. She said every song on here was tight, but I have to disagree. Although Lil' Wayne does a better job of staying out of the bling-bling mentality, he disappoints me by going overboard with the everfamous kill-got-a-gun-b*tches-and-h*#s angry rapping. I just want to drop my head and grab my walker because rap is starting to sound like noise. And just when I'm ready to give up, he does a song like "I miss my dawgs". It's not often that a young man will leave himself open enough to tell his boys "I miss you". That's real. I loved that song. I listened to it over and over. Matter of fact, I started to sell this cd until I heard that song, but it was so phenomenal that I'm keeping the cd just for that song alone. The rest are alright, some lyrics are clever (the gynecology duck line was amusing), but it's basically a young man who has the analytical GIFT to make a GREAT HIP-HOP album but is stuck in commonality of today's RAP.

Before I get started on this review, do NOT mistaken "Tha Carter" as another Cash Money/Big Tymers type album where the lyrics are weak and the production is sub-par. This album is the best Cash Money album since probably "400 Degreez" and even "Lights Out". I will admit that I'm not a Cash Money fan but I will say that I had to get this album once I first listened to it. "Tha Carter" slaughters his last album "500 Degreez" because Lil Wayne has grown of age and has improved drastically between the time both albums came out. The album concept is about a building that Dwayne Carter claims he owns where he makes he profit and other things.

Lil Wayne introduces us to Tha Carter with the intro "Walk In" where he gives us a welcoming to the Carter building while rapping. The potential single "Go DJ" took me a while to grow into because Mannie Fresh talks through the beginning of the track which gives it less interest but Lil Wayne picks up the slacks and delievers big. Mannie Fresh appears again for the next track "This Is The Carter" which is a good track and Mannie delievers good production. The best track "BM J.R." is where Lil Wayne shines like never before. If it wasn't for Baby talking the same b/s on this song, this song who be a classic. Lil Wayne drops so many punchlines and he sounds clever while doing it (Ex: My N**** hungry he will eat the plate, and if I ask the homeboy will eat your face; And though he got me, you can ask I'm like a pool table, I keep the 8), (I Ain't Trippin N****, I play the corner like Ripken N****, With the .40 Cal Rip-Kin N****, Rip Ya N*****). The whole song is straight up fire. "On The Block #1" is a couple people talking about how they miss someone which sets it up for "I Miss My Dawgs". This song is the 2nd best on the album shere Lil Wayne gets real and leaves all the bling-bling, money and hoes alone to talk about he misses his Hot Boy comrads B.G., Turk and Juvenile. Reel drops a hot chorus and everything blends well. "We Don't" is a song that brings the album down and Baby shouldn't have been on most of these tracks because all he did was bring them down. "On My Own" is an OK track but I expected better. "Tha Heat" picks the album back up and Lil Weezy goes back to dropping hot rhymes. "Cash Money Millionaires" in another stand out but it talks about the usual money, hoez and drugz topic that Cash Money craves on. The interlude "Inside" goes inside of Tha Carter building. The 1st single "Bring It Back" is a song that features a dedication to fallen rapper Soulja Slim and how Wayne intends to bring the rap game to the Dirty South(Louisiana to be exact). Even though Mannie Fresh's hook has nothing to do with the song, it's still a good song. "Who Wanna" is another so-so track IMO, nothing too special. "On The Block #2" is another skit where people talk about gossip on the streets. "Get Down" features Baby where they address all haterz and those not about getting on their grind. "Snitch" is actually a pretty good track and Lil Wayne dropz fire. "Hoes" features Mannie Fresh which talks about the love of skandalous women. It's an acceptional party hit but nothing really to remember. The best production of the album comes on the track "Only Way". The beat reminds me of the old Cash Money and preferably "400 Degreez". There's a couple times where the beat stops and drops to an ILL drumline(listen to the song at 1:12 and you'll see what I mean). Baby actually drops a good chorus and Lil Wayne comes off hard. Jazze Pha stops by the drop the chorus for "Earthquake". I'm feeling that laid back track and the production is stellar. "Ain't That A B****" is another good track and leads Tha Carter to "Walk Out", the album closer.

If It wasn't for Mannie Fresh and Baby messing up some songs on the album with their outlandish talk, "Tha Carter" would be a contender for 2004's Best Rap Album of the Year. Do not overlook this album just because it's Cash Money. Lil Wayne is definitely not the best rapper alive but he's the hottest Cash Money artist out Fa Sheezy.

Tha Carter is absolutely a classic album. This is his best work to date and im glad he decided to switch his flow up and be like jay-z and spit from the temple because he sounds way better than he did when he was writing. This is an album that you can listen to from the beginning to the end. Lil wayne is the new jay-z ''His flow is sicker than a third flo in hospitals.''

This Is the best alblum of 04. Wayne has earned much respect and notice with this alblum. Respect he has deserved for a long time. People just been sleepin. "been got me feet wet, b@#*! Im still soakin/steping out ashy i need a lil lotion---lil wayne"

so wake up 19 slamin tracks(2 skits). Only a few haters on here have tryed to find fault in a perfect alblum("do u fools listen to music or do u just skim through it"--jay z), but every one else knows this classic alblum.

p.s.- "i advanced a little, due to the prime/ My N@#*!s call me lil russell crow for my beauitiful mind/--wezzy f baby

This CD is great because it is packed with really good beats and, in my opinion, portrays some of Lil Wayne's best lyrical ability to date. Trust me, I'm a long time Cash Money fan; Lil Wayne's rhyming talent is insane! I have all of Wayne's CDs, and a multitude of other Cash Money albums, but this one is the best. This is also one of the few albums that I can listen to, from intro to outro, without skipping a single track. That's how good this album is!!! If you are a long time CMR fan like me, get this album, NOW! And if you are new to CMR, buy it anyway because it is Wayne and Mannie Fresh (Cash Money's DJ; he makes the beats for the tracks. They are all sweet!) at their best, and gives you an idea of what their Southern style is like. I am very impressed with this CD, Wayne's 4th solo album. Now I can't wait to see what he dishes out for his 5th!