Reminiscent of early 2000s hip-hop, “Dope N****z” features the legendary Snoop Dogg and samples Dr. Wayne pays homage to his influences while simultaneously providing a platform for the young rappers he has inspired. Unlike Travis Scott’s “Astroworld,” the guest appearances on “Tha Carter V” add diversity without overshadowing the main attraction. Expanding on the intro, “Don’t Cry” discusses the struggles of fame, depression and remaining true to yourself, eerily accented by the late XXXTentacion’s soulful riffs on the chorus. Audio samples immediately add character and depth to the work.
Starting off with a heartfelt message from his weeping mother, Jacida Carter, “I Love You Dwayne” commands the listener’s attention by explaining the type of man Wayne is from the perspective of his family. Yet as media outlets predict the third-largest opening week of the year, Wayne regains his status as the self-proclaimed “best rapper alive.” His poignant, gritty and boisterous album outshines new-age rappers who claim to value sound over lyricism by delivering thought-provoking lines over beats produced by artists including Swizz Beats, Zaytoven and Mannie Fresh. To longtime listeners, the album seems overhyped and overwhelmingly ordinary.Disappointment stems not from the quality of the content, but from heightened anticipation built up over seven years and an inability to surpass a lofty bar set by Wayne himself. For fans new to Wayne’s style, “Tha Carter V” provides a refreshing change from modern artists who dominate the airways with hard-hitting beats and meaningless lyrics. He takes us back to 2010, before the trajectory of rap started shift toward what critics today refer to as mumble rap. After extensive lawsuits involving Cash Money Records and their distributor, Universal Music, over unpaid royalties, Wayne dissolved his contract with the label and walked away with a cash settlement and the freedom to launch his long-awaited project, seven years after “Tha Carter IV.”īy his own standards, the Louisiana-born rapper breaks no new ground with “Tha Carter V.” The 23-song tracklist is packed with double entendres, humorous sexual innuendos and honest words about personal issues.
28, the fifth installment in a series of game-changing albums. The rapper released “Tha Carter V” on Sept.
Lil Wayne fans can finally sleep peacefully.