Artist: Lil Wayne

Album: Tha Carter III

Label: Cash Money Records/Universal Motown Music Group

Rating: 4 out of 5 Clocks


‘Tha Carter III’ has been in the works for over two and half years, the anticipation for this album expanded over the course of its successful sequel. This is the final installment to his distinguished trilogy. Between that time and where he is now, Lil Wayne has become a force to be reckoned with; he has individually kept Hip-Hop afloat where many others have failed. After being pushed back numinous amount of times and even leaked once before, the third Carter is finally released to a world of impatient fans. The album cover alone follows the same concept of Nas with ‘Illmatic’ and Biggie with ‘Ready to Die.’

Between the completely vivid lyrics and the mega production he incorporated into this album, the final chapter is by far a great conclusion; even the artists that feature on the album put forth that extra effort to keep up with Wayne’s lyrical matter. Many of the tracks evident an advancement in his lyrical level, you can definitely sense the maturity in his music from the production to the storyline. As a matter of fact he includes pieces of himself in each individual track. It is quite obvious that every track comprises elements that blend very well. It seems as though he took each track like an experiment and incorporated many different ideas. The originality and the concept he intentionally pushes to delivery is definitely there. Many different tracks prove this theory; all you have to do is take a gander at ‘Mr. Carter,’ ‘Phone Home,’ ‘Playin’ with Fire,’ ‘La La,’ ‘Dr. Carter,’ ‘Tie My Hands,’ and ‘Misunderstood.’ I put emphasis on both ‘Dr. Carter’ and ‘Tie My Hands,’ between creativity and personal characteristics; he shows you a different side of Wayne. Mr. Carter features the other famous Carter, Jay-Z, while Tie My Hands incorporates the soulful talents of Robin Thicke. The production he chose to express his lyrics further proves that he can adapt to maturity.

On the real, I’ve been listening to Lil Wayne since ‘Tha Block Is Hot’ and I can honestly say his style and lyrical flow have initially sky-rocketed from his younger days in the Hot Boys. This album deserves a 4 out 5 Clocks for originality and conceptual lyrics that incorporate a storyline. This is a collector’s item that will become a masterpiece in its own time. The best rapper alive has given you three reasons why he claims the throne. The trilogy is over; let’s just wait and see what Wayne has up his sleeves in the next two and half years. Before that he’ll probably be in every mixtape from now until the year 2010.

Other notable tracks include: ‘3 Peat,’ ‘Comfortable,’ ‘Good Girl Gone Bad,’ and ‘Shoot Me Down.’