Tha Carter III - Auditory Genius
26.6.08 by I.R.
Lil Wayne, the self-proclaimed king of hip-hop delivers another solid performance on his latest LP, Tha Carter III.
Widely regarded for his lyrical creativity, electrifying performances, and swaggering personality, Lil Wayne's latest effort lives up to the hype that has surrounded the album since its announcement. Initially scheduled for release in 2007, Tha Carter III was delayed several times due to creative differences between the artist and management - which seems to have paid off.
Wayne's raspy crooning coupled with infectious beats, an all-star cast of producers and guest performers create an album that is thusfar unmatched in extravagance. The first track '3 peat', which is entirely ad libbed, showcases Wayne's quick wit and hyperactive thought process. He raps about everything from grandmothers, guns, Viagra, New Orleans, his greatness and ESPN - all in a single track; the only downside being that the verses are not necessarily coherent.
Tracks like 'Lollipop' and 'Mr. Carter' prove that Lil Wayne that is commercially viable, while others like 'Phone Home' and 'Dr. Carter' affirm his reputation among die-hard hip-hop and rap fans.
Interestingly, the final track on the album, 'Don't Get It' offers the greatest insight into Lil Wayne's psyche. At a lengthy 12 minutes (the first 3 of which are rap), Carter's social commentary on violence, incarceration and drugs in the black community is quite controversial, yet lyrically incredible. All in all, a great album and a must buy.
Widely regarded for his lyrical creativity, electrifying performances, and swaggering personality, Lil Wayne's latest effort lives up to the hype that has surrounded the album since its announcement. Initially scheduled for release in 2007, Tha Carter III was delayed several times due to creative differences between the artist and management - which seems to have paid off.
Wayne's raspy crooning coupled with infectious beats, an all-star cast of producers and guest performers create an album that is thusfar unmatched in extravagance. The first track '3 peat', which is entirely ad libbed, showcases Wayne's quick wit and hyperactive thought process. He raps about everything from grandmothers, guns, Viagra, New Orleans, his greatness and ESPN - all in a single track; the only downside being that the verses are not necessarily coherent.
Tracks like 'Lollipop' and 'Mr. Carter' prove that Lil Wayne that is commercially viable, while others like 'Phone Home' and 'Dr. Carter' affirm his reputation among die-hard hip-hop and rap fans.
Interestingly, the final track on the album, 'Don't Get It' offers the greatest insight into Lil Wayne's psyche. At a lengthy 12 minutes (the first 3 of which are rap), Carter's social commentary on violence, incarceration and drugs in the black community is quite controversial, yet lyrically incredible. All in all, a great album and a must buy.
