Lil Wayne-Dedication 2; How a mixtape sounds like an album

Lil Wayne; The Best Rapper Alive. He literally defines himself as a competitor and a sport when it comes to the game of hip hop. I been watching Wayne since The Hot Boyz and with Cash Money records coming into jeopardy, Lil Wayne stepped in like a step father to his girls child and help raise the game into what it has become. I honestly became a Wayne fan when he made a mixtape called Sqad Up with Gudda, P-Nut, Kidd Kidd, & T-Streetz. Those kids were talented to the point they destroyed other people’s intrumentals by recording freestyles to help gain exposure. A young Wayne showed his hunger like he was grown. Playing like Kobe Bryant in the fourth quarter, Lil Wayne always thought clutch and continued to help revolutionized the rap game into becoming popular among our culture. In the world of art, music, and fashion, Lil Wayne is no stranger into stepping into a realm where everything was different.

During 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit and it took many lives and families. Wayne had to relocate to Miami to get away from the destruction the hurricane caused in his state. This hurt many lives and the things that happened, this influenced Lil Wayne to step up for his city where he drops his feelings and thoughts about what has happened to his home. The home of Mardi Gras was destroyed due to the storm and those who know Lil Wayne knows he can spit his pain and his heart out on his songs. Dedication 2 turned 15 and it is time to dig deep into this record and show the world why Dedication 2 was the best thing cooking in 2006.

1. The Best In The Business- Your typical DJ Drama intro where the artist speaks on the project. Wayne lets you know subliminally why Dedication is important.
2. Get Em- Lil Wayne delivers one of the best intro starters to a mixtape as he raps over Dipset’s Jha Jha feat. Juelz Santana “Get From Round Me” where he defines why he is best rapper alive. Now it makes sense on why he works with Dipset is because he be killing their beats and I am a huge Dipset fan. This was impressive
3. They Like Me- Lil Wayne is the king of killing beats, especially the ones that are not his. Dem Franchise Boys had hits in 2005 and for Wayne to jack this beat showed how big of a competitor he is in the rap game. Lil Wayne ran this beat like Usain Bolt on a 40yd dash.
4. I’m The Best Rapper Alive- A Little skit with a teaser. Isn’t this what the culture is all about?
5. Cannon Feat. Freeway, Willie Da Kid & Detroit Red- Listen to the lyrics, Lil Wayne don’t spit he vomit. Making sick verses on this song proved Lil Wayne can hang with the best. I am also impressed with Freeway’s verse and these two lyricist made two dope songs together that I heard.
6. Workin Em- A song about hoes from Lil Wayne can be appealing sometimes. His funny lyrics stand out and brings and audience to prepare for what he says next.
7. Sportcenter- A dope beat for Wayne, a competitor to rap too. He raps over tennis samples as he flips his wordplay all over this beat.
8. Welcome to The Concrete Jungle Feat. Juelz Santana- Juelz Santana was one of my favorite artist and him and Wayne collaborate so well. Them on Concrete Jungle is like watching Scott Hall and Kevin Nash in a tag team match. It could be a Jack Knife Powerbomb or a Razor’s Edge that could put damage on a track.
9. Spitter- The 2005 Biggie Smalls, “Spit Your Game” is one of the illest beats Weezy rapped over. Saying clever things like “Blood all over the holster. blood all over the sofa/ I’m in them S.Dots so it’s blood all over my Hova’s”
   S.Carter shoes were popular and Wayne gave a dope reference to the shoe. Kudos
10. South Music- Weezy rapping over Outkast “Players Ball (reprise)” brings the south to pay homage to The Best Rapper Alive
11. That’s what I call her- A hilarious song about the woman he meets. Why you think he has all them kids? He is a Libra so he is indecisive about the woman he wanted to be with at the time
12. Dedication 2- Lil Wayne using the “Bang Bang” by Nancy Sinatra along with Dipset “Ground Zero” made Weezy a threat to the rap game. He rides through the night like Batman in his bat mobile.
13. Weezy On Retirement- All the greats talk about retirement and Wayne has a legacy to fill.
14. Poppin Them Bottles Feat. Curren$y- Before Drake, Nicki, and Tyga, there was Curren$y and he was an amazing rapper. Poppin them Bottles is a funny song rapped over Three 6 Mafia’s classic hit, “Poppin My Collar”.
15. What You Know- T.I’s hit single “What You Know” was a summer banger in 2005 and Wayne decided to take the beat from him and kill it. When he says clever things like “I be skating like NuNu”, it is obvious he was referencing ATL, a film directed by T.I
16. Where Da Cash At? Feat. Curren$y & Remy Ma- This was 06 and chopped and screwed samples was flooding the streets. Curren$y’s solo song with the best rapper alive along with Remy Ma who actually dropped her debut that same year. The Fireman sample to this song made this track lit because of the energy it brings and how if you were around at the time of this release, you realize how back it takes you.
17. Riding with The K Feat. Curren$y & Mack Maine- 3 Young Money Artist gliding over this Purple Ribbon All-Star’s Kryptonite. This is a playful track where all three members boast over the money and power.
18. Lil Weezy on the streets of N.O (Skit) - Hurricane Katrina took the city of N.O and Weezy stating on this skit, New Orleans stands strong.
19. Walk It Off- This reminds me of something Mannie Fresh produced in the Hot Boyz day’s and Weezy did sound reminiscent of his Hot Boyz meets Sqad Up days. After doing prior research before writing this article, I learned this is a U.N.L.V, a New Orleans underground group that was once affiliated with Cash Money Records before the fame.
20. Hustlin- This showcases how Weezy will steal your intrumental and make it his. Before Drought 3 happened, Lil Wayne took Rick Ross’s debut single “Hustlin” and made it his. Although he gave a shout out to Rick Ross, Ross should of put this on a remix. There were dozen’s of those remix’s and with this being apart of Dedication 2, this is exclusive.
21. Getting Some Head Feat. Pharrell Williams- A hilarious track about felatio and Pharrell surprises his fans by his excessive speed rap.
22. A Dedication After Disaster (skit)- Wayne informs his fans that New Orleans is still strong after the storm.
23. No Other Feat. Juelz Santana- This track sounds like stadium music when you play it through your speakers. It is obvious that I Can’t Feel My Face was peeking around the corner. I wish they would of finished the album because every collaboration they did matched perfect.
24. Outta Here (Skit)- Lil Wayne leaves his stamp of approval
25. Georgia Bush- A diss towards George W. Bush over the Katrina incident. It is funny how Kanye went on MTV and said Bush does not care about Black People and all of a sudden, Wayne drops Georgia Bush. Although the song is perfect, Wayne should of tapped Kanye on the shoulder and threw him on the song.
26. Ambitions- If you let this album play, you got a bonus song where Wayne raps over 2Pac’s Ambitions of a Ryder. He literally snaps on this beat and Wayne carries himself as the best rapper alive status when it comes down to who the king of Hip-Hop is.

Overall:

Birdman and J,R

Lil Wayne proved his name from being just a member out of Hip-Hop’s most flashiest label to holding his own. Once described as the Cash Money Makeveli moniker, Weezy held Cash Money down even before his departure in 2015. Weezy F Baby has made his name by the music he puts out and Dedication 2 is a gem. For those who have little knowledge about his legacy and what he did, Dedication 2 would be the best example since it was pre-autotune days. Please add this to your collection and tell your grand kids it is gold.

Live From The Stove Top,

Andrew Kenekham Aka Druski Dru