Lil Wayne- Tha Carter 2 (16 years later)

Dwayne Michael Carter AKA Lil Wayne is the definition of a competitor, sport, and champion when it comes to Hip Hop. Being left at Cash Money Records after Juvenile and B.G left the label due to business decisions, Lil Wayne managed to hold things together as he released nothing but free music in the Kazaa days. Lil wayne promised himself he was going to give himself the game.

Lil Wayne & Birdman

Carter II is a special album because of the impact it created back in 2005. Rapping about drugs and violence but using a mafiso theme accompanied by owner, Birdman, Lil Wayne created a new wave where every rapper in the game should take their hats off for the New Orleans MC.

On December 6. 2005, Lil Wayne dropped the sequel to his Carter series. Carter II is one of those albums with plenty of imagination and it does matter because this is one of those albums with a creative concept comparing his albums to the actual Carter from New Jack City. This album help gain Lil Wayne with his popularity introducing him with new fans to enjoy his music.

As we go track by track, I will tell why this album is so special and why those who are reading this will agree with what I have to say about this materpiece.

1. Tha Mobb- A clever intro where Lil Wayne blesses the track like the priest from Godfather. This is straight mob music as Lil Wayne presents himself on the track like a mob boss calling the shots and ordering his hits. This intro is special because an album is like a book. How you start is how you finish and he managed to start right with the presence of the mob.
2. Fly In- This is a welcome to The Carter II as Lil Wayne introduces this song in a gentleman like stature. He been listening to Jay-Z Blueprint 1 & 2 outside of his own because his metaphors are very obnoxious. For instance, he says “Call me Pac-Man, your ghost is blue”, (Lil Wayne, 2005). This insist that Lil Wayne is eating everything in sight.
3. Money On My Mind- An ode to the root of all evil. While Wayne raps “ Lookin like a star bitch/ When you see me make a wish”, (Lil Wayne, 2005), Lil Wayne is informing us he looks like money.
4. Fireman- The theme to Carter II meaning that Wayne was the hotte4t rapper teero step in that era. Putting fire out on Cash Money Records, this had content and I see that Wayne is trying to deliver hits in the club or the street. Now it is 2021, us Class of 2007 people now realize that Lil Wayne used content to describe his songs.
5. Mo Fire- Damien Marley should of got a remix.
6. On The Block #1- Wayne telling his story on why he is best rapper alive part 1
7. Best Rapper Alive- This song solidified Wayne as he progressed. Lil Wayne is 6 years older than I so it is like progressing from learning from your own age group. Saying clever things about winning money of a football play, he elaborates his rewarding brand.
8. Lock & Load Feat. Kurupt- Kurupt is one of my favorite MC’s and up to this day, I wish there was a lost verse from him. The Kurupt hook gave Lil Wayne the gangster vibe like your pulling up doing a drive by. This is incredible that this song happened because this was 05 and Juve and B.G left Cash Money in 2001. Lil Wayne expanded on his own without the Hot Boyz on Cash Money as if Birdman died, him or Juve should own the label. It is all about expansion, not branding.
9. Oh No- Wayne at it’s best delivering bars. Hearing this song, you hear a great soulful sample which captivates your ears and it gives you great mental taste like if you were picturing hot peanut butter cookies fresh out your oven. The love for music is like your love for food. It has the taste, smell, spice, herbs, and kicks to make things complete like a meal. Therefore; Lil Wayne got his inner Jay-Z on and spit his food for thought.
10. Grown Man Feat. Curren$y- Before Drake and Nicki was Curren$y and I respected him too much because he stuck in his roots of New Orleans but learned from the best which included Master P. and Wayne. The song makes me picture a ball. Even if I went to them classy parties, I still be the one in a black hoodie rather than a suit.
11. On The Block # 2- Another skit that Lil Wayne puts out
12. Hit Em Up- Play this song around someone you don’t like.
13. Carter II- The sequel to Fly In where Wayne get’s his inner Scarface on with the crowd.
14. Hustler Muzik- A feel good song to play while your sipping a pina colada
15. Reciept- Talk is cheap so keep the reciept
16. Shooter Feat. Robin Thicke- This song gives me a James Bond feel
17. Weezy Baby Feat. Nikki Jean- Murder music to ride to. Nikki Jean has a resume from this to Hip Hop saved my life by Lupe Fiasco.
18. On The Block #3- Another skit by Wayne
19. I’m a D-Boy Feat. Birdman- Great alarm clock. My favorite line is 5 am open my eyes/tell my bitch to wake up and open the blinds”, (Lil Wayne, 2005). These bars are amazing and this had the same mafioso vibe as Lil Wayne and Birdman, Like Father Like Son
20. Feel Me- This sounds more like a mixtape song because this is motivational for the streets. “Dwayne Carter present, keep looking”, (Lil Wayne, 2005). Weezy F Baby is spilling his soul over this song
21. Get Over Feat. Nikki Jean- A warriors theme where Nikki sings the hook while Wayne gives encouragement through his music. Hey, music is therapy. This song is dope because Wayne is one of those that spit lines that hit ya heart. When he said, “Sometimes you got to learn how to swim without any life guard”, (Lil Wayne, 2005), that is a life quote.
22. Fly Out- The outro where he ends the Carter II. He hilariously says he stop woman bitches as long as they ain’t tripping bout the coke getting cooked in the kitchen. He ends the outro with best rapper alive chant.

Overall

Lil Wayne knows how to carry a series of songs turning them into autobiographicals. These albums contain what he is going through and what has happened in his lifetime. Carter II is an all-time classic because it showed growth. For instance, before Wayne became who he is, he grew up in the teen rap era. You can tell because he did not cuss in his 1st album similar to Bow Wow. What is the similarities between Wayne and Bow Wow? They both started show business as teenagers and they grew with their music.

Lil Wayne has grew tremendously with the music he puts out and you can tell if you listen to Carter II. Carter II solidified growth, maturity, and adaptability towards the times. The older you get, times change quickly so it is good to grow with the times. Understanding your surroundings and who you are around will help you grow and Juvenile and B.G leaving left Wayne to become the man of the house.

Carter II is a must have in your collection and if you were a teenager back in 2005, this is that get money music that makes you want to save up for a car while you 16.

Live From The Stove Top,

Andrew Kenekham AKA DRuski Dru,

IG: ThisIsDruskiDru