One of the biggest albums of the year, “Tha Carter IV” by Lil’ Wayne, arrived in stores August 29th. “Tha Carter IV” is Lil’ Wayne’s ninth studio album. After delivering “Tha Carter III,” his third album of the sequence, the fourth was a promised payoff and fans had high expectations that Lil’ Wayne, also known as Lil’ Weezy, was unable to match.
Critics like Billboard Magazine said that those who pick up the album and are unaware of his antics may be more supportive than his diehard fans, which are more likely to notice the lack of catchy beats and personality found in the “Tha Carter III.” I personally notice the way Weezy expresses himself through explicit revelations, not giving a care of the events he’s experienced, along with an aim to get himself all over the radio and an aim to become remembered.
“I don’t like it very much… it isn’t all that good,” Emily Koch, junior, said.
It is understandable why fans feel this way, because the album is complex and extremely diverse, from acoustic tunes like “How to Love” to aggressive songs with harsh lyrics like “Abortion.”
“My favorite song on the album is ‘John’ because Rick Ross has a nice voice,” Parker Brigance, senior, said.
Not only does Rick Ross contribute vocals to “John,” but there are also many other collaborations. These include songs like “6 Foot 7 Foot,” featuring Cory Gunz, “She Will,” featuring Drake and “So Special,” featuring John Legend. In the last song on the CD, “Intro,” Weezy doesn’t even appear once, letting his partners, Bun B, Nas, Shyne and Busta Rhymes, perform the single.
People who don’t listen to him regularly may think that his songs are filled with mindless rapping, but those who know his music know that there is personal experience and background behind every song. In “Nightmares of the Bottom,” Lil’ Wayne writes about his personal life, spitting “…it’s like I have it all but I don’t have to worry… only God can judge me.”
Some people see “Tha Carter IV” as disgraceful, but I see it as an interesting way to look at reality. I do not enjoy the absurdity found in songs like “Abortion,” but I do believe that he has experienced indescribable hardships, and when he writes about them is when he travels far. It may not be one of his best albums, but he tried his hardest to deliver a message and worked for several years at it.
“Tha Carter IV is good but will never be as good as Tha Carter III,” Cameron Harris, senior, said.
