Lil Wayne "Tha Carter IV"

How do you follow up a record that sold over a million copies in its first week? By making it memorable, and versatile enough to please old and new fans. Unfortunately many people did not enjoy this record too much, but I don't think i'm the only one. Let's Say that the "Intro" to a great record is always important, but it is better to end on a high note than to begin with one. Weezy is p*ssed off and cocky as always, comes out to ".. f*** everybody like a Scorpio/Still running s***, I’m on my cardio/Boy I’m going in, like my water broke and has plenty more great one liner here, plenty more about girls and h***, p******, and c**** t***, weed; a "n**** countin’ money, you n***** counterfeit." The instrumental backing is undoubtedly strong and catchy; which leans pretty nice to the string-laden/horn- infused melodrama and the marching band on paper drums beat that work well with his verses ( partially angry, slightly cryptic, and not without his references). "Light that Ashton Kusher, I'm a limit pusher/See y'all dead meat, and me I'm just a butcher/I do it for the money, man I am such a hooker/And freedom was my girl, until they f****** took her." The next song prepares wayne for his armor fitting to be "MegaMan" and good thing his head doesn't need a helmet because it wouldn't fit in one of any size; with Ibuprofen,Steve Harvey, gangs, baseball, ventriloqusism,the power of the almighty dollar,  and.."Rap game dependent on me like a bungee cord/Fear nobody but God almighty/Shoot that m*********** till I get arthritis/I'm a beast, I'm a a**, I'm ahead of my class" He may be cocky, but we cannot deny some of what he spits is true. The next track was the first single and features interpolations Harry Belafonte's Day-O (the banana boat song) which sounds like the cutest little dwarves walking alongside Weezy and Cory Gunz who also sing a cute hook alongside the great drumachineline.  There may be more young money/cash money posturing, but also includes plenty of conviction in the delivery and a lot of emotion; he seems he is almost out of breath. Plenty of good verses calling out the paperchasers, those that talk through their butt, or just talk, but this family picture he descibes is also great: "life is the b****, and death is her sister/sleep is the cousin, what a f****** family picture/you know father time, we all know mother nature/it's all in the family, but I am of no relation." Let's say that the instrumentals and piano during the "Nightmares of the Bottom" don't match the title; they sound real positive, even though the verses are addressed to haters, cover the (or his) struggles that come with fame, and possible fear of coming down of his high horse. The master's apprentice joins Weezy in this track with instrumentals which are perfect for a rainy night , and a realization that "She Will" give it up to two of the realest in the game right now, but would also give it up to anyone else for cash. If you wanna know "How To Hate" Lil Wayne and T-Pain, this song will not help your case because they make a great duo in this track that is heavy on melodic autotune and more good verses, and he tries to be punny using his name to let every know that when it waynes,you know the rest. The song that will be the last one about that girl "That owe you everything/At least a wedding ring," but was not even worth the time because she was easier than A,B,C. Let's take a little "Interlude," which features quick versery from Tech N9ne and some great bars from Andre 3000; who hold no bounds as this beat is able to come up front in line. "John" brings on the riddling and spacey keys that also include sfx; might be a little scary to a five year old! The big bass bump, and the glorification of guns and glory that show no fear even (If I Die Today). I need to say that this confessional could be about someone who called Mr Carter the baby daddy, and the instrumentals sound as if an "Abortion" occured instead of a hooky song worthy of replay, but if it was it would be a song with a message lost? "I know your name, yeah/Your name is unimportant/We in the belly of the beast/And she thinking 'bout abortion." What's "So Special" about this song? Not the lyrics I'll tell you that..Just being an a**, but they aren't as strong as previous tracks. This song features more great backing music and some baritone from the John Legend on the hook though.  The sister, or brother, of hate teaches us "How To Love" which definitely was the bigger of the two singles and is very melodic and sentimental; focuses more on melody and is directed towards a teen fan as it was said. Weezy has his ambitions, and the previous entry in this series included his ambition to be Dr. Carter which was one of his best songs off number three.He's going for "President Carter" now, and this is another strong track lyrically and instrumentally that segues into a song that we can easily say that "It's Good," but would prefer to say it's great with the samples of the Alan Parsons Project's The Cask of Amontillado, and proficient verses from Weezy; as well as Jadakiss and Drake. Now this is what we're talking about for an ending in the "Outro" which features Bun B, Nas Shyne, and Busta Rhymes who basically thanks Tunechi, thanks for "...giving us a whole 'nother classic with Tha Carter IV. " Either I'm just as high as Weezy, or  it's just because "I Like The View" of the lyrical  bonfire and the rest just makes me love the sound. The next one is phenomenal, and features a guy who takes us to Mars with his beautiful vocals with sweeping  melancholia; hooky track that features strong verses from Weezy, and is a song most of us can relate to because we have all felt alone and looked in the "Mirror," feeling worthless at times. I guess some feel so worthless they go for "Two Shots" of whatever, which is what this song is; not bad, but there is a reason it's a bonus track, the other two could have been on the regular disc, no problem.