‘Tha Carter II’ by Lil Wayne: Classic Review

Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter II answered what the entire culture asked for years. Since Rakim slowed down in the early ’90s, the timeless conversation for “The best rapper alive” was without a clear answer.  The conversation flared in the ’90s between Biggie, 2Pac, and Nas.  With Pac and Big’s passing and Nas’ career taking a brief falter, Jay-Z took the crown with a general public acceptance.

Jay-Z and Eminem’s ‘Renegade’ performances raise the question

At the same time, Eminem was arguably out-rapping Jay year for year and when Jay claimed “retirement,” the title seemingly went to 50 Cent.  But with Kanye West’s strong introduction to the game and MF DOOM’s constant productivity at the same time, the question was still in the air.  But in 2005, for the first time in years, the question had one true answer: Lil Wayne.

‘Tha Carter II’ album cover. PC: Jonathan Mannion

After attempting to claim the crown but just coming short with his awesome Tha Carter (2004), his sequel, Tha Carter II, is a fully-fledged demonstration of what being the best rapper alive means.  With Weezy’s endless mixtape catalogue and multi-year run with the title, there are countless ways to explain why the crown was his.  Changing the image of the modern MC while expanding the southern style, Tha Carter II remains the best spot to begin.

“Carter II, tell me how is you gon’ stop a riot?”

Before the real intro, Fly In, Wayne kicks off the album with Tha Mobb.  Over a difficult but engaging beat, he flows relentlessly for five straight minutes without a single hook or pause.  You can almost see Wayne taking off his hoodie and using this beat as warm-up, a quick exercise to ensure that he’s ready, but even more importantly, that we’re ready for what’s ahead.

Weezy’s mean mug. PC: Ray Tammara/Getty Images

Fly in serves as the official introduction.  As he does on the first and fourth Tha Carter albums, he uses this beat here, at an interlude, and on the outro.  While less known than the other tracks, these are some of the hungriest outings on the entire LP.  Wayne soars over a sparkling beat, busting some of his more honest bars and claiming his dedication to the game and his roots.

After this, the album really kicks off.  Tracks three and four, Money On My Mind and Fireman, are still major Southern classics.  While the instrumentals are admittedly a bit dated, that’s part of the charm of listening to the album nowadays.  Weezy’s classic punchlines and cocky flows are all over these tracks, making some for some of his most timeless material.

“It’s just a victory lap, baby, I’m just joggin'”

Wayne on the throne

Then of course, is the album’s thesis statement.  Wayne boldly titles the seventh song on the 22 deep track list, Best Rapper Alive.  Before you even press play, you have to wonder what lies ahead.  With arguably the most daring song title ever in the game since Fuck The Police, there’s endless possibilities as to how it’s gonna sound.  It turns out that it’s pretty damn perfect.  With a colossal rock guitar and an absolutely ELECTRIC crowd chant for the beat, Wayne doesn’t use the song to attempt to claim the throne, he uses it as his victory lap, crown comfortably on his head.

After this monumental high point, convincing the listeners that he’s at the apex of Hip-Hop, the album somehow only gets better.  Proving himself to the fullest, Wayne uses a lot of the album’s space to celebrate the South.  There’s the patient but hot Mo’ Fire, the beloved classic Hustler Muzik, and of course, the Robin Thicke-assisted Shooter.

“So many doubt ’cause I come from the South”

Wayne and Robin Thick performing ‘Shooter’ at 51st Grammy’s

Shooter serves as the album’s second claim, that the South reigns supreme.  In two of the culture’s most important 8-bar verses, Weezy talks about the “region hating” that Southern MC’s get, saying that “if we too simple, then y’all don’t get the basics.”  A remarkable line that not only sums up the South, but Wayne himself.  MC’s like Wayne catch hate for their simplicity, but don’t recognize that this man is rhyming off the top of his head in all of his songs!  He and his peers and true naturals and to make a song as complex as this is a necessary middle finger to the world.

In Lock and Load, Wayne creates a hybrid style that merges the South with the West coast.  With three impressive verses and an anchoring hook from Cali legend, Kurupt, this is yet another barrier breaking exhibition of Weezy’s talents.  This song is followed by Oh No, which, like Tha Mobb, is another steady slaughter for minutes without a hook.  Simply a clinic in flowing with some very strong lyrics, clearly coming off the dome with natural ease and flawless delivery.

While there’s too many other bangers to count, we have to acknowledge the more heartfelt moments on C2.  Grown Man featuring Curren$y remains one of Weezy’s more acclaimed moments of sappiness. And while the Isley Brothers-sampling Receipt is a super fun love song, Get Over is by far the most emotional moment on the album.

Awesome Lil Wayne shirt design by designsbyhumans.com

“But that’s life y’all, Sometimes you gotta learn to swim with no lifeguard”

As the penultimate track, Wayne uses Get Over as a pouring of emotions about all of the friends and family that have passed away.  The lyrics are painful, covering drug use and other coping mechanisms to deal with heartbreaking loss, tied together by a gorgeous hook by Nikki Jean.  As crushing as it is, Wayne still demonstrates great resilience, as the song title declares.  It remains one of his more honest and human songs to date, and a perfect last stop on the road before wrapping up the album with Fly Out.

C2 is one of, if not the only time in rap history that the title of best rapper alive was instantly crowned without debate upon a project’s release.  Just one week later, Wayne would put out The Dedication (2005), the beginning of music’s greatest mixtape run before coming full circle with Tha Carter III (2008).  However, as amazing as all of those subsequent projects are, Tha Carter II is cemented as the moment where it truly all began.  Absolutely classic.

Tha Carter II Rating: Platinum

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Jason Heilbronner | Twitter: @JasonHeilbronn1