The Verdict: Lil Wayne - The Carter III

This is at least the second time Wayne has tried to release the third installment of his "Carter" series. The first time it was released online over a month before sheduled street date, so he pulled the plug and mostly started over.
Bosting production from Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Cool & Dre, Just Blaze, Wyclef Jean, Streetrunners, David Banner, Alchemist, and Play-N-Skillz; PLUS guest stars Robin Thicke, Jay-Z, Bobby Valentino, Babyface, T-Pain, Pitbull, Static Major (RIP), Bust Rhymes, Juelz Santanna - this is Weezy's most ambitious project to date. Cash money used to use only inside producers and inside guests.

But is it banging? YES.

The lead single "Lollipop" is already huge on the radio (and has been remixed about a zillion times). It is great to hear Wayne trade verses with Jay Z on "Mr Carter", the reunion with Robin Thicke on "Tie My Hands" is totally out of character for Wayne and shows that he is growing up, the David Banner produced "Phone Home" and the Swizz Beatz assisted "Dr Carter" are the strangest and most unique tracks I have heard in a long time, and "Let The Beat" is an instant HIP HOP CLASSIC in my book - much props to Kanye on the production and to Wayne for being able to do it justice. Wayne is never outshined by his co-stars - just check how he anchors "Nothing On Me" after Fabolous and Juelz do their best to rip it, and how he makes T-Pain's vocorder into his own thing on "Got Money". SO many of these tracks could be hits as singles.

Back when 5 MICS in the Source meant something, this would be a 5 MIC album.

Wayne may still have some growing to do, but he is killin em on this album. The industry knows Wayne is a beast - check Kanye's line on his remix to "Lollipop" - "Its a song with Wayne/So you know its gone' melt/But you aint finna murder me like everybody else/I'ma rap like I got some type respect for myself". And what other artist gets Babyface to sing a hook on a Kanye produced track ("Comfortable")?

Cop this.