LIL WAYNE
"Tha Carter III"
Released: June 10, 2008
Genre: Hip-Hop

Official Site, MySpace, Wikipedia

This is a revolutionary approach not only to hip-hop, but to music as a whole. It is a must-have for anyone who missed it when it was released this summer.

"TWO WORDS YOU never hear: 'Wayne, quit!' "

The boisterous Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (better known as the Young Carter, Weezy, or officially, Lil Wayne) released his solo debut nine years ago.

But to hear his summer smash release "Tha Carter III," one would think his fresh approach to hip-hop had to be the work of an extraordinarily insightful newcomer.

While his earlier albums, particularly "Tha Carter" (2004) and "Tha Carter II" (2005), received some critical acclaim, a large and dedicated fan base, and plenty of airplay, Lil Wayne's reputation as a brilliant lyricist was in large part solidified through Internet-released freestyles and "The Leak" and "The Drought is Over Parts 1-4," mixtapes recorded in between "Tha Carter II" and "Tha Carter III."

This reputation led "Tha Carter III" to become one of the most anticipated albums of the summer, selling more than 1 million copies in one week.

The album was so sought after that it was delayed six months after most of the tracks were leaked over the Internet, causing the album to be rebuilt. Most of the original version was released on "The Leak" EP.

The latest release by hip-hop's most quotable artist is not so much an album but a collection of punchline-laden songs, leading some to criticize it as unfocused.

However, Wayne is clearly improving. While there are a few weak tracks — "Lala," "Mrs. Officer," "Don’tGetIt," to name a few — the other songs on the album far make up for the dead weight with their sheer quality.

"Tha Carter III" shows many different sides of Wayne’s musical ability. Singles such as "Lollipop," featuring Static Major, and "Got Money," featuring pop/R&B "singer" T-Pain, use voice-synthesizer effects to produce chart-topping dance hits, while "A Milli" and "Mr. Carter," featuring Jay-Z, show off the dazzling wordplay that Weezy is renowned for.

Mr. Carter even has a serious side. "Tie My Hands" is the New Orleans native's reflection on the condition of his city, and "Shoot Me Down" reveals Wayne’s introspective struggles along with cries of "I'm drinking hot tea b****, feel me!"

Perhaps Wayne’s message is troubling. To say that misogyny is present on the album would be a vast understatement. But the ground-breaking approach to music this album represents still cannot be ignored.

Another downside to "Tha Carter III" is that one of its most brilliant gems, the "Lollipop" remix featuring Kanye West, is only included on the album when purchased through iTunes.

Other notable tracks include "Mrs. Officer," featuring Bobby Valentino, and "Comfortable," which reflect more unhealthy attitudes toward the opposite gender, and "Phone Home," a musical oddity, with an obnoxious hook but intricate, clever verses.

With this album we see Weezy reach, if not full potential, then full popularity, with the three videos so far all reaching top 10 countdowns, closing the BET awards, and an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in its season-opening episode last week.

In short, "Tha Carter III" is a revolutionary approach not only to hip-hop, but to music as a whole. It is a must-have for anyone who missed it, and to Wayne’s self-proclaimed status as the "Best Rapper Alive," an essential step closer.