LIL WAYNE - Carter III | Review By: Conan Milne


Release Date : June 10th 2008

Label : Cash Money / Universal Motown

Rating: 4/5

Dub Quotable: A relaxed Wayne reacts by stressing matter-of-fact verses that advise lesser lyricists on what it takes to reach Hip-Hop's summit. When he's in the zone, no-one is more qualified to do so.

.............................................

“We are not the same – I am a martian.” Since being crowned the Hottest MC In The Game by any Hip-Hop media outlet worth their salt, Lil Wayne has done everything in his power to stress his individuality. In press, he dismisses comparisons to peers with either erratic venom or indifference. On the wealth of mixtape material he has released in 2008 alone, he has proven himself as a niche defying MC who craves studio time. With Tha Carter III, the preposterously hyped final entry to Wayne’s trilogy, the pressure was on to deliver something revolutionary. Shockingly, instead of offering the unique, undeniable classic so many anticipated, New Orleans’ eccentric prodigy delivers a surprisingly on-rails record.

The dream team collaboration with Jay-Z attests to this. Although both Weezy and Hov offer impressively polished verses, they both lack the passion to make their efforts unforgettable. It almost seems as if both ‘God MCs’ were so assured in their dominance that they failed to strive for greatness. The production is also a little uninspired in places. Granted, the shrill, isolated vocal sample will have heads nodding in agreement, but the cut’s finale overreaches. Instead of sounding organic, the ushered in handclaps and youthful chants of “Mr. Wayne” seems a contrived attempt to create something epic. It’s the equivalent of an overlong CGI sequence that you find in too many of today’s Hollywood blockbusters.

Like any good franchise, Tha Carter III does boast significant star power. Kanye West scores the far more enjoyable “Comfortable,” a lush, almost soothing song that highlights Wayne’s versatility. Beginning as an immature kiss-off to an old flame, “Comfortable” displays its vulnerability through Babyface’s cooed chorus. “If you don’t love me, somebody else will,” sighs the balladeer, his emotional vocals melting into ‘Ye’s lingering strings. This prompts Wayne to dismantle the mock indifference of his first two verses, finally admitting to his ex, “I will never one, two, three, for-get about you.”

“Comfortable” isn’t the only flicker of brilliance on the album, however. “Dr. Carter” is everything a superstar pairing should be, with producer Swizz Beatz and MC Lil Wayne spotting one another for optimum performance. Swizzy bravely abandons his hyperactive comfort zone to helm a track rich in dusty drum kicks and intriguingly subdued horn arrangements. A relaxed Wayne reacts by stressing matter-of-fact verses that advise lesser lyricists on what it takes to reach Hip-Hop’s summit. When he's this in the zone, no-one is more qualified to do so.

Make no mistake – as a rapper, Wayne is virtually unrivalled. As the afore-mentioned “Dr. Carter” evidences, he can wrap his crazed flow around any production. Lyrically, meanwhile, he has every right to claim he’s so far ahead of “the oth-ars” – sorry, ‘others.’ However, even if Wayne himself is never predictable, the album’s subject matter can be. There’s the obligatory ode to stacking cash (titled, funnily enough, “Got Money”) the confrontational posse cut (“You Ain’t Got Nuthin”) and the guilty pleasure, a sleazy dedication to the fairer sex that's sure to appease club dwellers ("Lollipop") Wayne handles this familiar territory with his trademark, frenzied bravado, but you still expect more. Hip-Hop’s compelling martian has delivered a brash, perfectly enjoyable effort. Unfortunately, the overall sound of Planet Weezy isn’t quite as out-of-this-world as one would have hoped.
 

..........................................................................................