Tha Carter V by Lil Wayne

Reviewed by Luke Winnicki

The Carter V shows us a matured and consistent Lil Wayne, and a satisfying addition to the Carter series, even after the long wait. This record, originally announced in 2014, sounds like something out of the mid-2000’s. It’s decidedly Bling Era aesthetic is fertile ground for Tunechi. We hear him flowing harder than ever over Swizz Beats and Mannie Fresh production, just like its 2004 again. The features also bring a lot to the table, from a lowkey posthumous addition from XXXtentacion to a surprisingly well-done feature from Wayne daughter on the song “Famous”.

The record comes out of gates blazing; the first quarter of the album is an onslaught of some the best Wayne bars I’ve heard since No Ceilings. The problem with this record, however, is in its length. At almost 90 minutes and 23 tracks, a lot of it, especially the middle starts to blend together. Regardless, this record shows Wayne at the top of his game, cycling between legitimately emotional moments and flashy braggadocio. After this good showing and resistance towards falling into the trendy modern sounds he helped create, I’m willing to believe Lil Wayne still has more to offer us.

Rating: 3.7/5

Fav. Tracks: “Don’t Cry”; “Uproar”; “Used 2”