New Orleans, Louisana's own Lil Wayne is back with a 10 track EP to tide fans over until Tha Carter IV comes out sometime early next year. The currently incarcerated rapper sounds noticeably different this time around, mostly due to the absence of Auto-Tune, which makes the disc a sharp improvement over his last effort Rebirth and foretells more to come from Weezy in the future.
The disc starts off with "Gonorrhea" featuring newcomer rapper sensation Drake and Wayne's familiar raps bumping through the trademark beats that were found abundantly on Wayne's prior albums. Lil Wayne sounds more natural and relaxed on this tune and many others throughout the disc. His resolve continues to bold strong on "Hold Up", a beat ridden, lyrically powerful track that resonates fairly strongly after first hearing it. The disc's title track is a mostly hard rock styled, hook laden track that is eerily reminiscent of his failed foray into the rock arena, Rebirth but is actually a pretty listenable track that won't grate on your nerves while hearing it. "I'm Single" is a bland, scattered track with weak lyrics and feels conspicuously out of place here.
The EP's second half commences with "What's Wrong With Them" featuring Nicki Minaj, a passable track that overdoes a bit with the synthesizers and Wayne's raps sound a bit artificial on this one as well. My favorite track off the disc is the first single, "Right Above It". Drake makes another cameo appearance on this one with a melodic, thumping track that mixes in Wayne's trademark rhymes into a particularly exquisite track. The disc begins to close up shop with "That Ain't Me" featuring Jay Sean, a slick, anthemic tune that seems to echo Weezy's current situation behind bars. "Bill Gates" is a mildly entertaining track with Wayne's strong rhymes over a mediocre set of beats. With Lil Wayne set to get out of prison next month after serving a 8 month sentence for weapons possession 3 years ago, this EP serves up immediate notice that Lil Wayne is still a force to be reckoned with in the rap game and will be ready to get back on top of the heap sometime next year when Tha Carter IV is released.
All in all, a mediocre but listenable effort here from Lil Wayne, who clearly demonstrates that he has not gone away completely and is poised to someday take back his reign and return to the iconic status that has led many to proclaim him as "best rapper alive".
Album Score: 3/5
Track Listing:
- Gonorrhea (f/Drake)
- Hold Up
- With You (f/Drake)
- I Am Not a Human Being
- I'm Single (f/Drake)
- What's Wrong With Them (f/Nicki Minaj)
- Rhght Above It (f/Drake)
- Popular
- That Ain't Me (f/Jay Sena)
- Bill Gates
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