Search - Lil Wayne :: Tha Carter 2 (2 CD) [DELUXE EDITION]

The block is an inferno this time

Geostigma | Washington, DC | 12/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is another classic from the ever evolving Lil' Wayne. He's switched up his flow from his latest batch of mixtapes and the Carter to make it somewhat more appealing, doesn't curse as often, and really developed a very unique style. For Wayne the main appeal comes in knowing that he's freestyling everything and dropping metaphors and puns like change from his money bags (of course my metaphors aren't nearly as good...). To keep up with and comprehend many of his best verses from mixtapes you'd have to be up on your drug, weapon, New Orleans, fashion, and sports terminology. Here he spits a more relaxed flow than on his mixtapes, and though he doesn't spit quite as hard as his fans no he's capable (though still leagues better than most rappers out there) but the blend makes for better music much like Jay-Z's Blueprint, or Notorious BIG's ready to die.



The CD itself is exceptional, another Southern Classic, much like the Carter. But it's more diverse and appealing overall. With 20 actual tracks, the quantity of this album definitely doesn't disappoint. And the Quality shines as well. There's only 1-3 skippable tracks on the album (depending on the type of listener you are). The first half of the album is a great listen and showing of Wayne's improved talents. While the second half is filled with material that should be made singles, and would top charts if done so. The cd also comes packaged with an bonus greatest hits album chop n screwed by Swishahouse, if you're willing to shell out a couple more dollars. The bonus disk is well produced and flows really nicely from track to track. If you haven't heard a chop n screwed album or like to ride slow to that type of music, it's an offer you can't pass up. If not then for 20 tracks and 2 skits the normal album is definitely a steal to begin with.







Read on if you would like a more in depth review, track by track:



The opening tracks "The Mobb" and "Fly In" are Lil' Wayne/Weezy F. Baby/Raw Tunes/Birdman Jr. spitting at something near what he's capable, a great opening, but here you can see why he had to change his flow up from mixtapes, since these definitely aren't single material.



Next is "Money on my mind", a track with a chorus too raw for TV and Waynes still spitting hard.



Finally comes the first single "Fireman". Here you can really hear how "Weezy's" album flow has developed. Its a track that makes you want to sing along to the somehow naggingly memorable lyrics like him or hate him, and if I was a fireman, Id blast it everyday.



"Mo Fire" is a chill track, where Wayne shows off his diversity in being able to rap like he was born in the Caribbean. Don't expect to be lyrically awed here, but it shows how easily Wayne can adapt to a new style, just like with the track to a "Bone Thugz" beat on one of his mixtapes.



"Best Rapper Alive" is an excellent track complete with guitar riffs and the like. I only wish Wayne spit his hardest on here, because he spits harder on other tracks on this CD. As he says himself on this track "Baby, I'm just jogging". Little known to most though, this isn't the original cut of the song. The original is rumored to be far better, but undisclosed reasons the CD engineer decided to change it. Still a very enjoyable track none the less.



"Lock and Load" is another track that shows the diversity of this CD, with a West Coast beat, and featuring the one and only Kurupt, a legend in the industry and now friend of Weezy Baby.



"Oh No" is yet another excellent track. Wayne really spits hard on this one, almost a straight stream of punch-lines. The beat is raw and the verses flow from one topic to the next. Probably wouldn't make for a good single but it's a great track to sit down and try and digest line for line. This is fan service.



"Grown Man" is a track for the females but it's an easy listen complete with smooth lyrics and a guest appearance from former No Limit 504 Boy, Currency, who's stepped his game up. Now he's smooth talking, fast rapping Curren$y the Hot Spitter of Wayne's Young Money Label. Produced by Six Shot (you can hear his unique voice in the background), this is one of the stand out tracks on the first half of the album.



"Hit em Up" is reminiscent of "The Heat" off the Carter. It has a really catchy chorus, some good production and lyrics. It's definitely a solid track.



"Carter II" is a lot like Fly In, basically letting you know you've hit the middle of the album. You'll never hear this track on the radio but its raw, something you'd expect to hear on an underground CD with more of Wayne Spitting.



"Hustler Musik" starts the albums second half with a bang. This should definitely be a single, and shows how much the content of Waynes albums has progressed after he initially began free-styling every track. To those that say he can't stay on topic you need to hear this track and you have to feel him. This needs to be a single.



"Receipt" is Wayne's favorite track on the song. It's not your typical Cash Money Beat, more like something from Kanye or another producer from up North would shell out, and it sounds great with Wayne on it. Many people thought this album would suck now that DJ Mannie Fresh left Cash Money. They were afraid Wayne wouldn't sound good over another producers beat, because in the past 4 albums and several other CMR/Hot Boys albums he hadn't done it. But fear not, change can be a good thing (no disrespect to Fresh, but having Wayne over the same producer all the time would get boring). The message may be directed at fiancée, Trina, but this is definitely #1 on 106nPark material right here.



"Shooter" is yet another song that would go great as a single and the second half of the album is full of them. Here Waynes message steals the spotlight like never before "stop being rapper racists, region haters" to radio stations up north that sleep on southern artists while praising rappers like 50 Cent. The Chorus is really awesome on here. This track needs to be a single for more reasons than one.



"Weezy Baby" is the first real skippable track on the album (though some may skip Mo Fire if they're not feeling reggae). Waynes punch lines are on point, but the message on the track that you can't call Wayne by his cooler name of "Weezy" as well as the chorus which he probably put Nikki up to being cocky as always, is sure to piss off a few listeners.



"I'm a Dboy" is yet another track that needs to be a single. Featuring Birdman, it's easy to imagine another Cash Money Video for this one. It's all about hustling, but Waynes flow is at its peak on this track.



"Feel Me" is yet another track that sounds designed to be a single. It's on this track that those who say Wayne is trying to sound like JayZ might actually have some merit. Not only does he make his flow rather JayZ'ish, he even borrows a line from Jigga's classic Reasonable Doubt. "Never ever ever, ever ever ever come around here no more. The interview style of this track is creative, and it seems like its designed to make a video, but a lot of the questions and responses are dumb and make him sound arrogant. Still his flow on here is superb as usual albeit Jigga-esque. I'm sure he wants to make it a single, but compared to the others I mentioned, this would bother me the least if it didn't become one.



"Get Over" is the CD's reflectional track, where Wayne reminisces over the loss of his father, much like on tracks like Everything, F%*K The World, and Miss My Dawgs (Seems to have one a cd). If this was on his old CDs Id expect it to be a single, and with a video it'd be great, but there's so many already on this half of the CD it's not a blower if it isn't. Still a good deep listen.



Finally "Fly Out" is the end of the album. Yet another raw sizzler, before the Birdman Jr. lets you out the door of the Carter 2.



Overall this album is definitely a contender for album of the year. Even if it doesn't win that title it's sure to create a new legion of fans for the much slept on D'Wayne Carter; fans who will grow ever impressed as they listen to his next chain of mixtapes until The Carter III is released (probably the end of next year)."

The carter II = amazing

Naomi e | gaithersbug, md | 03/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the carter II album pretty much is the best masterpiece ever. it's basically lil wayne stepping his game up to show everyone that he's the best and the [what i call] whimp rappers that they can't even compete with him. it's various too- while maintaining its "gangster rap sound" it touches everything from hip-hop, to r&b, to soul, to rock. it's amazing"

Cash Money is officially dead...

D. Ross | Alexandria, Louisiana | 12/22/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Don't get me wrong, I'm a long time CMR supporter. I have all the albums. But now that Mannie is gone, there is nothing left but Lil' Wayne and he suffers without the backing of the best producer in the south. None of the beats are worth listening too. They sound like throwed together guitars under too heavy bass with some ugly samples for good measure. Fireman is the only decent song. Even the Chopped bonus disc is sub par. It sounds low and muffled for some reason. Lil' Wayne's flow is still growing and he's definitely one of the best in the game, but this effort just shows how much a good producer means to any artist. I was definitely dissappointed, especially after getting my hopes up after loving the now classic Carter 1 album. I can only hope that Mannie hooks back up with Juvy and B.G. and gets back to makin hits again. R.I.P. CMR..."