Take It To The Top

I’ll be the first to admit it - Wayne, Weezy, BM Jr. or whatever you want to call him reigned over the year of 2007. With a work ethic like no other, he kept hitting us over the head with verses & mixtapes week after week. Other than Crooked I, no rapper was more accessible with fresh material.

But looming over the horizon is one moment, that will either make Wayne’s past year a footnote in rap history or be a springboard to being what he thinks he already is. The release of Tha Carter III. Mixtapes and numerous guest verses are good. But to get where he wants to be, nothing less than a classic album will accomplish that.
Not a three month “classic” that will become old news with the next big release, but a stand the test of time unquestionable classic. I’m sure that he realizes this as well, seeing how it’s been pushed back a few times. Several of his mixtapes have had Carter III in their titles, almost as if he’s placing bits of chum out to see what causes us to bite.

Last week he quietly released The Leak (”Lil Wayne - The Leak EP“), digitally as his latest offering to the masses. It’s bolstered by “Gossip,” a track originally rumored to be on the actual album. With all the tracks he’s letting out, it’s hard to imagine that he’s holding anything back for his album.

While not his biggest fan I can admit the progression he’s made over the last few years. With punchlines galore & a flow that can switch at the drop of a dime, the tools are there. The only thing missing is content & storytelling. Look no further than Little Brother’s “Don’t Go Breaking Heart,” to see his inadequacies exposed. Sixteen bars of punchlines simply cannot stand up to well thought out narratives.

It’ll be interesting to see if he can do it. As a fan of the art form, I’d like to see him succeed. I’ll always welcome a great album with open arms. However, judging by the last two Carter’s it would seem unlikely, but stranger things have happened. All eyes are on you Mr. Carter and your control your destiny. We’ll be waiting…


Lil Wayne - The Leak 2 Proper-(Bootleg)-2007
EDIT
Lil’ Wayne Writing For Dr. Dre; Preparing To Shoot New Video [HHNLive]


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