Like all of its previous installments, Tha Carter V is a mile-long, bloated package of unpredictable zest that’s light on introspection ... Yet its allurement lies in the fact that “Mixtape Weezy” and “Carter Wayne” are able to co-exist with ease.
‘Tha Carter V’ was never going to be flawlessly executed - the odds were too stacked against it - but it certainly gives the audience the thrill we were hoping for. It’s a return to form, and a triumphant return for one of the greatest of all time.
Wayne’s ear for street anthems and talent for quotable punchlines remains intact, but it’s the raw introspection that makes Tha Carter V so enjoyable.
It feels like a necessary form of catharsis, a conscious clearing of Wayne’s archives from the past seven years. It’s the sort of album that might not be remembered as Wayne’s greatest but it certainly has the potential to be deemed one of his most personal and passionate.
Its fifth installment accurately enshrines late-stage Weezy. He’s introspective, approachable, overly generous, and occasionally flashing that old manic, extraterrestrial charisma.
Despite the added fat (i.e. "Perfect Strangers," "Mess," "Start This Shit Off Right"), Lil Wayne strips down to a more bare-bones version of himself, showcasing his discomforts, vulnerabilities and self-acceptance.
It’s an album full of fire and passion from an artist who doesn’t have anything left to prove.
Across twenty-three tracks, a few do live up to the years of Carter V mystification between thick membranes of filler.
For all the excess and buildup, this exhibits Wayne on an upswing, lucid and invigorated.
With Wayne on a lyrical and rhythmic roll for the better part of 23 tracks, enjoying Tha Carter V comes as no problem.
Ultimately, Tha Carter V sounds like someone chasing after their own glory days, with half-hearted energy, barely even believing themselves.
After the long wait it’s not a disappointing effort, but it’s all over the place.
Lil Wayne is in rare form on the best parts of his fifth installment of the Carter series, but bogs this album's full potential down in a number of underwhelming cuts too.
It’s not that C5 is too little, too late; more that the baton between the generations passed some time ago.
His career’s a testament to the power of creativity, but the misogyny of ‘Tha Carter V’ cheapens its moving moments.
Like many other notable hip-hop releases of 2018, Tha Carter V falls victim to feeling oversaturated. 23 songs feels like more of a chore than an enjoyable experience, especially when only half of its tracks truly resonate.
It was clear that Lil Wayne really cared about the quality of this project. It shows, while mildly dated. This album, not only bangs, but has Wayne at his most passionate in forever. It has plenty of filler, but the highs are sooooo damn high
Far too many songs, but at the same time, there aren't many I could say I disliked at all. Wayne going a more melodic approach made this album feel fresh, even after several full listens. Even though Wayne is incredibly skilled, he occasionally slacks. Some of his verses come across as lazy, but I don't blame him, Making a 23 track album does not sound easy in the slightest. Even with the occasional hiccups, this project is very enjoyable, and Mona Lisa is a masterpiece. 🥤
This already sounds so outdated lol. I still appreciate some songs of here like Dedicate, Uproar, Demon and Mona lisa but my god this is too long winded for its own good. Overall though this is leaps and bounds better than his previous releases lately and he sounds more hungry than ever.
Although it's maybe not the best in the series, Tha Carter V offers some very special tracks and moments that stick with the listener (Mona Lisa being a prime example). I think in terms of Waynes overall catalogue, its more middle of the road, but that doesn't mean that is album is MID. With a few tweaks and changes this could have been a top tier Weezy LP.
Top 5 Tracks: Let It All Work Out, Mona Lisa (Best), Start This Shit Off Right, Dope N***, Dark Side Of The Moon
I think it starts off pretty strongly up through mona lisa. No song on here is truly bad but this could have so easily been a 90 if he cut about half the tracks between “what about me “ and “perfect strangers”. I like the slightly more melodic approach he took on this album. The highlights on this album(mona lisa/dedicate/let it all work out)are all exceptional.
1 | I Love You Dwayne 2:00 | 64 |
2 | Don't Cry 4:09 feat. XXXTENTACION | 79 |
3 | Dedicate 3:09 | 82 |
4 | Uproar 3:13 feat. Swizz Beatz | 84 |
5 | Let It Fly 3:06 feat. Travis Scott | 73 |
6 | Can't Be Broken 3:13 | 79 |
7 | Dark Side of the Moon 4:02 feat. Nicki Minaj | 75 |
8 | Mona Lisa 5:24 feat. Kendrick Lamar | 96 |
9 | What About Me 3:36 feat. Sosamann | 59 |
10 | Open Letter 4:29 | 73 |
11 | Famous 4:02 feat. Reginae Carter | 78 |
12 | Problems 3:28 | 64 |
13 | Dope Niggaz 3:25 feat. Snoop Dogg | 77 |
14 | Hittas 3:43 | 68 |
15 | Took His Time 4:22 | 75 |
16 | Open Safe 3:43 | 65 |
17 | Start This Shit Off Right 4:40 feat. Ashanti, Mack Maine | 65 |
18 | Demon 3:34 | 71 |
19 | Mess 3:32 | 73 |
20 | Dope New Gospel 3:27 feat. Nivea | 66 |
21 | Perfect Strangers 4:09 | 66 |
22 | Used 2 4:00 | 78 |
23 | Let It All Work Out 5:16 | 90 |
#18 | / | Billboard |
#18 | / | Complex |
#18 | / | Okayplayer |
#30 | / | Clash |
#43 | / | DJBooth (Hip Hop / R&B) |
#43 | / | Rolling Stone |
#50 | / | Passion of the Weiss |
/ | Vibe |