Hope it's been good to you...
GET THIS ALBUM (...that I know you've already heard is good)
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV
To summarize quickly: It’s his best album yet.
That’s saying a lot...a TON, actually, because he’s touted as one of the best, if not THE best going. But, in order to be the best going, you’ve gotta produce when the pressure is on, when the money is on the table. I’m not saying he hasn’t. III and II were solid and I just watched a 106 & Park episode where he was on damn near every video on the countdown (Seriously, I think he clocked in at 7/10). I’ve always felt like his mixtapes were a lot better than his albums, and I’m not sure I’m wrong with that statement. But I believe this album, Tha Carter IV, sways that, starting at the start.
I enjoy intros that aren’t just skits or just a few weird sounds or just whoever’s album it is talking himself up. The intros that are lyrically-backed are great ways to get things going. Ludacris does this all the time, both Jay and Nas have, too. Talib and T.I. also did this on occasion, and I think Wayne’s intro is a solid one. That’s all it has to be, really: Something that get’s ya salivating but doesn’t outshine any of the other tracks.
Regarding substance, there are moments where I wish he’d expand on some of the deep thoughts he has.
He has a line in the song Abortion…
Sometimes you gotta fight the devil with a demon.
I wish he’d go deeper on this kind of a thought. I always found that he hit notes like this and then just hopped off of them onto something else. That's fine, but to be as creative and talented as this guy is, I'm sure he's holding back, intellectually, and I'm sorry, but I wanna hear the guy delve deeper. Honesty is the best policy when it comes to art, in whatever format it's being portrayed, and I think he's starting to realize that.
He shows this well on How To Love, which is fine for a love song, but I wouldn’t mind hearing a track or two about his success or his failures or his ambition or his jail time. Dude stuff. Whosever idea it was to release How To Love as his first “single” earned their paycheck. Pretty smart. It’s definitely a love song, very marketable and it’s well-made.
IV has emotion backing it up, which is something that Wayne has done in the past, but I never bought it. The kings nail it: Kanye and most of G.O.O.D. Music handles the darker side of things, Em can't help but bring bleak lyrics to songs, Drake has had enough songs to solidify himself as an "emotional MC," even Rick Ross throws down on some heavy-hearted subjects. There are multiple heavy hitters with regards to emotion, but it's tough to buy into it when they come right back and contradict themselves. It’s few and far between, and when radio is more repetitive than the storyline in Jersey Shore and there’s no MTV to speak of, it’s good to hear songs that hit home on thoughts that one might have, but haven’t heard.
One that I’ve had is How To Hate. Not that I’m vindictive about any ex, but man...that song solidified the thought that one sour instance can be a catalyst for such a heartfelt thought that spans an entire aspect of one’s life. He nailed that song's subject matter, and what's even better is that he doesn't mix words or go "soft" and pander. He stands behind his behavior and, at the same time, keeps things real with regards to relationships. . . Then T-Pain comes in and auto-tunes it up and I can’t lie, it took me out of the moment. I started to wonder what T-Pain thinks when he steps up to the mic, as in “Jay-Z destroyed me and my one way to make crazy amounts of money, but I gotta make crazy amounts of money. . .” I picture him sauntering up to the microphone like a sad clown and flicking an “auto-tune” switch on some massive soundboard and going through the motions like some kinda sad clown. . .
Anyway, T-Pain kinda pisses me off, but that song is still a killer.
Most of the songs on Wayne’s album are killers. He's still as confident as ever, and any fan of his takes that confidence with them. His one-liners, whether lengthy or succinct, have always been tattoo-worthy. Here’s some that stuck out to me from this album.
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Intro - I’m so high, I get starstruck
Blunt Blowin’ - I put it down like my hands’ hurtin’/I’m on a natural high, but I land perfect.
Megaman - Young money, man. We got this shit by a landslide/Boy I’ll send them Bloods at yo ass like a tampon
Nightmares of the Bottom - Don’t call me sir, call me survivor
President Carter - Appetite for disaster. I want a full plate, and a full plate after.
It’s Good - Talkin’ ‘bout “baby money”? I got ya “baby money”/Kidnap yo bitch, get that “How much you love yo’ lady?” money
I Like The View - It’s Dr. Carter, bitch. I got this shit nipped and tucked.
Two Shots - If I ain’t a trend topic, I’m a fuckin’ trend setter.
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It’s pretty remarkable that I’m still so impressed with his lines. You gotta figure that he’s gonna run out of “wow that’s clever” lines, but the guy’s creativity is on point.
She Will with Drake is such a good song, I don’t know how to handle it. It gets me really really amped for their collab album they’re saying they’re gonna put out before the year is up. Probably my favorite track.
Minor thoughts:
- The concept of President Carter made me wonder how Jay-Z missed that. How has he never done anything like that? Not really Jay's style, then again, I didn't think Otis was his style, either.
- Jada’s line “Life is a game, but all you get is a turn” really stuck with me.
The overall is that IV is better than III. I really enjoyed this album. I enjoyed breaking this one down because I felt like there was more to break down. III hit on more subjects and had appearances from a slew of different artists, but this album had more to offer from Wayne himself, and like his mixtapes, I think the more Weezy, the better.
I’ve always considered Wayne like a Dirk Nowitzki of hip-hop. He does things you’d never see coming out of a guy his size, is always in the discussion for “best on the court,” but never really brought the noise when it mattered. Wayne was the same way: He’d dropped incredible mixtapes and solid albums, but nothing “ring” worthy. I think this year was both of theirs. Dirk got his championship and Wayne dropped, what I believe, his best album ever. Well produced and creative, he wasn't outshined by anyone, he broadened his subject matter while staying in his wheelhouse, and I think he showed more maturity. Really solid album.
RUN THROUGH SOME RANDOMS
J Cole - Workout
Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat
almost 26 million views ain’t for nothing.
Phoenix - Love Like A Sunset
I heard about this song through a Lipton Iced Tea commercial. Did NOT see this video coming. HEAVY INEBRIATION NECESSARY
Groove Armada - I Won't Kneel
Joy Formidable - Whirring
LAST GASP OF SUMMER
BLACK ROB - Celebration
Brianna - Fly Kicks
How'd she get her lips like that? DAMN
Ol' Skool Jam of the Month:
Ini Kamoze (?) - Here Comes the Hotstepper
MURRRRRDA-RAH!
LIST: Soundtracks I've Loved
I was watching a movie called Pirate Radio a week or two ago, and I was enamored by this movie's compilation of music. The film is centered around the era and area of some of the most brilliant music ever made, but to pick the best of the best can be a bit of a drag. It's what I call, a "good problem" to have. (Anyone who watches The Wire will get that.)
But this movie had some insanely catchy songs from a time that, I'm sure, most of my generation has just forgotten or flips past when they're shuffling, trying to get to whatever song gets asses moving.
There's nothing wrong with gettin' a party going, but these guys INVENTED the party... The Stones, The Yardbirds & Cream & everything else Clapton did, Martha and The Vandellas, The Who, The Isley Brothers... Pirate Radio even had songs that were original ballads from Smokey Robinson, Dusty Springfield...and I mean, if it wasn't for Jay and Ye naming their song OTIS, I sincerely wonder if Otis Redding would've ever made it onto people's playlists.
So I went back and looked at some of the soundtracks that I've come across over the years that've been greats.
Calmly crept up on you, then beat you over the head with a neon light-disc. Such a great collaboration between this film and these dudes.
Bullwinkle pt. 2 is my favorite... Check it out here:
Grew up on this one. Brought about some diverse tastes.
The fact that I got this for free still astounds me. Incredibly well made and deserving of the Oscar they received.
David Holmes was the main dude on these three films, with regards to the tunes, and each time, he nailed it.
Like Pirate Radio, this album brought about a lot of fantastic songs from the past. Really really really good soul.
Led me to Regina Spektor, The Temper Trap, and reignited my love with the band Wolfmother. Try not to be inspired with this one:
I'll finish on that one... Still get chills from that song. Even as I write, my arms turn scaly with goosebumps. God I love music.
you know my opinion on Weezy so I'll refrain from my thoughts on him. As for clever intros, Wale might be the king of that. Listen to his version of Aston Martin Music, awesome spoken word intro.
ReplyDeleteThat one liner you like on It's Good is apparently a jayz diss by the way