Lil Wayne didn’t stumble upon fame — he bulldozed his way into the music industry before blossoming into a cerebral lyricist at the age of 15, joining Hot Boys alongside Juvenile, Turk, and B.G. His debut album, “The Block Is Hot,” debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and later earned Platinum status.
He obliterated what was left of the mainstream circuit, while crushing instrumentals on the front mixtape. Lil Wayne rocketed to the apex of rap with his prolific work ethic, starting from his series Dedication to The Drought Is Over. Wayne released a flurry of mixtapes at a frenetic pace and developed an insatiable appetite for success, unsatisfied with his early accomplishments.
During its initial week of release, Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne sold more than one million copies, partly due to the success of his melodic track “Lollipop” – which marked his first chart-topping single on the Billboard Hot 100. Following his impressive lyrical skills showcased on Tha Carter and Tha Carter II, Lil Wayne transformed into a bona fide superstar with the release of Tha Carter III.
Let’s now take a walk down memory lane and reflect on some of Weezy’s best tracks. The concluding installment of his 14-year fiery run, V Carter Tha will finally be released next Friday (Sept. 21), despite encountering several severe delays and roadblocks, including the elusive nature of the series.
20. Lil Wayne – “I’m Unattached” – I Am Not a Human Being.
In 2010, rapper Wayne’s growth was marked by an unusual update to his beat, which was slower and warped. The track originally appeared on his mixtape “No Ceilings,” quickly earning its spot as I’m Not a Human Being’s opening. While calmly celebrating his new freedom, Wayne takes time to lament on an old relationship. “I’m on something” sippin’ on, I ain’t trippin’ on nothing… “Single” is a newly relaxed anthem for anyone, with muted pieces of conversations with Nicki Minaj.
19. Lil Wayne – “Ice Cream Paint Job” – No Ceilings.
Therefore, he appeared to be trying so hard, but it did not seem like it once. He was showcasing his highest technical ability, and this was the peak of Weezy’s mixtape. This is like sprinkling cream over ice, as Wayne says there is no other iconic example where the beat is safe.
18. Lil Wayne – “Take a Stroll” – Da Drought 3.
“One of the best examples of Wayne’s ability to deliver verse after verse, seizing every opportunity presented to him and capturing the craze behind the song, is likely the track “Out It Walk.” Wayne always found a way to give his second life to his tracks, even when it seemed like he didn’t need any help, and he couldn’t be defeated. Wayne was undeniably the king of freestyles at one point.”
17. “Mrs. Officer” by Lil Wayne featuring Bobby Valentino and Kidd Kidd – from the album Tha Carter III.
It is another testament to his clever metaphorical skills, as Wayne King Rodney incorporates a cultural reference to make it one of his smoothest songs. With the assistance of Bobby, the ever-smooth Wayne Valentino delivers a slow jam for the ladies, all while emasculating the cops who have wronged him.
16. Lil Wayne – “Georgia … Bush” – Dedication 2.
“Wayne stated, as President George W. Bush, who faced backlash for his delayed reaction to the natural calamity, targeted the rapper following the devastating Hurricane Katrina that ravaged the southern region in 2005. “Georgia … Bush” served as a remarkable representation of his political skills, but Lil Wayne’s impact on society had little connection to his political viewpoints until now.”
15. Lil Wayne & Birdman – “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy” – Similar to Father, Similar to Son.
Before the accusations, lawsuits, and the deteriorating label, “Daddy My Like Stuntin'” by Birdman and Wayne ruled the southern rap movement as arguably one of the best verses ever – maybe even between the two hardest bars for bar. It also became a staple with its infectious hook.
14. “Believe Me” by Lil Wayne featuring Drake – from the album Tha Carter V.
After Lil Wayne proved himself as the best, he started working on finding a worthy emcee to pass the torch to, and that’s where Drake comes in. “Me Believe” by Drake established him as a fairly established artist, with some parts of his flow still borrowing from his predecessor and his affiliation with Weezy still seeming connected. However, he showed that he was a good mentor as well, comfortably exchanging verses and building on each other’s sound.
13. Lil Wayne – “I’m Myself” – Tha Carter III.
Repeatedly, Wayne’s renowned use of double entendres, and showcasing his skillful lyrics and finesse for a faster rhythm, persistently, Wayne covers a complete duration of five minutes. “This is Tha Carter III, the modern-day scripture,” he declared when he expressed it most effectively. A relaxed rhythm is Wayne’s ability to perform with utmost intensity, flaunting his talent through a rap track. The closest a powerful ballad can come to a song featuring Wayne, emphasizing and spontaneous remarks from the Birdman bird call to the “it’s Cash Money Records man, a lawless gang” are all of the finest Cash Money associates’ exceptional compilation. Essentially, the initial thirty seconds of “I’m Me” serve as the input.
12. Young Money featuring Gucci Mane – “Steady Mobbin” – We Are Young Money.
“Alright you’re a hooligan, what’s a hooligan to a monster?” Presented us with the query of whether Weezy might be one of the most iconic figures in its illustrious history, particularly with the track “Steady Mobbin’.” Prior to the online exchanges and legal battles, this song emerged as the pinnacle of the label’s success, serving as the first-ever collaboration between Cash Money Records and Gucci Mane. With Gucci Mane’s addition, his three hardest verses make it evident that Wayne unquestionably held his own. Furthermore, it was nearly impossible to rival Weezy’s prowess on mid-tempo beats, especially during the peak of the 2000s.
11. Lil Wayne – “Hustler Music” – Tha Carter II.
“Hustler Musik” is Weezy’s own version of a classic New York sound that combines lessons and advice on life with a track that delivers a slightly more melodic and catchy beat than the usual picks in Weezy’s portfolio.
10. Lil Wayne featuring Reel – “I Miss My Dawgs” – Tha Carter.
Listeners are overwhelmed with the song “Dawgs My Miss I” as it serves as a testament to the loss of relatives and connections. The comments below the streaming platform are flooded with messages about fading relationships, lost friendships, and the somber ode to family and friends. This song showcases Wayne’s most relatable and sentimental tracks, presenting a slightly more poignant catalog.
9. Lil Wayne – “Tha Block Is Hot” – Tha Block Is Hot.
Wayne would stand alone at the top in the next few years, but he is still surrounded by the big kids on the label, showing him in the video and his voice is as raspy as ever. Lil Wayne proved his prowess with this classic track, showing that he is no longer just a hype man for older guys on the label. They heard this solo debut single from the scrappy 17-year-old rapper from Atlanta, and it was the first track they heard from this generation of fans.
8. Lil Wayne – “Swag Surfin” – No Ceilings.
The entirety of the song lasts for five minutes and consists of four different tracks that flow together. One track, titled “Pistol”, includes the lyrics “I’m shooting myself to the bank, watch me”. This clever wordplay adds an exclamation point to the point being made by Wayne, but the flow is similar to the original version as the beat transitions to Wayne’s iconic track “Surf” in the same vein. Wayne effortlessly switches and flips the flow, freestyling in the same iconic style as his track “Walk It Out”.
7. “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne featuring Static – from the album Tha Carter III.
The song that topped the Hot 100 tracks chart is one of Weezy’s only two songs, which is quite fitting. It became a nationwide hit, with millions of flip-phone speakers bumping the #1 selling ringtone of 2008. The track also added to the early 2000s glory, becoming a major mainstay on the cycle spin of TRL, with very young Tyga and Kelly R. Making cameos. The video and song immediately became a major part of the TRL rotation. At the height of the Auto-Tune movement, Lil Wayne’s iconic track “Lollipop” emerged as the ultimate masterpiece, with incredibly obvious innuendos.
6. Lil Wayne – “Greatest Rapper Alive” – Tha Carter II.
The addition of the words “Baby F Weezy” in the list stands for F Weezy, as DJ Khaled beats, Wayne saunters over and flows effortlessly between two different beats, switching at least. He might really have been the best alive rapper, but this was another self-inflicted challenge for Weezy, proving himself in 2005. The pressure surrounding the track entitled “Alive Rapper Best” is obvious.
5. Lil Wayne featuring Cory Gunz – “6 Foot 7 Foot” – Tha Carter IV.
In later instances, he emphasizes his dominance and absolute speed only in later instances.
4. Lil Wayne – “Fireman” – The W. Carter Compilation 2.
Within the span of the four-minute track “Fireman,” rapper Lil Wayne delivers some of his goofiest and most quotable lyrics. With an undeniable hook and rapid-fire delivery, Wayne once again comes through with another staple in his arsenal. Even though he doesn’t need to, he’s still spending cash fast, like a ski-mask-wearing He-Man in the next week. And nobody can mess with me, man.
3. Lil Wayne – “Allow the Rhythm Construct” – Tha Carter III.
Switching up the beat, Wayne will always be the one to show you how it’s done. It’s already perfect, but there’s something about it that seems to amplify a lesson on how to enhance it. This iconic beat is so official, it’s like a freestyle or cipher. Produced by Kanye West and Deezle, this track is leading the way. If it’s not just as explosive as Wayne’s most cunning and quick bars, he dances around it, dropping them off with precision, leaving only about a minute. He smoothly delivers bar after bar at the same hypnotic pace of the natural beat. The top sample of Kendrick’s Eddie booming stays right on track with Wayne, almost adding to its brilliance. It’s a soulful and swaggering rap ballad, taking one of the most recognizable samples of all time and pairing it with the best rapper alive. At its core, it’s a concept track.
2. Lil Wayne – “Go DJ” – Tha Carter.
The weekend gave them enough time to make their mark as a pair at any club, but it was the end of Lil Wayne’s working relationship with Mannie Fresh, the renowned producer with whom he had collaborated after Tha Carter. However, it was the end of Weezy’s climb to the top as a rapper, but it was still likely that he would play at the club as part of the “Go DJ” duo. It’s the pinnacle of Wayne’s mixtape career, meeting the commercial success of his incredibly bright beginning and nearly five-year reign as the undisputed best emcee in the game. “Go DJ” was a single that solidified him as the top-ranking rapper on Cash Money Records’ lineup and marked the end of Lil Wayne’s era as a rising rapper.
1. Lil Wayne – “A Milli” – Tha Carter III.
The song “The” was a ubiquitous hit throughout the entire year, playing non-stop on TV and radio, and being featured at parties. Despite being over ten years old, it still evokes a sense of nostalgia. Lil Wayne, known for his recognizable mid-tempo tracks, doesn’t sacrifice lyricism for speed in this song. He flawlessly executes his wordplay, going uninterrupted for four minutes. It seemed like everyone in America had memorized every word of this track at one point, creating a genuine national awe. However, it may also be considered hyperbole.