Is Lil’ Wayne really the best rapper alive? Weezy’s status in the game has been hotly debated in radio, print, and barbershops, but we’re still no closer to an answer. Luckily New Orleans favorite son has released a new mixtape, The Drought 3, full of fresh evidence. Despite its name, The Drought 3 is dripping wet with the kind of rasping originality that makes Weezy the go to MC for every guest verse on the radio. None of the 14 tracks on the mixtape are disses, but if we seriously want to find out how good Weezy is, we need to treat the mixtape like a battle. Last MC standing wins.
Round 1 – Weezy vs. Mims, This Is Why I’m Hot
This Is Why I’m Hot is huge, and while Mims’ basic rhyme scheme on the original was perfect for a hit single, it wasn’t exactly a display of MC skills. In contrast Weezy’s flow is explosively dynamic; he inexplicably adopts a Jamaican accent at times, and even occasionally sings. Wayne is New Orleans to the bone and so it only makes sense he’s absorbed the city’s jazz roots. Wayne works the mic like Miles Davis worked the trumpet; improvising at will and dangerously unpredictable, but still on point. Mims’ is no match for Wayne’s flurry of verbal punches. The winner is Weezy in a first-round knockout.
Round 2 – Weezy vs. Rich Boy, Throw Some D’s
Rich Boy’s ability to perfectly match the bouncing beat of Throw Some D’s shows he’s got some legitimate talent, but Wayne’s cadence is so strong he makes the beat follow him. Wayne’s lyrics can resemble the late Old Dirty Bastard’s, they simply don’t make any sense, but he certainly keeps you listening to every word. In the span of a few bars he goes from “my words are poetic like Langston’s,” to “your girl love my dick, she treats it like a bone.” There’s nothing he won’t say. Rich Boy puts up a fight, but Weezy emerges victorious.
Round 3 – Weezy vs. T.I., Top Back
This is a battle of two vastly different styles, T.I.’s cool swagger against Weezy’s franticly hurried flow. T.I. has the rare ability to spit dope verses about wood-grained wheels that also include some social commentary. For his part Lil’ Wayne references the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina repeatedly, showing he’s capable of doing more than just making it rain. Ultimately Weezy’s voice is what makes him so unique; his ability to follow a violently deep growl with a high-pitched laugh is captivating. T.I. lands some serious blows, but Weezy pulls out a narrow victory.
Round 4 – Weezy vs. Nas and Jay-Z, Black Republicans
This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the title fight. Nas and Hov are legends for their potent mix of flawless delivery and expertly built lyrical content. On Weezy’s side is his original style. He raps “my mind is on another continent,” and it often sounds like he’s on another planet. Nas seems to have lost a bit of the fire that made him so dangerous and Weezy eventually tires him out, but Jay just has too much experience. It’s a classic, but Hov manages to barely hang onto the title. There’s no doubt the aging Jay is hearing Lil’ Wayne’s footsteps, and The Drought 3 proves Weezy F. Baby’s on the verge of knocking him out of the top spot. It’s only a matter of time before he truly becomes “the best rapper alive.”
DJBooth.net Rating:
4.5 Spins - Near-Classic
Nathan S.'s Picks
This Is Why I’m Hot
My Daddy
Ready for Radio
Black Republicans (ft. Juelz Santana)
Down and Out
Weezy F. Baby is “The Greatest Rapper Alive”. Jay is still a boss, but Nobody in the industry can compete with the ridiculous flow of this kid. This man never runs out of clever stuff to say. Imagine the Milestones he will have passed by the time he’s Jay’s age.
I can’t believe that people are saying Weezy is better than Nas lyrically.... I mean don’t get me wrong.....Weezy says some clever stuff, but he’s not surpassing Nas. Every time I listen to his music I constantly pick up clever stuff that I didn’t catch before. Nas is a MONSTER lyrically, lil Wayne is alright...but he can’t touch Nas.
da drought 3 is hot i like it and wayne keep doing what you do when you flow off that top back beat you go so hard i luv u and u are DA BEST RAPPER ALIVE. Louisiana all day
My man Wayne is the best in the business hands down. If u listen to the This is why I’m hot joint my man say “I can take any rapper song and make a part 2” and he aint @*#$! lying. He took Ugrade U and upgraded it. And I promise u that Ciara couldn’t do bless that promise record like my man Wayne did. GAME OVA tell ya favorite rapper to get on Wayne level YA DIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LIL WAYNE REALLY IS THE BEST RAPER ALIVE… NO JOKE HE CAN RAP ABOUT ANYTHING IVE HEARD ALOMOST EVERY SONG BY LIL WAYNE HE CAN TAKE ANYONES BEAT AND MAKE A BETTER SONG OUT OF IT… HE RAPS ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR LIL ONORDINARRY STUFF LIKE “ IM PROBOBALLY IN THE SKY FLYIN WITH THE FISHES OR MAYBE IN THE OCEAN SWIMMIN WITH THE PIGEONS SEE MY WORLD IS DIFFERENT LIKE THE WAYNE WAYNE"…
THATS JUST ON THING HE SAYS THERES SO MUCH MORE HE SAY .... THATS WHY I THINK HES THE BEST RAPPER EVER!
I honestly think dat lil wayne is if not da best rapper den one of da best! His flow is so sick and he is so @*#$! ill wit his words u don’t b knowin wut he’s goin 2 say next! He b sayin @*#$! dat u wouldn’t even think of i b just sittin dere like damn wut do he b thinkin bout when he b freestylin cuz da drought 3 is sick.... “ LIVE 4RM DA 4RM DA 4RM DA GOTCHA, LIVE 4RM DA 504 IT’S MR. CRAZY FLOW JUMPIN LIKE A BUNGEE NO ROPE, EVEN IN A DUNGEON I GLOW, EVEN IF IT AIN’T SUNNY I GLOW, IF IT AIN’T BOUT MONEY I GO NOWHERE; I’M NAILED 2 DA FLOOR!” and dats only half da freestyle… He sick! @*#$! I luv Jay Z and Nas, but he up dere wit dem…
best mixtape of 2007, defo. great tracks and best is definately is:
my dadddy
upgrade u
don’t stop won’t stop
and seat down low
also i like the way he flowed over the crazy beat.
Wayne is “The Greatest Rapper Alive”...Dnt get me wrong Fabolous is my nigka 2..Hov is nice so is game but Waynes work speaks 4 it self...da kids nice...bin playing wayne since lights out...had no idea hed be wat he is doe...a fuking monster
Wayne is “The Greatest Rapper Alive”...Dnt get me wrong Fabolous is my nigka 2..Hov is nice so is game but Waynes work speaks 4 it self...da kids nice...bin playing wayne since lights out...had no idea hed be wat he is doe...a fuking monster
I don't care what anyone says. Wayne is the best rapper alive. His rymes are crazyy. Nobody can't touch him. He's 23 years old, and look at how many hits he's already had. He's the next tupac.
Email this page to a friend
