Become a Member!
DJBooth.net - For DJs By DJs

Lil’ Wayne - The Drought Is Over #5 (Grand Closing) Review

Lil' Wayne - The Drought Is Over #5 (Grand Closing)
  • Artist: Lil' Wayne
  • Title: The Drought Is Over #5 (Grand Closing)
  • Production From: Various
  • Lead Single: Milli
AddThis Feed Button
  Email this page to a friend



Lil’ Wayne - The Drought Is Over #5 (Grand Closing)

Average User Rating:   43210
Total Ratings:          22

Submit a Rating and Comment

Review by Nathan S.

That’s it.  I’ve had enough.  I’m officially declaring Tha Carter III the most over-hyped album of all time.  Now I’m not saying Wayne’s going to flop, I fully expect it to be a classic, but expectations have become so ridiculously high that if Tha Carter III doesn’t wash my car, bake me a carrot cake and give me a blowjob, I’m going to be disappointed.  Things wouldn’t have gotten this out of hand if it weren’t for three simple facts: the hip-hop world needs definitive proof Weezy’s the best rapper alive, it’s been over three years and counting, and F. Baby’s released approximately 47,000 songs in the meantime.  It’s precisely the kind of perfect storm that turns into a hip-hop hurricane of anticipation and hype.  Sweet Jesus Wayne, just release the f**king album already. 

It’s in that spirit that I proudly present to you The Drought Is Over 5 (Grand Closing), the final installment in Wayne’s Drought mixtape series.  Central Closing is worth a listen, but it has two fundamental problems.  First, Wayne’s released so much material in so many places (including DJBooth), relatively little of the mixtape is new.  Second, it’s impossible to listen to Grand Closing as anything other than a preview of Tha Carter.  That makes buying Grand Closing the equivalent of ordering appetizers at a five-star restaurant; you can do it, but you’re really just killing time until the main course arrives. 

One of the hardest things about critiquing any Weezy effort is his willingness to display multiple musical personalities.  Whether you like a particular song or not is largely dependant on if you’re a fan of that particular Wayne.  Let me explain.  First up is Weezy, the King of the Guest Feature.  This Wayne has the extraordinary ability to elevate a mediocre song into a guaranteed hit (I’m looking at you Duffle Bag Boyz) and Grand Closing has its fair share of collaboration work.  Without His Royal Weezyness, Stunt When I See You would just be a track with a forgettable Bow Wow verse, a hot beat and another Tourettes outburst from DJ Khaled.  But from the second Weezy’s unmistakable voice gasps out, “got your b**ch blowing me like she play bagpipes” Stunt becomes rewind worthy.  And just in case you need more proof Bow Wow is shamelessly trying to copy Weezy’s flow, look no further.  That’s just the beginning of the collaboration list: from the old-school vibe of the Lloyd jam Girls All Around the World to the enticing Bun B jam Damn I’m Cold, the King of the Guest Feature is definitely wearing his crown on Grand Closing.

Weezy’s second personality, and my personal favorite, is Mr. Out-Of-His-Mind.  At their best, Weezy’s flows are like New Orleans jazz songs, completely unpredictable and stunningly original.  Maybe that’s why I love Milli.  If you’re a “hot beats” lover than Milli’s nothing, but for lovers of borderline-insane lyrics, it doesn’t get any better than, “totally dude,you should see their faces when they see that this robot can move,” delivered in Wayne’s skittering, szichophrenic rhyme-style.  Despite its obvious radio success, I’d argue that Lollipop is actually another track courtesy of Mr. Out-Of-His-Mind.  Everyone and their mother’s rocked the T-Pain vocal effect, but in Wayne’s throat it becomes a hypnotically drug-infused “I make her feel right when it’s wrong like lying.” Not everyone will agree, but as far as Tha Carter III is concerned, I hope it’s crazier than a drunken Britney Spears.

Last but not least is Dope Boy Wayne, the defiantly southern Weezy who rhymes about nothing but guns and drug money.  Make no mistake, I is exactly the kind of track I’m talking about, even if it does have a soul twist.  Here’s a good rule of thumb: if a song needs major censoring, like I’s “young money in this b**ch, f**k them hos f**k them n***as,” then it’s the work of Dope Boy Wayne.  Even doper (literally) is Open Shop, the type of hustler track Gorilla Zoe would do - if he could.  Open Shop isn’t great, but it’s damn good.  So what’s it all mean?  You’re guess is as good as mine.  Tha Carter III could be nothing but white-powder tracks from Dope Boy Wayne, or a barely comprehensible collection courtesy of Mr. Out-Of-His-Mind.  Or it could be slightly disappointing mix of all of the above, in which case it will sound exactly like Grand Closing.  At this point it’s entirely in the hands of one Mr. Weezy F. Baby.  So for now I recommend you just sit back, relax, and keep May 13 circled on your calendar.  Ya dig? 

DJBooth.net Rating:

Spin  Spin  Spin  Half spin
3.5 Spins - Above Average

Nathan S.'s Picks

Milli
Damn I’m Cold


Ready for Radio

Walk It Off
I Got My


Mixtape Ready

We Hustle
Done It


More Articles from Lil' Wayne

Add to your DJ Booth


Comments

Leave your Comment on Lil’ Wayne - The Drought Is Over #5 (Grand Closing)

Cook19

Rating:  43211        Cook19's Top Rated Songs

The most anticipated album of the last 3 years lmao but i kno ima get. Yea its goin platinum.But Drought 5 will hold me till May 13th with out a doubt. lol got me wishing for Mr. Out-Of-His-Mind wayne.

Posted on Apr 02, 2008

XxMrHaterxX

XxMrHaterxX
Rating:  54321        XxMrHaterxX's Top Rated Songs

OMFGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

Posted on Apr 02, 2008

FLORIDA_CHICK

FLORIDA_CHICK
Rating:  54321        FLORIDA_CHICK's Top Rated Songs

well, we shall see.. Great write up by the way!!!

Posted on Apr 02, 2008

ThaPolishKing

ThaPolishKing
Rating:  54321        ThaPolishKing's Top Rated Songs

Lil Wayne will prove after the Classic " Carter III " comes out and after he makes a couple of more albums that he is the best rapper ever period. He will be able to outshine the likes of 2pac, Nas, Biggie, and Jay-Z if he continues on the automatic rapid-fire. Right now though as long as Jay-z is recording there is no touching him as long as he's still making classic records such as american dreamin' and on the roc remix there is still no touching him by anybody in any way. Lil Wayne is Undoubtely the Greatest Mixtape Artist Ever right now and forever and I believe nobody will ever be able to touch him or even come close in the mixtape circuit. This is the type of mixtape that makes hip hop heads such as myself drool while we patiently await this Mixtape Masterpiece.

Posted on Apr 02, 2008

cb126405

cb126405
Rating:  43211        cb126405's Top Rated Songs

This mixtape is HOT...i love the remix's where hes guest feautured toward the end, and Milli is one of his sickest flows to date! I have listened to that song about 10 times now and I seriously cannot skip to the next song without finishing Milli up. This is a great way to end his mixtapes and get us to that damn album already

Posted on Apr 02, 2008

Dj T-NDER

Rating:  32121        Dj T-NDER's Top Rated Songs

Not drought 4 but this it great

Posted on Apr 02, 2008

justin7989

justin7989
Rating:  54321        justin7989's Top Rated Songs

this mixtape goes hard.

Posted on Apr 02, 2008

DJ Blaze

DJ Blaze
Rating:  43211        DJ Blaze's Top Rated Songs

Nice Writeup Nate! I am really really feeling this mixtape. This is one of his best in my opinion. This is like not even Rap anymore...It's Black Rock and Roll! Lil Wayne is on another level and some people will just never understand it! This will hold me over until Carter 3 drops...hopefully...

Posted on Apr 03, 2008

evanbrown7389

Rating:  43211        evanbrown7389's Top Rated Songs

Right on Nathan. Wayne kills Milli. Damn I'm cold is a little old I think but its sick too. Don't know about everyone else but I am definitely scared that C3 won't be perfect and won't please all the Wayne-heads because they expect so much from him.

Posted on Apr 03, 2008

XxMrHaterxX

XxMrHaterxX
"To clean." Hot, purely.

Posted on Apr 03, 2008

Shades

Very nice mixtape while waiting for the album.Like many others, i am indeed worried that weezy might disapoint me, given that I expect so much from him. Tracks like Milli and i'm me, which was supposed to apear on the album, keep me optimistic though.

Posted on Apr 03, 2008

Pickni31

Rating:  43211        Pickni31's Top Rated Songs

Who is dis 12 year old Wayne Jr. he got on Too Clean? Dude is fire but he sounds just like Wayne. Don't kno if that's a good or a bad thing though. Jus kno dat dis is a hot mixtape, Drought 4 might've been better, but this is still grade A Lil' Wayne.

Posted on Apr 04, 2008

Ronnie Notch

Rating:  54321        Ronnie Notch's Top Rated Songs

I'm not going to comment directly on Grand Closing because everything I could say has been said. However I will say that that was a GREAT write up and Wayne should put you on payroll...lol My rating is for the write up this time.

Posted on Apr 06, 2008

MusicMan

MusicMan
Rating:  54321        MusicMan's Top Rated Songs

MILLI IS INSANE!!! This guy is a freakin genius. How does he do songs like this without writing? I really can't understand how he does it.

Posted on Apr 07, 2008

REAL g00ns sh00t

REAL g00ns sh00t
Rating:  54321        REAL g00ns sh00t's Top Rated Songs

all i got 2 say is wayne is the b3st i ant gonna lie album crzy w3ll goona b

Posted on Apr 07, 2008

MiCH3Y

Rating:  54321        MiCH3Y's Top Rated Songs

THE SONGS iZ CRAzY MiLLi iS SiCK iM TELLiN U THAT SONG iS SiCK! THE BEST EVA BUT U CANT BLAME HiM CUZ WAYNE iS THE BEST NO MATER WHAT

Posted on Apr 07, 2008

the beast 23

Rating:  54321        the beast 23's Top Rated Songs

great songs on this mixtape hope he drops another one straight fire

Posted on Apr 09, 2008

PliesWifey_08

I really love that cd but the song i love the best is lollipop i love that song everytime that song come on it make me go crazy well wayne i was just stoppin by to show some love

Posted on Apr 09, 2008

305 Android

305 Android
Rating:  54321        305 Android's Top Rated Songs

wayne need to drop the carter already

Posted on Apr 09, 2008

DatBoyJones

BEST RAPPER ALIVE

Posted on Apr 10, 2008

Rhaurii

Rating:  54321        Rhaurii's Top Rated Songs

I was going to ask a question for everyone else. what's the song listing. like what are all the songs that are on the CD(s). please and thanks guys

Posted on Apr 11, 2008

PlyPressha

PlyPressha
Rating:  43211        PlyPressha's Top Rated Songs

LOl!! man yall be over hyping the nigga. the best rapper of all time? hes hot cause of his swagger and unorthodox flow.anyways The mixtape is pretty good except for couple of people trying to swagger jack his flow (bow wow and chucky).

Posted on Apr 12, 2008

doughboi2x

Rating:  54321        doughboi2x's Top Rated Songs

this shit is pure piff. its a straight classic

Posted on Apr 13, 2008

DeuceDeuce

i want this sumbodi tell me where 2 get it

Posted on Apr 15, 2008

XxMrHaterxX

XxMrHaterxX
I believe, in my opinion. Wayne will never make a another good album, after his first one. Tha Carter II was great, but... I'm believing that Tha Carter III is gonna be not so good, very disapointing.

Posted on Apr 15, 2008

PlyPressha

PlyPressha
His flow on the carter was way different on the carter 2. He dont rap like that anymore...hhmmm? I wonder why?

Posted on Apr 19, 2008

MC Marcus

Rating:  54321        MC Marcus's Top Rated Songs

I think that that lilipop is very gaster.

Posted on Apr 21, 2008

Sunshine[BSG]

Rating:  43211        Sunshine[BSG]'s Top Rated Songs

shit was a live album.... but can i keep crankin it till june 3rd???

Posted on Apr 21, 2008

HipHop_Fiend

HipHop_Fiend
Rating:  43211        HipHop_Fiend's Top Rated Songs

Great article...it summarizes my feelings entirely. I am starting to feel like The Carter III might not live up to expectations because there's been so much hype about it. Now, The Drought Is Over #5 (Grand Closing) is hot, I'm not sure if it's better than the others, but it's still pretty damn good!

Posted on Apr 27, 2008


Add a Comment

You must be logged in to post comments. Please log in below or Register.
               

Remember Me      

Forgot your password?



Join the Hip Hop DJ Newsletter


Recent Hip Hop Album Reviews


Brooklyn's Don Diva
Foxy Brown - Brooklyn’s Don Diva
The Truth
Cherish - The Truth
Kidz In The Hall
Kidz In The Hall - The In Crowd
Shine
Estelle - Shine
The Formula
9th Wonder & Buckshot - The Formula