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?
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.
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.
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
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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).
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.
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
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