Posts Tagged ‘Tha Carter IV’

Lil Wayne Expects No Jay-Z Reprisal for Beyonce Diss

Posted: August 25, 2011 in Music News
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Lil Wayne is not expecting nor concerned with a Jay-Z lyrical rebuttal to his Carter IV album containing a diss challenge and disparaging Beyonce comments.

“It’s Good, which also features Jadakiss and Drake, contains several Wayne retorts for Jay-Z in response to the Roc Nation CEO’s perceived jab on Watch the Throne’s ”H.A.M” (“You got Baby money… You ain’t got my lady’s money…). Wayne flips Jay’s line by threatening to kidnap Beyonce (“I got your baby money/ Kidnap your bitch/ Get that how much you love your lady money”) and later declares he’ll “take out” Jay-Z. Jadakiss, who is signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, distanced himself from the song by claiming he had no idea a diss would be included with his feature.

Despite the controversy, Wayne told VIBE magazine that he’s certain Jay-Z will not engage in another high-profile Hip-Hop battle.

“I know there won’t be any repercussions behind what I did. I know for a fact music is about perception,” Wayne explained. “You can’t do anything but perceive what you hear. I know that for a fact. So I can’t ever be upset about someone’s reaction.”

In 2007, Lil Wayne declared in various interviews that he was a better rapper than Jay-Z. He later apologized, stating that his self-proclaimed “best rapper alive” moniker caused interviewers to use baiting questions. This time, Wayne assures observers there will be no such retraction.

“I’m not going to say I don’t know what would happen before I even say [something on record]. I do know what will happen,” Wayne said. “I’m aware of it. But it is what it is.”

At press time, Jay-Z nor Beyonce has addressed Lil Wayne’s record. Tha Carter IV will be released officially on August 30.

LIL WAYNE X JADAKISS X DRAKE “IT’S GOOD”

Source: VIBE Magazine

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Lil Wayne’s “How to Love”: Can a Good Video Still Save a Bad Song? [VOTE]

Posted: August 24, 2011 in Hip-Hop Editorial, Music News
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Before the digital emerge, artists heavily relied on videos to push their music. For Hip-Hop, that promotional model reached its apex in the late 90s, when go to directors like Hype Williams could literally command million dollar budgets on 3-4 minute videos. The reason was a good video could not only stay in rotation for months, but it would make fans rush out to buy your music. That isn’t true today, and many emcees, especially those without major label backing, shoot simple videos almost like afterthoughts. Lil Wayne is hoping to change that with the release today of the socially conscious video ”How to Love,” which his team has been lauding for weeks as a “game-changer.” The problem is that the song itself is a blatant, and not well-executed, pandering to pop audiences. Will that matter, or is the video strong enough in its message to give Tha Carter IV its final headed into next week?

The topics in the video are issues that will undoubtedly hit home for a lot of women: child molestation, unplanned pregnancies, HIV/AIDS and bad choices in men. The strongest asset of the video is the fact its a narrative that shows what shaped the protagonist’s mindset and eventual bad decisions. The video then flashes back and shows how that same character could have had a much different path with a stable family life. Aside from some nitpicking like not emphasizing the importance of a positive male/father figure in the flashback and the cheesy ending quote (“Thanks for teaching me how to love!”), it’s commendable that a rapper on Wayne’s level would offer this to mainstream audiences.

In the end, the visuals are strong enough that they enhance “How to Love’s” message, which came off much more hollow with just Wayne’s auto-tuned vocals to go by. The song isn’t going to convert most of Wayne’s hardcore Hip-Hop fans, but this song was never intended for them. Having been, however controversially, called the “greatest rapper alive” for a period in Hip-Hop around Tha Carter III, Wayne has obviously set his sights on becoming a pop star. And with “How to Love” being his second highest chart entry on Billboard (#5),  already certified platinum, and being lauded as a “great, creative song” on this very site by a 65% vote, it appears Wayne is on the right track for his pop icon goals.

Lil Wayne ft. Drake “She Will”

Posted: August 12, 2011 in Music News
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“I been at the top for awhile and ain’t jumped it…”

After Lil Wayne blatantly laid out his pop aspirations with “How to Love” a few months back, the Young Money leader is due to give his core Hip-Hop fans some treats from Tha Carter IV. Producers 40 and T-Minus lay a mellow, mournful melodies lend a smoke-filled club atomsphere to this production. Drake’s holds the melody on the chorus, but doesn’t go into any full out singing. His explicit description of a stripper pussy popping in his face ensures ”She Will” has a good chance of being a gentleman’s club staple over the next few months. Look for this to be available soon as an iTunes download.

LIL WAYNE X DRAKE “SHE WILL”

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Lil Wayne’s “How to Love:” Pop Trash, Future Hit or Both? [VOTE!]

Posted: May 27, 2011 in Music News
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Last year, Nicki Minaj recounted a story of how Lil Wayne thought her auto-tune ballad “Your Love” was garbage upon a first listen. Taking his words to heart, that single was supposed to never be released. One unplanned (or planned, depending on who you believe) leak later, the song would be the track to ignite Minaj’s solo career and influence the direction of her debut Pink Friday. Obviously, Lil Wayne paid close attention to his mistaken judgment. His latest Carter 4 single, “How to Love,” has all the markings of a wanting to replicate the success of his stablemate.

The simple, acoustic arrangements reflect production you’d expect to hear from aspiring bands on college radio. In fact, that crowd may turn out to be the ones most receptive to this. Some of Drake’s influence can be heard in Wayne’s singing inflections. The other Hip-Hop elements are reflected in the bass drops and “aye” ab libs. In pop music fashion, the sound gets bigger and more sprawling as the track builds. Wayne isn’t a singer, so his voice never can quite match the sound’s growing level. Thankfully, the song abruptly cuts the sequence short.

As expected, fans have polarizing opinions about this song. Most Hip-Hop followers don’t mind genre-meshing if it’s done right. Whether this song is a hit or not will determine if we’ll get more Wayne singing and perhaps even a Rebirth sequel. Singing rappers have been around since the genre’s birth. Some can do it very well (Queen Latifah, Mos Def, Lauryn, Ceelo etc.). Others should only do it when they’re clearly engaging in parody, ala the Notorious B.I.G. on “Playa Hater.” Based on this offering, Lil Wayne should put his singing “talents” in the latter category.

LIL WAYNE “HOW TO LOVE”

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