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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cash Money's no longer an Army or a Navy, but Lil Wayne can stand on his own., February 19, 2006
I can honestly say that I had no idea what Cash Money Records was or who were the artists on there until I saw Juvenile's video for "Ha!". As far as Down South music was concerned I had just got into liking No Limit Records and I had awlays been fans of Down South artists like Outkast, Scarface & The Geto Boys, etc. Eventhough, I liked Ha!, I didn't know what to expect from a Juvenile CD, so I didn't purchase any Cash Money CDs. When I saw B.G.'s video for "Bling Bling" that fetaured all of the Cash Money artists then I decided to purchase Juvenile's "400 Degreez" and B.G.'s "Chopper City In The Ghetto". After listening to both CDs, Cash Money was addded to my favorite Down South list, especially once No Limit Records started getting weaker once they let their producers, Beats By The Pound, stop producing the majority of their tracks.
One of the first tracks that I remember hearing Lil Wayne on was a track called "Play'n It Raw" that was on B.G.'s "Chopper City In The Ghetto" CD. The song featured B.G., Juvenile, Lil Wayne & Turk, which I would later find out were The Hot Boys. Once I heard Lil Wayne on that track, I knew that once he made a solo CD that he would be a force to be reckoned with. Once The Hot Boys came out with "Guerilla Warfare", which was a nice CD by the way, Lil Wayne was amped and ready to drop "The Block Is Hot". Once I heard that CD I knew that Lil Wayne would be ready for big things. The CD would end up in heavy rotation and my favorite tracks ended up being the title track, "Kisha" w/The Hot Boys, "High Beamin'" w/B.G. and my all time Lil Wayne favorite track "Loud Pipes" w/Juvenile, B.G. & The Big Tymers.
Lil Wayne's next CD was entitled "Lights Out". He had nice tracks on there but "Lights Out" wasn't as good as "The Block Is Hot", in my opinion. My favorite tracks ended up being "Hit U Up" and "Shine" w/The Hot Boys, and "Get Off The Corner". Once controversy started hitting Cash Money with Juvenile and B.G. leaving, Mack 10 getting overpaid and the breakup of The Hot Boys, I didn't like the direction Cash Money was going in so I didn't purchase "500 Degreez" especially after hearing "The Way Of Life" with TQ of all people.
However, Lil Wayne rebounded immensely with "The Carter". Backed with Mannie Fresh beats, Lil Wayne even surprised me with his lyrical content and the overall flow of the CD. My favorite track was "BM J.R." but I loved the singles "Bring It Back" & "Go DJ" and his tribute to the Hot Boys, "I Miss My Dawgs".
To be honest with you, after I heared that Mannie Fresh was leaving Cash Money, I was saying to myself even if Lil Wayne decides to come out with a "Carter 2" that it wouldn't be tight without Mannie on the boards. I can admit, however, I was wrong.
"The Carter 2" starts off with a wicked 5 and a half minute, no chorus track entitled "Tha Mobb" where Lil Wayne sounds like he is freestyling over a Heatmakerz track. After listening to the track twice, I said to myself, I guess he doesn't need Mannie Freah after all. Then the 3 part track which includes "Fly In", Track 13, "Carter 2" and "Fly Out", I was amazed by how Lil Wayne is basically rapping which appear to be freestyle rhymes. Tmix & Batman should be commended by the track, as well as, giving the production over these tracks that are fed by Lil Wayne's lyrics. "Money On My Mind" features a tight sample and Lil Wayne is able to contibute 3 nice verses over the track. Now I know I may upset some people with this assessment but "Fireman" and "Mo Fire" are the two worse tracks on this CD. "Fireman" is clearly an example of when people say don't judge the CD by the 1st single, because if you did you would think "The Carter 2" was terrible. Lil Wayne could have easily released "Shooter", "The Best Rapper Alive", "Receipt" or even "Grown Man" before he released "Fireman". "Fireman" will definitely have you missing Mannie Fresh providing Mannie Fresh. "Mo Fire" is not even worth discussing. However, Lil Wayne rebounds very quickly by the time you get to Track 7. "Best Rapper Alive" is definitely in the running with "Shooter" with my favorite song on "The Carter 2". Big D should be commended with his production and the clever use of the sample on this track. Before Mannie Fresh's production would win over Lil Wayne's lyrics. Now with Mannie Fresh no longer producing him and with his lyrical wordplay stepping up, Lil Wayne's lyrics overshine the production. At first listen, "Grown Man" won't be one of your favorite tracks but the more you listen to the song that features Currency the track will be atleast something that you don't mind listening to every now and then. It's a contradiction to what Lil Wayne would usually make because usually he would make a song degrading women instead of making a nice rap song for the grown and sexy.
"Receipt" is another one of my favorite tracks as once again, the proudcers on the track, Heatmakerz, makes a clever use of an old school sample and Lil Wayne takes care of the rest. The more you listen to the track you will definitely think that this track is dedicated to his boo Trina. "Shooter" was taken from a track by Robin Thicke entitled "Oh Shooter" that was on his debut CD. Robin Thicke incorporates his use of the song and Lil Wayne is still able to drop 3 verses to this track. The reason why this track is one of my favorites is because this track is different from what Lil Wayne is accustomed to doing. This track should be the next single, but we'll see. Robin Thicke has a nice track out with Pharrell entitled "I Wanna Love You". "Weezy Baby" is a very catchy track as Nikki lays down some nice vocals to this midtempo track. "Get Over" is catchy as well as Nikki returns to lay down some more vocals and Lil Wayne is actually able to bring some substance to his tracks instead of trying to win with clever metaphors. The track sounds like a dedication to one of his homies. "Get Over" is a nice change of pace because most of the tracks on "The Carter 2" end up sounding alike.
Other than "Fireman" and "Mo Fire" there aren't too many things wrong with "The Carter 2". There are times where the metaphors that he uses aren't as strong as the others and there will be times when you hear a song with tight lyrics and wonder how the track would have sounded with a Mannie Fresh beat. Some of the tracks sound the same but you can pretty much listen to every track on this CD.
Cash Money may be on life support as a whole but Lil Wayne is doing his best to keep the label on his shoulders. If you liked "The Carter" then you should like "The Carter 2", even without the production of Mannie Fresh. If you liked "The Block Is Hot", "Lights Out" and "The Carter", then you will like "The Carter 2"
James' Top 5
1)Tie Best Rapper Alive
1) Shooter w/Robin Thicke
3) Money On My Mind
4) Fly In, Carter 2, Fly Out (Same Beat)
5) Tha Mobb
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good..., December 8, 2005
First of all...I'm here to review this album. Not waste time comparing the artist to other rappers. This is a very good Cd. It maybe as good as his first, or it may not be. It just depends on what kind of listner you are. The beats are well thought of, the lyrics are clever and have relevance to what the song title is. Carter 2 starts out fine and powerful and lets up a little at the end. But not to the point where it gets dull. Each song brings a new sound and doesn't get old. IF you're a Lil Wayne fan, this is for you...IF You're new to lil wayne this is a great Cd to have if you like good lyrics....IF you hate Lil Wayne... why the heck did you waste your time Buying/burning his CD and then waste even more time reviewing it on this site? Why are you even reading this review if you hate him?
Now to "rap" it up
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Overall i think this album is one of the best I've heard for 2005. If you disagree with what i'm saying, fine then, say this review isn't helpful, I DON'T CARE. Some rappers like 50 cent may get better sales, but most turn commercial to do it while others keep it real. Lil wayne has always kept it real. As for "best rapper alive" I don't know... everyone has their own opinion. But i don't know why everyone is getting so worked up about him saying he's the best rapper alive! Every rapper thinks he's the best at what he does. Arrogance is one of the factors that drives rap music... So What? Big deal. Nobody is the best... there is only "smart,creative and confident" in rap music, nothing else.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
4.5 Mics, December 27, 2005
First off, let me attack those who claim they don't listen to southern music...It's music period.
Lil Wayne, without Mannie, gets his shine on regardless. True, the scale of the beats aren't an all time high (this is no Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys & thank God for that, LJ stick to producin'). The way Wayne changes his flow and delivery throughout the cd is amazing (Check his first and last verse on the "D-Boy" track {#19}). He adapts his style to every track he encounters (don't believe me? compare "Fireman" and "Hustler Muzik" and witness a complete chameleon). The range of beats that he raps to is impressive: from rock-style beats ("Best Rapper Alive"), to rapping over what I call Kanye West type tracks ("The Mobb" "Oh No" "Receipt" "Get Over") he rips it. "Money On My Mind" uses what I believe is Mike Jones' voice {screwed} on the chourus, while Wayne recites "F*ck Bitches, Get Money..." He creates a reggae-type track with "Mo Fire." Later on Wayne slows the cd down a bit with "Lock & Load" with Kurupt on the chourus with what sounds like Young Jeezy saying "Lock & Load." Verse II here is killer. Favorite Quote on this song: "Fresh out the back seat of the Figity-fantom, the haters I make em' madder when I wave at em' like WHAT UP!." After the track "Oh No" he follows up with a track for the ladies (some call it a grown & sexy track). It's called "Grown Man" and Currency (who is all over Wayne mixtapes) joins on part of the chourus and the second verse. "Hit em Up" is a dark track where Wayne seems ready for war. Very nice all around track (production/lyrics/delivery) where Wayne repeates "I tried to talk to him" (it might get stuck in your head). Track 15 is "Reciept." You can find a changed Wayne here, talking about his daughter, possibly Trina, and the past relationships an such. Next is "Shooter" I'm sure some will like it and some won't. It seems like a slow song with a decent beat at first, but eventually jumps and becomes partially faster at the chourus and when Wayne begins rapping. Whether you like the song or not, I appreciate how the speed changes thoughout the song. "Weezy Baby." My first listen of the first verse, I was lovin' this song. The beat is "so crafty" but the chourus seemed played out to me. Now after several listens I can appreciate the song simply because the verses are entertaining. With lyrics like, "I'm slick as an old mac, I'm sick as a prozac, And the Carter 1 was the d*ck for you hoes trap" and "Where the hell all these new p*ssy rappers come from, I chew 'em up like bubble gum, yum yum" why not take a listen? "D-Boy" is definately one of my favorites. The beat is amazing. With just my first listen I could recognize the old school-style beat in the background while the new-school beat takes the fore-front. Let's see Lil Jon do that. P.S. Birdman Sr. makes his only appearance here. "Feel Me" is definetly creative. He answers questions (sort of interview style) from a female reporter. This song is very smooth. "Get Over" featuring Nikki who does a good job on the chourus. Wayne talks about how he misses people who were an important part of his life. He is very deep on this song. He says: "I miss my dawg I can't believe that it's over, but I'm a soldier, so I gotta get over, can't stay sober, I'm just tryin to get over" during the second & third chourus. He talks about wishing things he wants to say now he could have said when they were still alive. "And all the things I never said, I gotta say it now, I shoulda said it then, now I gotta talk to clouds"
In Tha Carter II he continues his theme from the 1st Carter, in which he splits three rap sessions throughout the cd, "Fly In" "Carter II" "Fly Out" (from the Carter vol. I - "Walk In" "Inside" "Walk Out"). Even the skits resemble the first volume: Both editions are titled: "On the Block #(1,2,3)"
I definitely recommend this cd to ALL who like rap music. Originality here is very high.
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by Lil Wayne 
