Lil Wayne - Tha Carter VI ALBUM REVIEW: A Disappointing Return

The review opens with Anthony Fantano introducing the new Lil Wayne album, Tha Carter VI, as the latest addition to the iconic The Carter series. He sets the stage by reminding viewers of Lil Wayne’s legendary status in hip hop, especially highlighting his peak era around The Carter 3. Fantano emphasizes Wayne’s influence on modern rap, from his flow to his pioneering use of autotune and freestyle prowess.

"There was in fact a time when Lil Wayne was... one of the best and was definitely one of the most popular rappers walking the planet." 0:28
"He’s really inspired everyone out there today from Kendrick Lamar to Drake to Young Thug..." 1:39

Key points:

• Lil Wayne’s early career and rise under Birdman and Cash Money Records.
• His prolific mixtape output and creative peak around The Carter 3.
• Influence on contemporary rap artists and styles.
• Sets expectations for the new album in light of Wayne’s legacy.

Fantano discusses Lil Wayne’s recent decline in popularity and relevance, noting his public frustration over not being chosen for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show in New Orleans, which went to Kendrick Lamar. This tension frames the anticipation and context for Tha Carter VI, as fans and critics wonder if Wayne can reclaim his former glory.

"Wayne’s popularity as of late has waned... And sadly Wayne is not really taking the paradigm shift with a lot of grace." 1:55
"Wayne had feelings about this. He voiced them publicly. This led to a lot of discourse and dissatisfaction among rap fans." 2:33

Key points:

• Wayne’s public disappointment over the Super Bowl performance slot.
• The cultural shift in hip hop and Wayne’s struggle to adapt.
• The album’s release as a potential statement or comeback attempt.

Fantano wastes no time expressing his disappointment, calling the album “pretty bad” and “shamefully bad” in multiple ways. He critiques the opening track Welcome to the Carter for using AI-generated soul samples, which he finds off-putting and lyrically uninspired despite a solid flow.

"The album doesn’t even have the decency to be bad in one single way." 3:34
"Whatever the soul samples are... they’re AI generated... which is just a bit much." 3:58

He praises Bells for its late-80s B-boy vibe and Wayne sounding awake, but the lyrics quickly fall off, with outdated and awkward lines.

Key points:

• AI-generated samples detract from authenticity.
• Wayne’s flow remains competent but lyrics lack freshness.
• Early tracks show glimpses of classic Wayne but are undermined by poor writing.

The review dives into the album’s weakest moments, highlighting the track Band from N O featuring Jelly Roll, which Fantano describes as a mismatch with whiny vocals and excessive chorus repetition. The collaboration with Bono on The Days is called out as a stale 2000s pop-rock-rap crossover that feels out of place and uninspired.

"The vibes on this one... go together like Sour Patch Kids on Pizza." 5:12
"The whole thing on this track just sounds like this stale 2000s pop rock rap crossover." 5:38

Other tracks like Cotton Candy with Two Chains fail to energize the album, with both artists sounding unenthused.

Key points:

• Poorly matched features that don’t complement Wayne’s style.
• Overuse of chorus repetitions to pad weak verses.
• Lack of energy and enthusiasm from collaborators.

Fantano discusses Flex Up, which has a moody, low-fi beat but Wayne sounds “high out of his mind” and disconnected from the vibe. The track Island Holiday is described as the worst on the album, with multiple autotune layers out of harmony, and a terrible interpolation of Weezer’s Island in the Sun.

"Wayne just kind of feels like he’s on autopilot." 6:25
"This track sounds like [expletive]." 6:33
"Multiple portions... where it just sounds like Wayne has five or four different autotune layers... not in harmony at all." 6:53

Loki’s Theme is another strange detour, with a metal outro reminiscent of Linkin Park and an acoustic number where Wayne tries to be emotional but fails lyrically.

Key points:

• Wayne’s performance feels lazy and disconnected.
• Poor production choices, especially autotune layering.
• Genre experiments that don’t land and feel awkward.

Fantano finds some relief in Peanuts 2 and Elephant, calling it a highlight due to its quirky, playful beat reminiscent of a ‘90s Super Nintendo game. Produced by Lin Manuel Miranda, this track features Wayne rapping with his old-school confidence and silliness, showing flashes of the Wayne who could rap on anything and make it entertaining.

"Wayne is kind of like his old self... rapping a bunch of kooky silly oneliners." 8:25
"This reminds me of an older version of Wayne... proving that I’m a rapper who can rap on anything." 8:31

However, Fantano notes this track feels out of place amid the otherwise poor material, making it feel like an insult added to injury.

Key points:

• Quirky, nostalgic production and playful lyricism.
• A rare moment of genuine energy and fun.
• Feels isolated and insufficient to save the album.

The track Rari features Wayne’s son Cameron and is described as a cute but awkward father-son collaboration, sounding like a SoundCloud remix with a Kids Bop vibe. Maria is another strange choice, with Andre Bocelli’s vocals layered over Wayne’s rapping, which Fantano finds terrible and outdated.

"Sounds like some weird independent Soundcloud producer just took a Wayne ac cappella and remixed it with a kids bop cover." 10:00
"It sounds terrible. It sounds awful." 10:16

Other tracks like Being Myself and Moola are criticized for awkward attempts at current trends and juvenile content.

Key points:

• Family collaboration feels forced and poorly executed.
• Misguided attempts at blending genres and styles.
• Lyrics and production feel lazy and messy.

The penultimate track Alone in the Studio with My Gun featuring MGK and Kodak Black 2 is called “pitifully sad” and “too angsty,” with all artists feeling too old for the subject matter. The closer Written History tries to sum up Wayne’s legacy but ends up feeling inconclusive and unsatisfying.

"This is a painfully inconclusive closer for a record that frankly is just so deeply unsatisfying." 11:32
"Wayne just does not have it anymore." 11:42

Fantano concludes with a harsh rating of 2/10, emphasizing that the album confirms Wayne’s decline rather than revitalizing his career.

Key points:

• Overly angsty and out-of-touch emotional content.
• Final track fails to provide closure or impact.
• Album solidifies the perception that Wayne’s prime is behind him.

Fantano invites viewers to share their opinions on the album, whether they loved or hated it, and encourages likes, subscriptions, and suggestions for future reviews. He maintains his signature candid and conversational tone throughout.

"Tran Zian have you given this album a listen? Did you love it? Did you hate it? What would you rate it?" 11:58
"Please subscribe and please don’t cry." 12:06

Key points:

• Encourages community interaction and feedback.
• Maintains humor and personality despite the harsh critique.
• Promotes further engagement with his channel.

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This review paints Tha Carter VI as a disappointing and poorly executed album that fails to live up to Lil Wayne’s legacy. While there are fleeting moments of the old Wayne’s charm, the overall project is marred by lazy production, awkward collaborations, and a lack of focus or energy. Fantano’s blunt and detailed critique leaves little doubt about his low opinion of the album’s quality.