If it wasn’t for Drake’s If You Are Reading This It’s Too Late, Lil Wayne’s FWA album would sound much better, after all it is a mix tape, by definition a stop gap, a hole plugger or an introduction to the dance. None of which Weezy needs now does he? Well, maybe a stop gap. As Weezy entangles himself from his legal problem with Cash Money, this should keep you and as a stop gap it is pretty good.
Not great, but “I Feel Good” uses a James Brown sample to pretty good use, “My Heart Races On” is a terrific “get through it all” song, Jake Troth? All power to his gorgeous hook. “Without You” is a beautiful break up song, a top vocal by Weezy and starring the 20 year old woman who wrote “Bitch Better Have My Money” -the somewhat awesome Bibi Bourelly. Ending the set is the return of Cash Money producers Cool And Dre with the freshest beats on the album, “Pick Up Your Heart”.
Otherwise, the beats aren’t all that and the rhymes don’t quite get there. One third sex song, half break up with Cash Money revenge stuff, some snap shot life as lived. It is grown up, not a cough syrup bottle in sight, and in pain, but it is mediocre and not much belongs in the Weezy Hall of fame, maybe two tracks he might do a verse off live on stage.
Some of the rhymes are terrific, hats off to “He’s Dead” -a vicious little fucker. From “Thinking ABout You”: “”Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay, can’t trust these hos today”? Well, I guess he isn’t entirely grown up.
It isn’t a good time for indifferent rap, everyone from Kendrick to A$AP Rock to Earl Sweatshirt to Vince Staples have been way on their game and this is shruggable. But again, it is a MIXTAPE. It isn’t meant to be a masterpiece, it is meant to be, like the Sorry 4 The Wait 2, just some new tracks. Not the a game.
The problem is, Weezy has been off his A Game since 2008, and the man has all the gifts he needs to be at the top of the game. Yet he isn’t any more. When I saw him with Drake last year, he more than held his own. On record, he can’t catch up with his student. Weezy needs to free himself as well as his album. We’ve been promised Tha Carter V later this year, it better be a darn sight better than this.
Grade: B-
