Timeless Character

Hip-hop has truly seen a massive overhaul in the last ten years. The genre’s relevance continues to grow, and many albums have cemented themselves into the minds of listeners across the country. And while icons like Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B have crafted projects that have garnered significant amounts of buzz and acclaim, sometimes these projects fail to be as relevant as the albums that don’t come out. The albums that have been rumored for years, but always seem to escape the listener’s grasp. From Dr. Dre’s Detox to the anticipated Andre 3000 solo record, fans have clamored about hip-hop’s void for decades. Whether the project was merely an idea brainstormed by the public or a shelved release, fans often tend to cling to what is not there rather than what is.

Tha Carter V seemed to be primed to join this elusive cast of hyped up releases with its nonstop complications. Wayne’s friendship with Birdman, Cash Money Entertainment founder, was a driving force for these complications. Birdman, who had Wayne under contract, was refusing to give clearance for the project’s release. This seemed rather innocuous at first, as the duo had been so tight for so long. Even so, friendship was not enough to prevent the legal battles that defined the following years. In summation, an album that was initially promised for a 2014 release date, was shelved for years. Fans fought hard to secure Wayne’s musical independence from Birdman, but all seemed lost for so long. That was until this year. Not only was Wayne releasing two Dedication mixtapes, but the contract dispute case was progressing rapidly. A finish line was certainly beginning to appear, and Wayne’s newfound energy and clarity in his work showed this. He was ready to capture his moment. He was ready for Tha Carter V. When the contract dispute ruled Wayne the sole owner of his masters, it was only a matter of time. Wayne was going to drop another Carter—an album series that has dramatically impacted both the past and present of hip-hop. With such a high bar to live up to, how was Wayne supposed to live up to the task?

First, it is important to note that he did not have to. Dwayne Carter had already cemented himself as a hip-hop legend. Not only are mumble rappers of the day biting his cadence with a ferocity, but Wayne’s creative flows have intertwined themselves into even the most polished emcee’s arsenal. And while all this influence is nice, the true story is the fact that this album exists is already a win. With this album, Wayne proved that the artist cannot be controlled and that is what really matters at the end of the day. Everything else is merely a bonus. And trust, there is a lot of bonus in this journey of a record.

Wayne gets more personal than ever on this album and it is clear from the beginning. “I Love You Dwayne” is a heartfelt voice recording of Wayne’s mother pouring out her motherly affection to him. It’s a really nice interlude that sets the tone very well for the opening track “Don’t Cry.” The imperfect, sincere yelps of the late XXXTentacion perfectly layer over a haunting beat. The posthumous feature coupled with the contemplative lyrics from Wayne makes for a truly grating emotional moment. This track ultimately showcases imperfection and vulnerability at its finest. While X’s behavior doesn’t merit acceptance, it still feels right to have him on a track where he can express the human condition. This very human song is followed by songs that starkly contrast them.

“Dedicate” and “Uproar” feel huge as Wayne brags of his massive influence on the game. These are likely to be played in clubs across the country with their catchy hooks, but they are so much more than that. The impeccable wordplay Wayne displays is truly remarkable for someone so far into his career. After several impressive and melodic joints, the album comes to its pinnacle with “Mona Lisa.” Incredible rapping craft from Wayne sets up Kendrick Lamar perfectly in this twisted little story of pitfalls of pimping and violence. Every bar is delivered with so much intensity and the nuance in every line proves why these two are all-time greats. As the album goes along, several standouts present themselves. The minimal, yet mindblowing “Problems” shows just how creative Wayne can be with dispersing flows all over a track. “Demon” and “Used 2” feature impassioned Wayne verses that are just undeniable. “Famous” is also an incredibly catchy and clever song that details the pitfalls of fame.

Perhaps most importantly, the album’s closer “Let It All Work Out” is an emotional high point for Wayne’s catalog. Wayne finally tells his mom the truth about his self-inflicted shooting at the age of 12. He details that this was a suicide attempt, but goes on to detail how proud he is of the champion that he has become in life. This song will grip at your heartstrings, but ultimately wow you. How is it that someone who has been rapping since the age of eight still has so much story left to tell? Well, Tha Carter V tells you why. Wayne is more than your average artist. His life has a lot of intricacies, which are heavily dove into on this project. Wayne sounds awakened and emboldened on here. Sure, the project could be shorter and is far from perfect, but it is still one of the more enjoyable listens of the year. Getting to know Wayne’s story that seemed like such a fool’s hope just a couple years ago. He sounded tired, defeated and ultimately bored of rap. With new found independence and inspiration, this impression no longer holds true. Dwayne Carter is here to stay!