Lil’ Wayne: From New Orleans to Mixtape King

I will be reviewing Lil’ Wayne’s The Blue Martian (Deluxe Edition) mixtape for this post.

Listen to or download the mixtape here: 

http://www.datpiff.com/Mixtape_Evolution_Lil_Wayne__The_Blue_Martian_del.m124374.html

Background Information:

• Birth name: Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.
• Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Influences: Cash Money Records, Jay-Z, Beanie Siegel, Lupe Fiasco, Rick Ross, and Dipset
• How long has he been doing music: Since he was 8
• Type of Artist: Mainstream
• Genre(s): Rap
• Current Label(s): Young Money Ent./Cash Money Records/ Universal Motown
• Similar Artists: Birdman, Mack Maine, Drake, Young Jeezy, T.I.
• Fun fact: Lil Wayne once released more music in the two years than Tupac Shakur.

            Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. was born on September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  He was a straight-A student, but he found music as the best means of expressing himself. Wayne gained the moniker Gangsta D and started writing rhymes. The 11-year-old convinced the Cash Money label to take him on. Lil’ Wayne was discovered by Cash Money CEO Brian “Birdman” Williams when a mutual friend introduced him to the young rapper. Birdman liked what he saw in the young rapper, so he took Wayne under his wing. Lil’ Wayne has released eight studio albums Tha Block Is Hot (1999), Lights Out (2000), 500 Degreez (2002), Tha Carter (2004), The Carter II (2005), Tha Carter III (2008), Rebirth (2010). Wayne's planned 2003 album wasn’t distributed by his label, so he put it out as an underground mixtape called Da Drought. His feedback from the mixtape went so well that he has released nine official mixtapes since then. He has released eleven official mixtapes SQ1-SQ7 (2003), Da Drought (2003), Da Drought 2 (2004), The Prefix (2004), The Suffix (2005), Dedication (2005), Dedication 2 (2006), Blow (2006), Da Drought 3 (2007), Dedication 3 (2008), and No Ceilings (2009). On January 23, 2008, Lil’ Wayne was arrested after Border Patrol agents found 105 grams (3.7 oz) of marijuana, almost 29 grams (1.0 oz) of cocaine, 41 grams (1.4 oz) of MDMA, and $22,000 in cash. Lil’ Wayne was charged with four felonies: possession of narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. On October 22, 2009, Lil’ Wayne pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. On March 8, 2010, Lil’ Wayne was sentenced to a year in prison, which he is currently serving in Rikers Island. He is expected to be released after eight months if he serves with good behavior. Yet, in May the correctional staff found Wayne was holding contraband (an MP3 player, charger, and headphones).

Introduction:

Lil’ Wayne is a Mixtape King because he makes a lot of mixtapes every year.  His fans love to listen to these mixtapes as preludes, interludes, and postludes to his CDs. Lil’ Wayne started off as Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., but now he is definitely a Mixtpe King. He is at the e yef the rap industry whether people like it or not. Lil’ Wayne made sure to record a number of songs, mixtapes, and music videos so there would be no shortage of his presence in the media while he is doing his time.

Favorite Line: My Generation- “My generation will make a change; this generation will make a change.”  http://www.killerhiphop.com/my-generation-lyrics-lil-wayne-nas-damian-marley-joss-stone/

Top 3 Tracks: (This list is ordered from the song I like most to the song I like least.)

1. Currency- This song is just all around catchy. I predict this will be a hard-hitting single sometime soon. Trina, Rick Ross, and Lil’ Wayne make a great trio on this song, and if you like money this song is for you.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnbRnSATBFM
2. Tattoo Foreva- I love the acoustic instrumental this song begins with. This is just a song with a different type of sound than I expect Lil’ Wayne to have because the song sounds like a pop song. However, Lil’ Wayne and T-Pain’s raps compliment and/or contrast the instrumental just as much as they need to make a good track. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9cayY_HOOo&feature=related
3. P#$$^ N!**@- This song is a typical Lil’ Wayne song. It has a hard hitting beat, and he has good lyrics as well as a few moments of random gibberish. This song is a great song to put in when you just want to ride down the street and stunt on people because it has a instrumental that will show of your car’s stereo system.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpTpDf9IaPY

Bottom 3 Tracks: (This list is ordered from the song I dislike most to the song I dislike least.)

1. Other Side- Lil’ Wayne has definitely went to the other side of the universe with this song because I feel as if he really is a martian if he thought this song was great.  This song is okay, but it just seems to be foreign and/or weird for some reason. This sounds like techno meets hip-hop and R&B and neither genre seemed to be represented too well in this track. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65NMcWyTToc
2. Soldier- This song was not my cup of tea at all. I expected this song to be much better especially with both N.E.R.D and Lil’ Wayne on the track. The artists’ reputations are much better than this song in my opinion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQmQcmbCyIs
3. Blood N!**@$- Distracting instrumental, it sounds like it is overpowering the first artist. If you are not a blood or affiliated you probably won’t be able to relate to this song. Lil’ Wayne delivered good lyrics with his classic swagger, but swagger is nothing when the song is not relative to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Z0gd_Gk5I&feature=related

Overview:

I recommend the mixtape to people that like Lil’ Wayne because he is definitely in a category of his own nowadays. However, if you are a person with an eclectic music style this mixtape definitely touches on the styles of a number of genres. The Blue Martian (Deluxe Edition) is definitely different from any other mixtape I have heard this mixtape makes me think of back in the day when people jut used to take songs they like of any genre and just record them all on one cassette tape.

Other Related Links:

http://www.lilwayne-online.com/bio.aspx

http://www.last.fm/music/Lil'+Wayne

http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lil_wayne/artist.jhtml#biographyEnd

http://www.lilwaynehq.com/

http://www.mtvmusic.com/artist/lil_wayne