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Tha Carter

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Tha Carter
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 29, 2004
Recorded2003–2004
Genre
Length79:07
Label
Producer
Lil Wayne chronology
500 Degreez
(2002)
Tha Carter
(2004)
The Dedication
(2005)
Singles from Tha Carter
  1. "Bring It Back"
    Released: April 17, 2004
  2. "Go D.J."
    Released: October 5, 2004
  3. "Earthquake"
    Released: March 27, 2005

Tha Carter is the fourth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne. It was released on June 29, 2004, by Cash Money Records and Universal Records.[1] The production on the album was mostly handled by Cash Money's former in-house producer Mannie Fresh, before Mannie left the label. A chopped and screwed version of the album was also released in 2004. The album spawned four sequels: Tha Carter II, Tha Carter III, Tha Carter IV, and Tha Carter V.

The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart and received favorable reviews from critics, selling 116,000 copies in its first week.[2] "Go D.J." became Wayne's first mainstream hit as a lead artist, reaching the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in September 2020.[3]

Background and singles

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Tha Carter was originally slated to launch in late 2003, but due to a change in musical direction, features and legal issues, it was revised into the mixtape Da Drought. Much of the beats for the album were crafted by then-Cash Money's frequent record producer Mannie Fresh. Wayne eschewed writing and developing his rhymes with intention, and instead focused on feeling, entering a stream-of-consciousness state where he freestyled much of lyrics on the spot. Stylistically the album was developed with tastemakers and public perception in mind, but with a distinct Cash Money/NOLA bent: "We do what people want us to do, but our way," he confirmed.[4]

The album's lead single, "Bring It Back" was released on April 10, 2004, while its second single, "Go D.J." was released on October 5, 2004. Both songs were produced by and featured guest vocals from Mannie Fresh. The album's third single, "Earthquake" was released on March 27, 2005. The song was produced by and featured guest vocals from fellow record producer Jazze Pha.

Commercial performance

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Tha Carter debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 116,000 copies in its first week.[5] This became Wayne's third US top-ten debut.[2] As of November 2005, the album has sold 878,000 copies in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[6] On September 25, 2020, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of a million units in the United States.[3]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[7]
RapReviews(7.5/10)[8]
Rhapsody(favorable)[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
USA Today[11]
XXL (XL) [citation needed]

Steve Jones of USA Today was positive, commenting: "Wayne takes you on a tour through his life as a well-heeled young hustler. The street themes and boastful banter are familiar, but he keeps things moving with witty deliveries and a few change-ups."[11] Andy Kellman from AllMusic criticized the LP's runtime and lack of quality control, but also praised the beatmaking: "Mannie Fresh's stout production is in effect as ever, and to the MC's credit, the rhymes are less measured and are all the better for it."[7] Christian Hoard from Rolling Stone concurred: "Most of Wayne's fourth album is filler that Lil Jon has made obsolete, but on more than a handful of tracks, Mannie Fresh's beats jump like they used to and Wayne's syrupy drawl sounds more dextrous than ever."[10] Tom Briehan of Stereogum, in a twentieth anniversary appraisal of the record, considered it charming but conceded that "There’s no sense of construction or motivation [...] Tha Carter feels a little quaint now. It has moments of greatness, but it’s not exactly a great Lil Wayne album."[12]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Walk In"Mannie Fresh3:04
2."Go D.J."
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:41
3."This Is the Carter" (featuring Mannie Fresh)
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:36
4."BM J.R."
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:58
5."On the Block #1 (skit)" 
  • Mannie Fresh
  • Lil Wayne
0:18
6."I Miss My Dawgs" (featuring Reel)
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
  • R.Q. Dickerson
  • Mannie Fresh
  • Raj Smoove
4:35
7."We Don't" (featuring Birdman)
Leslie Brathwaite4:09
8."On My Own" (featuring Reel)
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:28
9."Tha Heat"
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Dickerson
Raj Smoove4:36
10."Cash Money Millionaires"
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:42
11."Inside"
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh1:30
12."Bring It Back" (featuring Mannie Fresh)
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:21
13."Who Wanna"
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Dickerson
Raj Smoove4:32
14."On the Block #2 (skit)" 
  • Mannie Fresh
  • Lil Wayne
0:23
15."Get Down" (featuring Birdman)
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:32
16."Snitch"
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh3:55
17."Hoes" (featuring Mannie Fresh)
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:32
18."Only Way" (featuring Birdman)
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Williams
Mannie Fresh4:33
19."Earthquake" (featuring Jazze Pha)
  • Mannie Fresh
  • Jazze Pha
5:16
20."Ain't That a Bitch"
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh4:17
21."Walk Out"
  • Carter, Jr.
  • Thomas
Mannie Fresh1:08
Total length:79:07
  • If the album was purchased in Canada, "Walk In", "Inside" and "Walk Out" are recorded on a different instrumental, with slightly different lyrics. Also, "Earthquake" is replaced by the song "Crack Ya Bottle" by Lil Wayne featuring Reel, produced by the Architects. These changes are a result of sample clearance issues.
  • "Earthquake" interpolates and samples "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green.

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[3] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Tha Carter".
  2. ^ a b "G-Unit Rapper Banks No. 1 Solo Debut". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "American album certifications – Lil Wayne – Tha Carter". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  4. ^ D., Spence (June 25, 2004). "Lil' Wayne Interview". IGN. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  5. ^ "Lloyd Banks' Hunger Debuts at #1; Brandy Settles for #3". MTV. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015.
  6. ^ "Lil Wayne Nabs Kurupt, Lil' Mo For New CD". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 3, 2005. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Tha Carter". AllMusic. June 29, 2004. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Steve "Flash" Juon (2004-07-13). "Lil Wayne :: Tha Carter :: Cash Money / Universal Records". RapReviews. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  9. ^ Winning, Brolin (29 June 2004). "Tha Carter : Lil Wayne". Rhapsody. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  10. ^ a b Hoard, Christian (2004-08-05). "Tha Carter". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  11. ^ a b Jones, Steve (2004-07-05). "Lil' Wayne, Tha Carter". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  12. ^ Breihan, Tom (June 27, 2024). "Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter' Turns 20". Stereogum. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "BB200 - 2004-07-17". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  14. ^ "TRBHH - 2004-07-17". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History: Rap Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  16. ^ "2004 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2 January 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  17. ^ "2004 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  18. ^ "2004 Year-End Charts – Billboard Rap Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  19. ^ "2005 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 28, 2015.