Overhyped
The carter 3 is a decent album but with all the hype that LIl Wayne gets for his mixtapes, this album fails to measure up to the standards of Lil Wayne mixtapes. Lil Waynes style is very unique because he often goes on random rants instead of building songs around themes. This style is very hit or miss in my opinion. Examples of hits would be A Milli and Let the Beat Build. Then there are the songs that are just ridiculous like Phone Home and Mrs. Officer. Lil Wayne does spit some great lines but other times it seems like he doesnt make sense. Thats why I give the Carter 3 three stars.

A Homerun for Weezy!
[[ASIN:ASIN B0013ABI48]]

Say what you will about Lil' Wayne, but 2008's THA CARTER III is probably the best Rap album of 2008. In a year where sales have been incredibly sub-par, the fact that THA CARTER III sold 1 million copies it's first week says something. Not only has Wayne sold 1.5 million (in 3 weeks), but he has the quality within this album to backup the sales. There are few fillers on this album, which makes it all the more consistent.

The production work is on point throughout the affair, with the bare-bones, "skeletal" production of my personal favorite track, "A Milli" being exceptional. Jim Jonsin's production work on ubiquitous, catchy first single "Lollipop" featuring Static Major is also great. "A Milli" just may be Wayne's best song in which he boasts such cool lines as "motherf****** I'm ill", "...I'm ill, not sick... my watch sick, my glock's sick..." Production itself aside, these two tracks are the "cream of the crop" of THA CARTER III, though there are many others nearly/equally as good. "3 Peat" is a fine opening track, making the listener aware that Wayne is on fire on this third volume of his THA CARTER. "Mr. Carter" featuring none other than the other Mr. Carter, Jay-Z is also top-notch. Moreso than his fine THA CARTER II, this album is more "friendly" to the listener, which many will debate is Wayne selling out, though I think it's the evolution of Weezy personally.

After the brilliant "A Milli", T-Pain joins for the fine "Got Money", though it is only a bridesmaid after the killer "A Milli". Wayne softens around the edges for "Comfortable", which features Babyface in top form. The Kanye West helmed number borrows the lush strings from Alicia Keys's "You Don't Know My Name" (I believe) and adds a sick drums and an "ill" bass line. Follow-up "Dr. Carter" features a toned-down Swizz Beatz, though it doesn't sound or feel toned down by any means. This along with the 'ill' "Phone Home" are among the most creative numbers I've heard in hip-hop in some time. The show stealer is definitely the Robin Thicke featured/helmed "Tie My Hands" in which Thicke sings so sincerely "if you tie my hands, what am I gonna do...". Here, Weezy references Hurricane Katrina in one of the most sincere rap songs particularly for Wayne.

While nothing else shines quite as brightly as the above-mentioned, "Let The Beat Build" is fine, as is the David Banner produced "La La", showcasing Banner's knack for hip-hop joints. Overall, THA CARTER III isn't perfect, but it is pretty darn good. 4.5 stars.

~~*Changed My Views*~~
ok....when lil wayne was with hot boyz i liked him a lot...and then as he got more into the game i didnt like him that much at all.....people hyped him up too much and his rappin wasnt consistant enough for me......sometimes his stuff is hot and then other times it's some garbage....i must say though.....after listening to the carter 3 album it made me change my views on him as an artist.....i deffinately respect him more

Stick to freestyle.
Ok, so Wayne can freestyle. There is no argument there. Throw on a beat and Weezy can flow for days. However, is he really saying anything? Nope. He's basically a hip-hop Dr. Seuss. When it comes to actual songs and albums like Carter III, he just falls short. Maybe if people left Wayne out of the "best rapper alive" discussion, he wouldn't be so disappointing. He is a good artist, don't get me wrong, just nowhere near the best. This is most evident when you hear Wayne side by side with the true champ, Jay-Z. Jay absolutely puts him to shame on Mr. Carter. Overall, this cd was actually decent. It's his best since Lights Out. As an original Lil Wayne fan, I feel he has slipped since his Hot Boys days. He is trying to be too much like Jay. I blame Birdman. But, how can you blame these guys, they know how to cater to 15 year old girls, the ones who are actually buying their cd's. Money talks, right?

I love you Wayne!
First of all, God bless you Wayne. Congrats to you on your successes. This is a huge milestone for you, for your label and for hip hop. This is an excellent CD through and through. Everyone is not going to like everything and that's ok. Your bank account speaks favorably to those who do enjoy it. :) We have all these so-called, self-proclaimed music critics out here feeling like they have graduated with a PHD in music appreciation and they have come in here berating your work. Let them hate. If you had allowed negativity to hinder your progress, you would have been finished long ago. Furthermore, I don't think any of those with negative things to say have sold even 100 copies of any kind of musical production so... who cares? Keep doing what you're doing because you're doing it well. Whether or not you are THE best... continue being YOUR best and I will keep enjoying your work and buying your music. Oh and again... this CD is amazing!!!!