Why [I Think] The Carter 3 is Whack!

In December of 2005, Lil Wayne saw fit to grace us hip hop stans with The Carter II, an album that many of us would consider a classic. Now, in June of 2008, “The Best Rapper Alive” has finally decided to bless us with the long delayed studio follow-up Tha Carter III. Whether it proves his claims or even its own quality for that matter is up for scrutiny.
Not to go back too far but let’s look at the carter II for starters. This was an album that gave us numerous hot singles (Fireman, Hustlers Musik, Shooter) and one-liners that would become hip-hop quotables. All of theses combined made for not only a good listen but also more importantly, a great fuckin album.
After an album of that caliber, Lil Wayne finally proved skillful as a rapper. He also proved capable of holding the streets ear, a feat the rapper mastered by giving the fans a reason to listen. Lines like “I know you see the gwap, 'cause money is what we on//Ridin' drop-top in the winter with the heat on//Bad yella bitch keep my passenger seat warm//Leg hangin' out the window, you ain't got deeze on” from Da Drought 3.
And lines like “Ya Camera Has Never Saw A Picture This Nice//I'm Fishin And Tha Bicthes Will Bite//Its Probably Cuz My Game Is Fixer Then Tight” from The Drought Is Over: Part. 4 song Brand New.
Lil Wayne flooded the rap game for 3 years with guest spots and verses many of which crossed genres in ways that left us all scratching our heads. From Enrique Inglasias to Britney Spears to M.I.A., Weezyana popped up in more places than a Where's Waldo workbook. He surprised fans and critics alike. And if we bring into question his Best Rapper Alive campaign we would have to admit that there were times when he showed flashes of brilliance. And like a politician on the campaign trail, he made believers out of anyone open to hear his message.
But also like a politician he was ripe for scandal. The Fuck All DJ's statement notwithstanding, there was the post-Pimp C praises of syrup despite the substances role in the rappers death. There was the arrest in Arizona where he was caught with more white girl than Hugh Heffner. There were the jabs from 50 Cent calling him a whore. And let us not forget the allegations of ghostwriter Gillie the Squid.
Then there were all those damn leaks. It seemed that every time he coughed on a mic, it made its way onto somebody’s mixtape. This brings us to the reason why we're here. Is C3 as good as it could have been? Is it a good album? I mean, anybody who heard the fire and intensity of Drought 3 is feeling just a lil aggie at Lil Wayne for some of the sub par joints offered up as music on C3. For as long as we all waited for this album only to receive songs like Phone Home.
I, like over 1 million other people, went and spent 10 dollars of my much needed gas money on an album that was believed to be the best album of 08. What I got instead was an aiight album. Only aiight. I know that people will say that I'm on one but I expected more and you're lying to yourself if you say you didn’t. It’s not a bad album but it’s not great either. 3Peat is no Fly In and the brilliance of “Mr. Carter”, “Let The Beat Build” and “Dr Carter” are offset but missteps like Got Money.
And how many songs do you need with singers!? The joint “Comfortable” with Babyface has whip appeal. Pun intended. But why the fuck is Bobby Valentino making siren noises on “Mrs. Officer”!? And I thought Robin Thicke was dead. Sorry. Nothing against these singers cause they all have talent, respectively. Were Thom York and Chris Martin busy? I don’t know, I guess I just had high hopes.
All in all I expected the most anticipated album of the year to be more than another formula album. I even expected it to be more than a classic. I expected a gem, a play through album, a change the game album. An album that set the bar at a new level and a new standard for years to come. I guess I fell victim to the hype. Maybe my expectations were unrealistic.
Sike! I’m pissed that after 3 years of playing C2 and any and every mixtape I could get my hands on, I finally get a studio effort and it’s a disappointment. I expect better and as a fan I deserve better. But here at Stereo-Type Magazine its not about me its about the faithful readers so let us know what you think.

Mike Jones...The Don!

Video: Plies- 100 years

I didn't even know there was a video (probably was on uncut). The 07' Ice Cube with a sprinkle of C-Murder is how i describe this track.

Bow Wow is hardbody lol

"Lupe Fiasco's The Cool" Review by Basshead

Lupe Fiasco is one of those guys that you either hate or you love. The hood calls him a nerdy skateboarder, but the people who don't skim through music and can refrain from putting the bass on maximum realize that he is a brilliant wordsmith. This guy born Wasalu Jaco is indeed from the ghetto, the westside of Chicago to be exact. But unlike the majority of mainstream rap knuckleheads, he doesn't glorify violence, mysogyny, or drugs. He's a genius at analyzing the obvious and putting it into his own complex, islamic-inspired perspective. His critically acclaimed first album Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor was underachieving on the charts due his cd being leaked multiple times, months prior to it's official retail date. Well...he's back and he didn't dumb down his thoughts for anybody on his new semi-conceptual record Lupe Fiasco's: The Cool."
"The Cool" was actually a track off of Food and Liquor (produced by Kanye West), which inspired this project. It was a track about an ex-hustler who digs himself out of his grave and walks through his own neighborhood, only to witness the cruelty of the the streets (the guy with the suit in the "Superstar" video is The Cool). It sounds extreme but he's a hell of a story teller. Every track is not towards the concept, but throughout the album he introduces two other characters. First he introduces The Street, who is a female that has a love affair with The Cool. Later on in the album he introduces The Game, who ultimately kills The Cool. If Jay-Z was thinking deep with American Gangster then Lupe's mind was in the depths of hell. To the contrary, the majority of the album is not towards the concept. The songs that are aimed towards the topic are so substance filled, he only needs a couple of them. Songs like "Paris, Tokyo" find Lupe getting his soulful groove on while talking about taking visits overseas with a little female accomplice, over an A Tribe Called Quest sounding instrumental. He only has one big name on the album where he calls for Snoop D-O double G's help on the appropriately titled "Hi-Definition," where Wasalu spits, "And in my flyness I've become the hero and the sidekick/The rider and the nigga that'll ride with/in ya ear like the maker of the vivrant/asalaam alaikum to the maker of the vivrant." If you understand that line, I fux with you. The strongest conceptual songs are "The Coolest," where he describes the mindset of The Cool and "The Die" which is a toungue twisting, dramatic, line trading expose' with GemStones (formerly known as Gemini).
Lupe is on top of his game,and his potential is scary. Subject matter is never a problem to this 24 year old Hip-Hop wiz kid. For goodness sake, this guy compares street hustling to3 plus minutes of food references ("Gotta Eat"). The downside to this album is where he tries to push the boundaries too far. On a couple rare instances Lupe slips on the annoying crooning/crying "Hello/Goodbye" and on the unnecessary, unsuccesful ladies inspired outro "Go Baby." Overall, this album is mind stimulating and another chapter in the forever growing Lupegacy. His next album, which he describes as his last is titled LupEND...

Tribute to the Pimp

It's about damn time

Guess who has a reality show coming???

Akon puts on a hell of a show...

I must say I was a fan of Akon when he dropped his 2004 debut album, Trouble. But his 2006 release Konvicted seemed to have more of a pop appeal which is not really my taste. But beside my personal preferance of the Senegal Sensation, he has found himself getting into some real life trouble with his performances. The first incident, was where he gave a nasty dance to an underage fan who just happened to be a preachers daughter lol. This is the other incident i'm just hearing about.

More Federal Fuckery

Yes this is supposed to be a music blog, but I'm more concerned with speaking about what needs to be talked about. Earlier this week Major League baseballs all-time leader in home runs, Barry Bonds, was indicted on federal charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. This really made me sick to my stomach when I seen this because it's another case of federal agents doing whatever they want. For years they've been trying to take Barry Bonds down on charges of steroid usage, even though he passed every test he took in his career. Even if he did "juice" up is it ethical for a man to face 30 years in prison over a sport issue? No! The main thing that gets me is the time that has passed since the initial allegation. It's not fair to any person to be under public and private scrutiny without being able to defend themselves, when in reality it's supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. How does the government find the time and money to investigate atheletes and rappers, when there are more important issues going on like wars, nationwide race riots, and disturbing issues like the rape of Megan Williams. This is scary that the judiciary can appear and dissapear at their own pleasure. Celebrity Lynchings -BH

Nigger, yeah I said it...

One of the greatest artists to ever breath, Nasir Jones has decided to drop another album, scheduled for a December 11th release date, the album is titled "Nigger." Many people have spoken out in opposition to the release of this album, names like Oprah, Jesse Jackson, Bill O'Reilly (get out of here), and last but not least the man with the best perm in the world, Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton even went as far as stating, "He's helping out the racists." Now one thing I have learned in life, it's hard to criticize when you don't know about something, you have to study it first. In this case, "it" is Hip-Hop. Every name I said probabably have not heard over a half an hour of Nas in their old bland lives. When it comes to Nas, he is arguably the most introspective, creative, and socially conscious rapper of this era of the genre. Everyone in the Hip-Hop community knows Nas is going to release a body of genius work. Just like when we found out Jay-Z was naming his latest album, "American Gangster," we knew it wasn't going to be a mobsters autobiography, it's a work of art. I heard David Banner say it's funny how they called our ancestors it for centuries, but ounce we start calling each other "niggas" they have a problem with it. We all know that our meaning of "nigga" is different than "nigger." With the support of his label, Def Jam (distributed by Universal) and other big names such as Rev. Joseph "Run" Simmons, Alicia Keys, and LL Cool co-signing his artistic aim, Nas is going to drop something this genre and country really needs.-BH

"Come on Baby" Saigon

This is his first official single, but he's like one of those international players in sports. The ones that play for years overseas then come into the big leagues as seasoned "rookies." Brian Daniel Carenard is a real cat from the street, and he doesn't glorify it even though he's been in and out of the legal system since he was an adolescent. With an array of mixtapes under his belt his much anticipated debut album, "The Greatest Never Told." This album has been continued to suffer from label politics and scrutiny but is now scheduled for an early 08' release date. He has skills...not to mention Just Blaze has his back...-BH