 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Tha Carter
Common Sense Media says
Offensive from beginning to end
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that some popular rap CDs are so richly written and produced that they're worth the discomfort of wading through offensive language or even sexist, violent, and racist posturing. Sadly, this is not one of those CDs.
What's the story?
One of the (only) interesting things about THA CARTER by Lil' Wayne is the discrepancy between fan reviews (almost all of which are 100% positive) and professional reviews, which are lukewarm at best. Either the reviewers are sadly out of touch with this artist's audience, or Lil' Wayne has salted the mines, getting lots of friends to post online reviews. The CD seems to go on for way too long (just under 80 minutes), achieving a level of tedium unusual for an album with such richly evocative language, not to mention hot-shot cameos.
Is it any good?
Dismally racist, effortlessly violent, and gleefully misogynist, the lyrics on Tha Carter seem to make an effort to offend everyone equally. The production and performance quality careens wildly from awful to just okay, while maintaining the same repetitive rhythm and rhyme structures throughout -- in a way, this is an astounding accomplishment. The CD has been promoted as Lil' Wayne's "coming of age" album, but it's hard do see any real maturity or change in outlook or perspective.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the qualities that make a work of art transcend questionable comfort levels, and why this one doesn't make the cut.
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| Artist: | Lil Wayne |
| Release date: | June 29, 2004 |
| Label: | Cash Money Records |
| Genre: | Rap |
| Parental advisory: | Yes |
| Edited version available: | Yes |
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