Tha Carter III (by Lil Wayne, Rap)

common sense media says

Creative rhyming with sex and swearing.

parents & educators say

27% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Lil Wayne is not for kids. His lyrics are explicit and so is his content. Think of a profane word and Lil Wayne surely rhymes to it on this album. Sex is discussed (usually with women as sex objects) on a number of tracks, such as the hit single "Lollipop," an homage to oral sex, in which the rapper describes a woman's body parts graphically and compares oral sex to the candy.

Positive messages: With raps about having lots of money and women, Lil Wayne presents a lifestyle of hedonism. Besides the sexually explicit nature of several songs, Wayne's boastful raps promote self-grandeur.

Violence: Lil Wayne is not about gangsta rap, so there are not many violent lyrics, however in his randomness, Wayne does mention violent acts like baby kidnapping and shooting a gun.

Sex: Not only is sex discussed throughout the CD, most of the references are misogynistic and treat women as sex objects.

Language: Lil Wayne uses every expletive possible on this album and it's rare that a line doesn't have at least one bit of profanity.

Consumerism: Not applicable.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Occasional references to prescription drugs (namely Vicodin) and to getting high. One a side note: Lil Wayne was arrested in early 2008 for drug possession.

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What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about Lil Wayne's popularity. This album was supposed to be released a year ago, it was delayed and tracks were gradually leaked online -- which only added to the anticipation. How do you think this played into Lil Wayne's marketing strategy? How long can an audience wait for an album? Does waiting an extra year increase the hype? Lil Wayne boasts a lot about being the "greatest rapper." Do you think this type of self-promotion helps an artist sell more music? Is this self-pride more acceptable in rap than other musical genres? Why do you think that's so?

What's the story?

Lil Wayne is huge. His single "Lollipop" reached No.1 on the Billboard charts and this album's release has been widely anticipated for months. Combining irreverent lines with a raunchy sensibility, Lil Wayne is a lyrical live wire that doesn't fit the typical mold of rap superstar. THA CARTER III, Wayne's sixth album, includes a variety of producers and collaborators, including Kayne West.

Is it any good?

This CD takes listeners on a chaotic trip into the manic mind of Lil Wayne. At times he's sublime with his word crafting, flowing effortlessly from rhyme to rhyme making words connect in novel ways that fit into his own brand of logic ("We pop 'em like Orville Redenbacher"). But at other times the lyrics appear forced and uninspired. Lil Wayne is at his best when you really feel that his rhyming is a stream of consciousness, but he sometimes stumbles on his own hype and his cockiness trips up his lyrical flow.

The expressive experimentation transfers into the music which is chock full of electronic touches, from the synthed-up effects of his hit "Lollipop" to the mixes and samples used effectively throughout. Lil Wayne also surprisingly does a good job of altering his vocal stylings which keep things interesting.

Music themes & details

Music Details

Released on: June 10, 2008
Label: Cash Money Records
Genre: Rap
Parental advisory: Yes

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp

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What parents & educators say

Based on 15 parent & educator reviews:

27% say language is an issue

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Kidninja
teen, 17 years old

Don't take his lyrics seriously, kids!

This is an amazing album, but kids under around 13 should only listen if they're mature enough. Lil Wayne doesn't take himself too seriously but many of his lyrics could be easily misinterpreted. The opening track "3-Peat" offers fine examples of some of the less appropriate lyrics, especially: "Run up in the n*gga house and shoot his grandmother up" "Get ya baby kidnapped and your baby muthaf*cked" "Don't you ever fix your lips unless you 'bout to suck my d*ck, b*tch" "I told my girl, when you f*ck me better f*ck me good" and, my particular favourite, "Two more inches I'd have been in a casket, according to the doctor I could've died in traffic". On second thoughts, you might not want your kids listening to 3-Peat at all, even if it is the best song on the album.

What other families should know

Music Details

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Genre

Tha Carter III (by Lil Wayne, Rap)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Tha Carter III

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Music themes & details

Music Details

Review It

Review Tha Carter III

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Don't take his lyrics seriously, kids!

good music

no kids

best work so far

great album

Great CD, only for teen ears

TRUE RAP!

CLEAN????

Clean versions?

WE'RE NOT STUPID

5 STARS

Creative rhyming-not about appropriate stuff of course, but still creative

good job

perfect 4 everyone in tha world

parents chill out

Hate it or love it

extreme creative rap album for mature fans

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