With the release of the Cater III just right around the corner, fans and haters alike are wondering if rapper Lil’ Wayne can live up to the hype. After what seems to be years of pushed back release dates, Wayne has finally set his sites on the June 10th deadline. Lil’ Wayne started off in the rap game when he was just over 9 years old so experience is not a factor when it comes to living up to the hype. Although it may not be based on experience, it is based on the fans and album sells. Perhaps one can say it’s based on reputation since Lil’ Wayne bluntly shouts he’s the “Best rapper alive” on almost every track he appears on. Honestly with the way hip hop has been lately, he may just very well be the “best”. Those that anticipate to see Lil’ Wayne’s downfall, argue that he merely rambles and puts together nursery rhymes over beats. Spectators have even gone as far as saying that he’s had multiple ghostwriters and write none of his lyrics. If that’s the case, every rap artists needs a ghostwriter as of rite now! Not only does Lil’ Wayne recite lyrics from the top of his head, meaning no pad and pencil (like Jay-Z), but he also pens verses and songs for other artists in all genres of music.

In the year of 2006 Lil’ Wayne released a steady supply of mix tapes known as “The Drought.” Using the mix tape scene to his advantage, he unleashed fire on almost every beat from other artists. Although the mix tape scene made him as popular as he is now, he can also credit it to his downfalls. Once mix tape DJ’s realized the buzz the New Orleans rapper created, they began to abuse the voice samples they had of him. When I say “abuse” I mean they were literally throwing the same verse on any beat just so they could release their own mix tapes. In recent interviews Lil’ Wayne barked about mix tape DJ’s saying they were “pathetic” for their unprofessional practices.

What or who can be credited for the soaring success of Lil’ Wayne? At one point and time he was a member of “The Hot Boys” which featured other New Orleans rappers Juvenile, B.G. and Turk. Once the group disbanded due to money issues, Lil’ Wayne was left solo on the Cash Money label. Feeling the need not to give up, Lil’ Wayne chose to pursuit his rap career and took it upon himself to be the front man for the label. He released 500 Degreez which didn’t move the units he expected. Choosing to still “go hard” Wayne started the series known as “The Carter” in which he catapulted to the top of the charts. People started to notice the solo “Hotboy” for his own talents as oppose to a group project.

In an industry where controversy sells, Lil’ Wayne has had more than his share. With rumors regarding his sexuality in the past and recent drug and weapons charges, Lil’ Wayne is the most talked about hip hop artist as of late. He was the target of attack after the death of Pimp C, due to his addiction to the popular street syrup known as “Lean”. So the question remains, with all of these obstacles he’s had to endure, can he live up to the hype of The Carter III? Some critics believe he can while others raised doubtful eyebrows. Personally I believe that image is everything, and as of right now Lil’ Wayne has the personality and swagger to cater to today’s hip hop market. No this isn’t the 90’s where adults ruled rap and hip hop, it’s 2008 meaning the kids decided who’s hot and who’s not, and from the look of Soundscan and Billboard, Lil’ Wayne’s on fire.

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