Lil’ Wayne ­— Tha Carter III

3.5 out of 5 stars

When Lil’ Wayne proclaimed himself the “best rapper alive” on his fifth studio album, Tha Carter II, it was interesting to see how he would back up his statement with his latest record.

Although his album was pushed back from 2007 to 2008, he kept his presence fresh with numerous appearances on other artists’ tracks. However, his moniker began to lose steam until a complete product was released.

With Tha Carter III finally released, it’s safe to say Wayne didn’t miss a beat in boasting about his apparent greatness — for the most part. The best example of this is the song “Dr. Carter,” during which Wayne walks the fine line between confidence and cockiness. In what is meant to be a metaphor, Wayne plays the part of a surgeon saving hip-hop from its current state of mediocre rhymes and falsifying swagger.

From New Orleans, Wayne was faced with the disaster that unfolded during Hurricane Katrina. In a passionate message to help mend a still-broken region, Wayne opens up his heart in “Tie My Hands.” As vulnerable as the event made him and others, he comes back resiliently rapping, “And if you come from under the water then there’s fresh air /Just breathe baby, God’s got a blessing to spare / Yes, I know the process has so much stress / But it’s the progress that fills the best.” It’s a touching track that deserves a lighter in the air.

His collaboration with Jay-Z on “Mr. Carter” is the gem of the album, aligning two of hip-hop’s most recognizable artists together on a soulful beat. Near the end of Jay-Z’s verse, he raps a line that can be viewed as passing the best-rapper torch to Lil’ Wayne — an approving gesture, to say the least.

As strong as Wayne sounds on half of the album, he is unable to give a concrete, cohesive performance that is memorable. Tracks like “Mrs. Officer” and “Playing with Fire” have an unfinished vibe to them, leaving the listener to wonder why they made the cut on an album primed for excellence.

At the same time, middle-of-the-road tracks “Phone Home” and “Let the Beat Build” are chances Lil’ Wayne wasted, as his creative tangents overshadow his lyrical capabilities. On the former, he depicts an alien-like comparison through a repetitive hook but fails to fully stay on topic. In the end, the only line you’ll likely remember is, “I’m rare like Mr. Clean with hair.” Creative, yes, but it has no meaningful relevance.

The performance on Tha Carter III is passing. When looked at as one of the most anticipated albums of the last few years, it leaves a disappointing trail that will keep Lil’ Wayne from being mentioned among the greatest rappers of this generation. Still, 1 million albums sold in the first week is a good indication that he is doing something right.

[Reach reporter Edwin Ortiz at arts@thedaily.washington.edu.]