Lil’ Wayne had killer guest spots on two of my favorite hip-hop tracks from last year: Jay-Z’s “Hello Brooklyn” and Kanye West’s “Barry Bonds”. However, much like when I purchased Grand Theft Auto III, I hadn’t experienced the first two installments of the trilogy, so I approached Tha Carter III with a fairly open mind.

I nearly experienced immediate buyer’s remorse. Album-opener “3 peat” (no word if Pat Riley receives royalties) is a dull, “808+dramatic score” song I’ve heard roughly 1,000 times before. Weezy offers the inevitable reminder of the chasm between my life and hip-hop in the album’s first 30 seconds, when he threatens to “run up in that nigga’s house and shoot his grandmother up.” Jesus, man.

Fortunately, all is forgiven with the next song, the standout “Mr. Carter”. The song features Jay-Z, and it’s telling that their verses sound like an epic meeting between two talented MCs rather than Jay passing the torch to Wayne. Serendipitously, both MCs’ last name is Carter; my guess is there aren’t many soul samples of “both of our rapper names have ‘y’ in them”.

After two forgettable songs, the album gain momentum through a middle section that, surprisingly, emphasizes slower, more meditative songs. “Comfortable” starts this batch of songs; it features a Kanye West beat that would sound at home on a John Legend or later-day Common track, and Babyface (still around!) provides a hook that even your mother would love (an acutely aware Wayne says “word to God, my Momma gonna like this one!” during the outro.)

Wayne channels his inner Kool Keith for the next two songs: “Dr. Carter” - set over the most relaxed Swizz Beatz (architect of DMX’s hits) beat I’ve heard - finds him treating other rappers’ ailments (though with greater success than Dr. Octagon); on “Phone Home”, Wayne makes like Black Elvis and touts his other-worldly credentials.

The excellence continues with “Tie My Hands” and “Mrs. Officer”, the “New Orleans song” and “Ooh, Baby song” respectively. The former contains Wayne’s best lyrics on the album:

My whole city under water, some people still floatin
Then they wonder why black people still voting, cause your president’s still chokin
Take away the football team, the basketball team
Now all we got is me to represent New Orleans
No Governor, no help from the Mayor
Just a steady beatin heart and a wish and a prayer

“Mrs. Officer” wins two awards: my favorite NWA reference since the first Game album, and my favorite police siren onomatopoeia since KRS-One. Full disclosure: these are the only two songs that I’ve heard with a police siren chorus.

After the inimitable Kanye returns with “Let The Beat Build”, the album loses steam - with the David Banner-helmed “La La” an intoxicating exception.

The single “Lollipop” best illustrates the disparity between the excellence found in the middle of the album and its eminently skippable end. This song offends in all the wrong ways: lethargic beat; a reference to “lady lumps”; a pretty obvious double entendre; shorties in the club. The song is so bad that I think it would lead the uninitiated to dislike Lil’ Wayne. However, America thinks that this is a number one song by at least four different Billboard chart definitions. There’s a reason my DJ experience consisted of exactly one late-night college radio show.

As evidenced by his prolific output, Lil’ Wayne is not bereft of ideas. Unfortunately, they’re not all good ones. Like most hip-hop albums, Tha Carter III would be improved with tighter editing; for example, a good producer would cut the 10-minute, almost assuredly drug-fueled rant “Don’t Get It”. Also, Wayne’s “Best Rapper Alive” references scattered throughout the album seem misplaced when:

• A: He’s not named GZA.
• B: He’s not even the best rapper in his region.
• C: This album isn’t excellent, much less a classic.

Yet despite these drawbacks, Tha Carter III is a decent purchase. When Lil’ Wayne is on with his flow and a raps over a quality beat, he offers a unique voice in hip-hop that’s confident yet aware, quirky yet inclusive.

DBF rating: 72

Lil Wayne - Mr. Carter - From Tha Carter III