Tha Carter II

Although he was once the youthful mascot of the Cash Money crew, Lil Wayne has proved to be the class of the operation. Cash Money records has usually turned heads more with the menacing bounce of their beats than the dazzling flows of their MCs, but on Tha Carter II, Wayne spits some genuine fire. The lively, full-bodied production—which dips into classic soul, Jamaican dancehall, and Iron Maiden—amps up the drama while bringing out surprising warmth from Wayne’s gravelly purr. His repeated claim on one track to being the “best rapper alive” may be a little dubious, but in truth, he ain’t that far off.