Lil Wayne’s anticipated album “Tha Carter V”, the fifth album in his “Tha Carter” series, was released on Sept. 28. Due to several business disagreements with fellow rap artist, Birdman, relating to Wayne’s record label, “Young Money”  and family issues, Wayne had been forced to delay the album’s release for four years in total, prior to his release of “Tha Carter IV” in 2011.

Wayne collaborated with several famed rappers such as Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, Snoop Dogg and XXXTentacion. It was also presented on Jimmy Fallon’s, “The Tonight Show” that rapper Drake was cut out from the album due to clearance issues

The beauty of Wayne’s “Tha Carter V” circulates through the development of his song lyrics. The album presents a strong, pressuring tone harboring towards Wayne’s fatherly like life while exploring themes of love, death, suicide and family.

This is made clear with the first track of the album “I Love You Dwayne,” which serves as a personal message from Wayne’s mother; expressing how proud she is of Wayne’s progress on his life and the album itself, while advancing towards XXXTentacion’s collaboration on the track “Don’t Cry.”

Wayne slowly progresses from a slow, solemn tone at the beginning of his album to a more upbeat and lively feeling, while still maintaining his charming sense of storytelling.

The track “Mona Lisa” echoes Wayne and Lamar’s dominating voice of perspective, telling a deceptive story of love and death.

Overall, “Tha Carter V” is favorably good. A listen to the album three or more times creates a feeling of urgency and departure into the future, making one feel as if reality is harsh by nature. The usage of dark themes intertwine the struggle of modern times as well.

The usage of old century synths gives the album an old school feel, pushing back towards the early 2000s. While Wayne does a beautiful job of the consistent display of his personal life, many tracks within the album felt as if beats were forced and completely off, sometimes creating a lyrical mess.

Although “Tha Carter V” isn’t a masterpiece, it’s definitely a great listen and send-off to Lil Wayne’s final album and the beginning of his new journey as a father.