Lil Wayne

“Tha Carter II” (Cash Money/Universal)

Compare to: Hot Boys, Juvenile, Big Tymers

REVIEW: 4 / 5

In short: Look out Flip and Romeo, with “Tha Carter II,” 24-year-old rapper Wayne proves to be the best of the “Lil” rappers.

Brought to us by Cash Money Records, the label that introduced us to the term “bling bling” and taught us how to “Back That Azz Up,” “Tha Carter II” is New Orleans rapper and former Hot Boy Lil Wayne. His new album is the latest and most convincing case for the current dominance of mainstream rap music in “the dirty South.”

Although many other modern MCs tend to aggressively bark their lyrics, Wayne possesses a smooth, easy flow, almost reminiscent of Snoop Dogg and Tupac. The nonchalant way Wayne spits his tales of life as a gangsta makes him sound equal parts coolly sinister and wise beyond his years, like a hardened O.G. with nothing left to prove. Wayne, however, is also capable of stepping up the intensity, as he does on “Fly In” and “Best Rapper Alive.”

Not only is Wayne’s rapping extremely versatile, his producers prove themselves to be up to the task of creating a variety of well-executed beats to accompany the rhymes. Tracks range from the traditional funky drum machines and bleating synths of “Fireman” to the reggae-flavored rhythms of “Mo Fire,” making “Tha Carter II” a surprisingly diverse listen.

Wayne might not be as “out there” as Outkast or as laugh-out-loud funny as Ludacris, but with “Tha Carter II,” the creative young rapper nonetheless proves he deserves a prominent place in the southern rap movement.

-Joshua Haun