Tha Carter

Tha Carter is the fourth studio album by Lil Wayne, released on June 29, 2004, by Cash Money Records and Universal Records. It opened the series of albums named after his surname.

The story

The album was first planned for late 2003 but was reworked after a change in musical direction and legal complications. Wayne worked in a freestyle, stream-of-consciousness manner rather than from pre-written lyrics. The first single, “Bring It Back,” was released in April 2004. “Go D.J.,” released in October 2004, reached the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100 and became his first mainstream hit as a lead artist. “Earthquake,” featuring Jazze Pha and sampling Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” followed in March 2005.

Sound and production

Mannie Fresh was the primary producer, with additional work by Wayne, Raj Smoove, Leslie Brathwaite and Jazze Pha. The sound kept the New Orleans-rooted Cash Money style of Wayne’s earlier albums, and critics singled out Mannie Fresh’s production and Wayne’s delivery while faulting the album’s length and uneven track list.

Legacy

Tha Carter debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 with 116,000 copies sold in its first week, Wayne’s third top-ten debut. It was the last Lil Wayne album made mainly with Mannie Fresh, who left Cash Money in 2005. The RIAA certified it double platinum in September 2020 for combined sales and streaming.

Released June 29, 2004. More from hip hop in 2004.