Tha Carter III
by Lil Wayne
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 380 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 274 out of 380
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 380
  3. Negative: 65 out of 380

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  1. BartSimpson
    Jan 18, 2009
    0
    Ugh. disgustingly overrated. he's sounds brain dead and the beats are all either similar, annoying, or uninspired. plus horrible lyricism. really find it hard to believe that this garbage album appeared in so many top ten lists. what's next?
  2. Stoo
    Jul 20, 2008
    10
    Guess what ? It's an amazing album. It's crazy controversial because it's audaciously and crazily good, and different, and it scares those who can't deal with something that is actually progressive quality music developing out of the mainstream rap they were already becoming way out of touch with. When all the reviews of an album are mostly very positive, praising its Guess what ? It's an amazing album. It's crazy controversial because it's audaciously and crazily good, and different, and it scares those who can't deal with something that is actually progressive quality music developing out of the mainstream rap they were already becoming way out of touch with. When all the reviews of an album are mostly very positive, praising its uniqueness, or reviews that give it a 0 saying "OMG THIS IS HORRENDOUS TRASH I AM PERSONALLY OFFENDED", you KNOW that there is something good going on there. every innovative artist faces the same narrow-sighted critics.… Expand
  3. sashaj
    Sep 6, 2008
    10
    I was expecting good from Lil Wayne on this album considering the horrible guest appearences of him on various songs in the months prior to the release. On June 5th, a friend of mine sent me a link where I could download the album. I did, and after hearing 3 Peat and Mr. Carter I was amazed and decided that I would buy it in stores. After I bought it I thorougly listened to it and decided I was expecting good from Lil Wayne on this album considering the horrible guest appearences of him on various songs in the months prior to the release. On June 5th, a friend of mine sent me a link where I could download the album. I did, and after hearing 3 Peat and Mr. Carter I was amazed and decided that I would buy it in stores. After I bought it I thorougly listened to it and decided that this is the first album where I didn't have to skip any songs. Some might say the album did not have had a concept or a general idea but trust me it did. The general message was: All of these songs are the new Lil Wayne.… Expand
  4. rayb.
    Jun 11, 2008
    6
    Not bad, but Lil Wayne is no lupe! The album is entertaining but it lacks provocative lyrics and interesting concepts. But there are some awesome beats and songs on this album!
  5. KrishB
    Jun 18, 2008
    0
    This album is straight garbage and Lil Wayne is overrated trash.
  6. YeahYeah
    Jun 20, 2008
    9
    Very good album. Wayne has shown growth with concept tracks and introspective lyrics. With an all round very good album with tracks for everybody. Wayne can do better basically cuz he gets better every year but this album shows his growth.
  7. CedricW.
    Jul 16, 2008
    0
    This shit sucks monkey ass
  8. PaulC
    Jul 16, 2008
    9
    One of the best rap albums in years.
  9. Joe
    Jul 17, 2008
    9
    Solid mix of lyrical swag and though provoking lyrics. Wayne delivers and with incredible sales has put Hip Hop back on top.
  10. JacobM.
    Jul 2, 2008
    10
    This is what hip-hop needs: Creativity. I would love to see Wayne pick some new topics to tackle, but even when he says the same thing as every other rapper, he does it in a completely new way. He is way out there, and I like that.
  11. JohnG.
    Jul 5, 2008
    6
    Good, but not great. Wayne seems to force a lot of his raps....too many references to pop culture to be considered as creative, and when you recite a rap from another song, that's just filler. Producing is flawless, but the content is less than spectacular. Kanye and Lupe are the best rappers alive, not he.
  12. CaseyN
    Jul 8, 2008
    6
    From an artist claiming to be the greatest alive this album severly disappoints. Lack of original tracks really makes this album average. While there are songs such as Dr. Carter, where he really shows his skills, there are others on the album in which you feel like you have heard from most other artist out. Flow from Wayne is also somthing holding him back heavily, no pronunciation or From an artist claiming to be the greatest alive this album severly disappoints. Lack of original tracks really makes this album average. While there are songs such as Dr. Carter, where he really shows his skills, there are others on the album in which you feel like you have heard from most other artist out. Flow from Wayne is also somthing holding him back heavily, no pronunciation or empahsis really makes it worse.… Expand
  13. BennyA
    Aug 9, 2008
    6
    I got the hype for Carter II, but everything after that, including this...the hype is somewhat mind-boggling to me as he's never able to live up to it. He picks great producers, but I can't help but get the feeling he just wasn't trying with his flow anymore. People are like "oh, that's what makes it interesting and awesome!" I say...no, he recorded this all drunk and I got the hype for Carter II, but everything after that, including this...the hype is somewhat mind-boggling to me as he's never able to live up to it. He picks great producers, but I can't help but get the feeling he just wasn't trying with his flow anymore. People are like "oh, that's what makes it interesting and awesome!" I say...no, he recorded this all drunk and high in one take. For real. Not to mention for every nice punchline he makes there are also really stupid ones: "my back, my neck / isn't it weird how that song isn't old yet?" And to the person below that said hip-hop isn't music: grow the hell up. Seriously.… Expand
  14. tim
    Sep 13, 2008
    4
    Insanely unoriginal. But what would you expect with a guy who has Lil' in his name? He tries that whole robotic vocal thing that everyone and their dog is doing and he's just a sleezy stereotype.
  15. JeffP
    Sep 20, 2008
    10
    The best album I have ever heard in my life! People hate Wayne because he uses the auto-tune but he only uses it on Lollipop, Got Money and the hook of You Ain't Got Nuthin. If you REALLY listen to it, he is hands down the greatest MC to ever live, and how he took his time to come out with the album proves it. I love it.
  16. DeepA.
    Jan 30, 2009
    9
    This is the best rap album from 2008. Nearly no filler and on an album with this many tracks, its a feat. How can anyone not like his flows? On 'Dr. Carter', he flows like a poet. Its impressive without beats and with them, he's knocked it out of the park!
  17. JesseJ
    Feb 8, 2009
    9
    The beat production is eclectic, and Lil' Wayne adapts to all of them like a chameleon. His lyrics from this album get stuck in my head all the time!
  18. ZekeM
    Sep 13, 2009
    0
    Lil Wayne is overly overrated and i think its because fans of other genres like him due to his watered down music. The Carter II is a lot better than this; if you ask any core hiphop fan they will tell you that this album is a massive flop. It is a massive dissapointed that people see him as the "best rapper alive". . . I could name 10 albums that are better than this but dont have a Lil Wayne is overly overrated and i think its because fans of other genres like him due to his watered down music. The Carter II is a lot better than this; if you ask any core hiphop fan they will tell you that this album is a massive flop. It is a massive dissapointed that people see him as the "best rapper alive". . . I could name 10 albums that are better than this but dont have a higher rating on metacritic (N).… Expand
  19. jarvist
    Jun 11, 2008
    10
    It lived up to the hype instant classic I can't stop listening to it since I heard the leak 2 weeks before the actual release
  20. DemicoL
    Jun 12, 2008
    10
    One of the greatest rappers of this generation! Weezy did it big with this album; he definitely deserves it. Favorite: Mr. Carter Least Favorite: Mrs. Officer
  21. MatthewC
    Jun 12, 2008
    10
    In tha family, weezy done it again!!! He delivered this album with power, and has changed a lot, but for the best. Keep it up weezy!!!
  22. PatrickN
    Jun 12, 2008
    5
    There's absolutely no reason that Lollipop should be on this cd. It had already been played out by the time III dropped because of the leaks, so Wayne should've just relegated it to mixtape material. There are some solid songs, but like a friend of mine said, "it just doesn't sound inspired."
  23. Mike
    Jun 13, 2008
    5
    Ok, the album is entertaining, but lyrically it doesnt hold a candle to The Cool, American Gangster, or even Graduation. I'm not saying wayne is bad, he's got a lot of swagger but that doesn't correlate with talent! Both Kanye and Jay-z make wayne sound like an idiot on his own album. Both jay's verse on mr. carter and Kanye's verse on lollipop blow wayne out of Ok, the album is entertaining, but lyrically it doesnt hold a candle to The Cool, American Gangster, or even Graduation. I'm not saying wayne is bad, he's got a lot of swagger but that doesn't correlate with talent! Both Kanye and Jay-z make wayne sound like an idiot on his own album. Both jay's verse on mr. carter and Kanye's verse on lollipop blow wayne out of the water. They are both just so much more creative and have a much better flow!… Expand
  24. zorg
    Jun 13, 2008
    5
    So overrated its unreal. A handful of nice tight beats. His rhymes are smart, but miles below the underground scene. His flow is okay, but too many disjointed jams. NOT the best of the year. NOT the best rapper alive. Not even close.
  25. dimitriusf
    Jun 16, 2008
    10
    This is by far one of waynes best performances widely spreading his abilities to be more than just a hardcore gangster rapper but a laid back different mellow lyricist who speaks for the people. Lil Wayne gets mad respect from me and I believe he is the best rapper out right now and this cd better go diamond.
  26. NormanY.
    Jun 17, 2008
    10
    All-around HOT album, he could have kept the phone home song. Other than that he has stepped his game up and is all alone at the top.
  27. ArangeofJ.
    Jun 22, 2008
    10
    What is wrong with the user's giving bad reviews on this. Wayne is in his prime , and carter 3 is an essential. The record is so broad and wayne touches on everything, every on alt. rock which Lupe failed miserable on the cool with the collab with UNKLE. Lupe completely ruined UNKLE's song and it was a mess. Wayne comes out on top when comparing carter with the cool. Cool had What is wrong with the user's giving bad reviews on this. Wayne is in his prime , and carter 3 is an essential. The record is so broad and wayne touches on everything, every on alt. rock which Lupe failed miserable on the cool with the collab with UNKLE. Lupe completely ruined UNKLE's song and it was a mess. Wayne comes out on top when comparing carter with the cool. Cool had horrible beats and lupe was all over the place and shitty production even production from fall out boy ( wtf?). Carter 3 is legit as it gets.… Expand
  28. AndrewG
    Jun 23, 2008
    9
    My favorites are the weird tracks: Phone Home, Dr. Carter, and Mrs. Officer in particular. Sorta reminds me of Dr. Octagon at points. The single-ready songs are solid as well, but the album is particularly good because of the tracks that twist things up.
  29. JamSession
    Jun 24, 2008
    10
    A must have...it has sold well over a million, that should tell you something. The hip hop world will be taken to another plateau with this album. Lil wayne was featured in The New Yorker last year and even they agreed, he's the "best rapper alive".
  30. ToddS.
    Jun 26, 2008
    7
    Not quite a classic, but definitely one of the better rap albums to come out in a long time. It's unfortunate that so much material leaked prior to C III's release. Could have been one of the all time great albums. The weak bonus tracks actually weigh the album down. Nonetheless, Weezy F. Baby is a great talent and if it wasn't for him, Ghostface and Bun B...hip hop would be dead.
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Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best Album of 2008
16
#16 Most Discussed Album of 2008
5
#5 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Filled with bold, entertaining wordplay and plenty of well-executed, left-field ideas, Tha Carter III should be considered as a wild, somewhat difficult child of Weezy's magnum opus in motion, one that allows the listener an exhilarating and unapologetic taste of artistic freedom.
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  2. Boston Globe
    80
    That said, it's not an instant classic, but it is the best rap album since Kanye West dropped "Graduation" last year.
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  3. Hartford Courant
    80
    We should have known. If his raspy, cartoonish voice didn't mark him as different, his quick wit, offhanded wordplay and quirky subject matter should have in a genre populated largely by grim-faced imitators.
    Read full review
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