Tha Carter V
by Lil Wayne
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 248 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 202 out of 248
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 248
  3. Negative: 14 out of 248
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  1. Wandile
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    The album is truly amazing, from this piece you are able to observe Wayne's growth as an artist, with him performing at his best on every track. The album also gives a reflection of hip hop, whether you're looking for beats or hard-hitting bars, the flow or the message in the lines, old school or new school, the album combines those elements and it gives life. This album is for everybody
  2. amp19
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    Dynamic, articulate, courageous, outspoken. Just a few of the adjectives that so inadequately describe. Indeed this great human continues to live and grow. We are privileged to again hear the voice of... the best rapper alive.

    This album more than lived up to the hype, music all hip hop-fans can appreciate.
  3. geoffburg
    Sep 30, 2018
    9
    Great album! Been a decade long Wayne fan and this is easily my favorite project!
    The production is hands down the best I have this year..
  4. Iamgaffney
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    This Album is a Raw and Authentic view into the life of Dwayne. Too often do we see artists rap about being strapped up and/or taking/dealing drugs, Rarely do we see artists talk about dealing with life. Wayne goes beyond this by giving a clear, unfiltered view into his post trap life and simultaneously asks listeners to view him as a human (ironically) who's had his ups and downs, yetThis Album is a Raw and Authentic view into the life of Dwayne. Too often do we see artists rap about being strapped up and/or taking/dealing drugs, Rarely do we see artists talk about dealing with life. Wayne goes beyond this by giving a clear, unfiltered view into his post trap life and simultaneously asks listeners to view him as a human (ironically) who's had his ups and downs, yet still persists.… Expand
  5. Gavitor96
    Sep 30, 2018
    10
    Álbum extraordinário, com toda certeza é o melhor trabalho dele depois do C3, compensou e muito a espera, em termos de flow, rimas, tudo, que prazer foi ouvir tudo isso .. BEST RAPPER ALIVE !
  6. theomastermind
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    Excelente álbum, Weezy conseguiu ser maduro o suficiente e introspectivo o bastante para usar storytelling, metáforas e linhas memoráveis em beats com melodias sérias e com samples clássicos, tudo na medida certa. 5 anos de espera e superou minhas expectativas!
  7. dstehr007
    Oct 1, 2018
    10
    Lil Wayne is back for tha carter 5 which is a masterpiece. Wayne shows he can continue to make excellent music.
  8. jimenezenriqu3
    Sep 30, 2018
    10
    Just a great album for any rap fan. Wayne put so much more in this album than he ever has and it is truly great to listen to.
  9. randomo
    Oct 3, 2018
    10
    The album gives us an introspective look into the life of lil wayne. Tracks like dedicate, took his time, and dope new gospel celebrate his greatness. Open Letter, Famous, Mess, Perfect Strangers, and Let it All Work Out are tracks where wayne is at his most honest. He talks about dealing with thoughts of suicide, dealing with fame, dealing with relationships, not dealing withThe album gives us an introspective look into the life of lil wayne. Tracks like dedicate, took his time, and dope new gospel celebrate his greatness. Open Letter, Famous, Mess, Perfect Strangers, and Let it All Work Out are tracks where wayne is at his most honest. He talks about dealing with thoughts of suicide, dealing with fame, dealing with relationships, not dealing with relationships. Dark side of the moon and what about me are strong examples of good wayne love songs. Mona lisa is possibly the best example of storytelling on any wayne album. The way wayne sets up the story with bar after bar after bar after bar is truly impressive. The rest of the songs are mostly just wayne rapping on great beats. The subject matter is what weve come to expect from wayne. Money, women, guns, and homies. Truly a classic… Expand
  10. draediamond
    Oct 1, 2018
    7
    People will overrate it because of the hype, wait, and Wayne's status but this album is good. It's not great but it's good and it's the best work Wayne has done in nearly a decade. Songwriting has been Wayne's weak spot for numerous years but on this album, Wayne surprisingly shows that he still has this skill. The album keeps a consistent mood throughout the album and it's a decent endingPeople will overrate it because of the hype, wait, and Wayne's status but this album is good. It's not great but it's good and it's the best work Wayne has done in nearly a decade. Songwriting has been Wayne's weak spot for numerous years but on this album, Wayne surprisingly shows that he still has this skill. The album keeps a consistent mood throughout the album and it's a decent ending to the Carter series (if it is one). The cringe lines from IANAHB2 are nonexistent and it creates a nostalgic atmosphere as Wayne sounds more like a pre-Carter 4 Wayne. I Can't say the album lived up to a 5 year wait but it is very satisfying. The album is a little longer than it should be (regardless of the 5 year gap) and a couple track replacements would make this a great album but Wayne had a solid outing with this one. Carter V is an album that he and his fans should be proud of.… Expand
  11. AlwaysZilla
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    Album was amazing. Been a fan of Wayne since forever. Way better than carter 4. Listening to this you will like some tracks for sure. Each producer killed the production and Wayne didn't fail to deliver
  12. johnmerryman
    Oct 2, 2018
    9
    Best thing Wayne has done since Tha Carter III. His flow is amazing in many songs and the album has great features. Would highly recommend.
  13. SuchiB14
    Oct 5, 2018
    8
    Lil Wayne is back, finally. Tha Carter album we've all been anticipating. On the first listen of this album it's clearly the best he has put out in years and a huge improvement on Tha Carter IV. Songs like Let it all work out, Mona Lisa, Can't Be Broken and Don't Cry are just **** phenomenal. Tha Carter V is a personal Wayne album and he put his heart into it clearly. The first half theLil Wayne is back, finally. Tha Carter album we've all been anticipating. On the first listen of this album it's clearly the best he has put out in years and a huge improvement on Tha Carter IV. Songs like Let it all work out, Mona Lisa, Can't Be Broken and Don't Cry are just **** phenomenal. Tha Carter V is a personal Wayne album and he put his heart into it clearly. The first half the album is absolute fire, however, the second demonstrates a drop in consistent quality of music and is a bit of a let down. Despite that the album concludes with two brilliant tracks Used 2 and Let it all work out which let the album work out in the end. This album is amazing and Wayne is on top of it again. 8/10.… Expand
  14. biggestrapfan
    Aug 12, 2021
    10
    Great album. The album is truly amazing, from this piece you are able to observe Wayne's growth as an artist, great songs great album 10/10
  15. AhmedMo123
    Sep 5, 2021
    10
    It's the return of the GOAT, It's more of a victory lap after the war he went through, also opening up about his suicide attempt for the first time ever.

    To a Lil Wayne Die hard follower and supporter, Its been a very healing to me during many dark moments throughout my life. We should be grateful and thankful whenever this Legend drops, He's a genius, on another level and the gap is    It's the return of the GOAT, It's more of a victory lap after the war he went through, also opening up about his suicide attempt for the first time ever.

    To a Lil Wayne Die hard follower and supporter, Its been a very healing to me during many dark moments throughout my life.

    We should be grateful and thankful whenever this Legend drops, He's a genius, on another level and the gap is very big now more than ever.

    THE GOAT . 10/10    … Expand
  16. billzhq
    Sep 28, 2018
    10
    Amazing album, from lyrics, features, production and overall refinement of this album, has showcased a classic Wayne bringing back his vintage sound in a bigger way, this album was worth the wait.
  17. amrit
    Sep 28, 2018
    10
    Album was amazing. Been rocking with wayne since 06. Way better than carter 4. Listening to this you will like some tracks for sure
  18. Nick_Mad
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    It is rap masterpiece? Yes it is it’s as awesome as Wayne itself. Best rap album of year
  19. DavidCall360
    Sep 28, 2018
    9
    This by far Lil Wayne's best album since Tha Carter III. The production is amazing, the rhymes are great, his flow is next level on a few of these songs (namely Mona Lisa and Uproar), the features are awesome. It's just a great album. Well worth the wait.
  20. MichelleBarbie
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    Amazing album! Can’t stop listening to it and a huge part of the songs just give me goosebumps all over. Love hearing this weezy!
  21. jesseurena08
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    AMAZING album, wayne finally sounds matured and gets personal on the record and the structure and placement was great. His flow and bars are as sharp as they have been since no ceilings or Tha Carter III , makes me wonder what the hell he was doing on carter IV or ianahb2
  22. musikman91307
    Sep 29, 2018
    8
    Speaking from the perspective of a true Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this album from beginning to end. We got different sides of Wayne, introspective Wayne, story teller Wayne, romance Wayne, etc. and the project feels like a culmination of his past projects (drawing from I Am Not A Human Being, Dedication, Carters, even the Drought 3). Almost every feature on hereSpeaking from the perspective of a true Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this album from beginning to end. We got different sides of Wayne, introspective Wayne, story teller Wayne, romance Wayne, etc. and the project feels like a culmination of his past projects (drawing from I Am Not A Human Being, Dedication, Carters, even the Drought 3). Almost every feature on here delivers (Kendrick, Travis Scott & Snoop Dogg, XXX are the stand outs for me). Mona Lisa is a hip hop classic and my favorite track right now is Let It Fly Ft. Travis Scott where Wayne snaps and shows everyone why he was proclaimed best rapper alive for so many years (and still is to me). He showed on this album why so many artists are influenced by him and the amount of new artists he's birthed (Lil Uzi, K Dot, Young Thug, etc.) A true genius and trend setter, I will always appreciate what he's done for the culture. Contender for album of the year. All that was missing for me was more tracks where Wayne is just snapping with bars, but we received that last year with Dedication 6 so I'm not tripping (if you haven't listened to that tape then go do it now).… Expand
  23. Yeezyducky
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    It's great, it doesnt have those cringy lines that IANAHB 1 and 2 and C4 had, it's lil wayne that matured, and sounds like a new person, also when it comes to music, it's also fantastic.
  24. WTF_
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    Tha Carter V was a great album. Honestly the "critics" are against rap culture...
  25. TrentRey
    Sep 28, 2018
    7
    A very solid produced retirement album from Lil Wayne. Even though some of the songs felt outdated, the album still offered a lot of solid ideas, stories, lyrics, and interested song features. This is a huge step-up from Tha Carter IV and FWA. This album almost feels like three albums because of the length. The only song that doesn't feel like it was made in 2013 is Don't Cry and maybeA very solid produced retirement album from Lil Wayne. Even though some of the songs felt outdated, the album still offered a lot of solid ideas, stories, lyrics, and interested song features. This is a huge step-up from Tha Carter IV and FWA. This album almost feels like three albums because of the length. The only song that doesn't feel like it was made in 2013 is Don't Cry and maybe Open Safe. Overall, this is a very solid album and his best work in years.… Expand
  26. velser
    Sep 29, 2018
    10
    This album exceeded my expectations. Not a single "Bad" Wayne verse
    on here and the lack of **** lines make it even better. This is by far his most personal and darkest Carter album.
  27. deanjacobson_
    Sep 28, 2018
    7
    A great album containing some great tracks showcasing not only Wayne's talent as a hip-hop artist but those who feature on the artist as well. The album, however, was disorganised and did not include a clear structure, which took away from its overall effect. Some good beats and vocals, however, it was not worth the 4 year wait.
  28. fireyose
    Sep 30, 2018
    7
    A solid album that would have been better if some songs did not make the cut. I jump to about a handful of songs. If you are a Wayne fan, this is more of the same, so turn it up loud.
  29. marsman
    Oct 2, 2018
    10
    This album is probably objectively better than Tha Carter III, which is a classic. Every song is good and has something for you to uncover. Wayne elicits every emotion. Psychedelic production, incredible melodies, flows, and out of this world lyrics from the martian.
  30. nikoziko
    Oct 1, 2018
    7
    it aight fam nothing too crazy nothing too bad it was just an aight album with a lot of good and decent tracks but a few weaker ones
  31. pushafan80
    Apr 26, 2022
    10
    Great all around album. I thought it was very well put together. I am not a huge Wayne fan but this was really good.
  32. wildheart
    Nov 11, 2018
    7
    4 years after its initial release date, "Tha Carter V" is finally here, and what a comeback it is for Lil Wayne! Not much was expected from this album - especially back in 2014 - mostly because the rapper's last couple of releases were a bit lackluster. What was expected was something in the vein of "I Am Not A Human Being": an album consisting of a few bangers, a few nice slower and4 years after its initial release date, "Tha Carter V" is finally here, and what a comeback it is for Lil Wayne! Not much was expected from this album - especially back in 2014 - mostly because the rapper's last couple of releases were a bit lackluster. What was expected was something in the vein of "I Am Not A Human Being": an album consisting of a few bangers, a few nice slower and personal songs, too many featured artists and a lot of fillers. But even though "Tha Carter V" is not on a " Tha Carter III" level of quality, it truly feels like Wayne's best album in a long time!

    The rapper was really smart to keep only a few tracks from the original album. One of them, "Mona Lisa," is by far one of the best songs on "Tha Carter V" thanks in big part to Kendrick Lamar. Most of the rest of "Tha Carter V" is recent, which makes the album feel fresh. It's exactly what you'd expect from Lil Wayne: it's a lot of fun, but at the same time, most of the tracks are so well produced... and sometimes very surprising!

    The Nicki Minaj collaboration is quite unexpected and both artists sound really good on it, their chemistry remaining one of the strongest in the hip-hop industry. The "Xxplosive" sample on "Dope N*****" is perfectly used and Snoop Dogg feels right at home on this throwback-track. The production on "Mess" is nothing short of perfect. "Dedicate" and "Uproar" are nice little bangers and Weezy's delivery on them is so great. "Start This **** Off Right", "Demon" and "Perfect Strangers" are the R&B-infused deep cuts we love from Wayne.

    "Tha Carter V" is truly surprising. Lil Wayne's lyrics - usually his weak spot - are sometimes really good on the more personal songs ("Let It All Work Out") and the choices of collaborators are perfect (minus XXXTENTACION, even though his performance actually turns "Don't Cry" into a haunting introduction). Of course, there are more than a few fillers on "Tha Carter V" but it's alright because it wouldn't be a Lil Wayne album without them and they don't distract the listener from the fact that this is the rapper's strongest project in a decade, a true return to form and the comeback no one really expected.

    Key tracks: "Dedicate," Mess," "Mona Lisa."    … Expand
  33. ChrisSoTru
    Oct 24, 2018
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tha Carter V has been released as one of the most highly-anticipated albums in the hip-hop genre, along with long-time holdouts like Dr. Dre's Detox or RZA's The Cure. Since it's announcement, the aesthetic of rap in general has faced plenty of progression in sound and especially flows. Though arguably outdated and surpassed as we feel the welcoming breaths of Late 2018, Carter V remains an exceptional music piece.

    The features keep it at a relevant state, with XXXTentacion's haunting hooks in Don't Cry and Let it Fly including Travis Scott's bouncy trap vibes, who has had an eventful year for the better. The production in many of these tracks are well decorated with the names of Swizz Beatz, DJ Mustard, Metro Boomin', and Ben Billions living up to their roles. Lil Wayne's perspective on all the eventful things that have happened to him throughout the past years is an intriguing subject that keeps listeners alert on the man after a hiatus. A well-done story that can transition from the bittersweet Don't Cry to the bodacious and in-your-face track Uproar to serious business Mona Lisa, a masterpiece of a rap that included the talents of Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar.

    It is, however, disappointing to hear Lil Wayne himself attempt to lead the charge. He is well known for his signature figurative language and craftiness in lyrical content. In this album, I subjectively felt there was not much that truly opened my ears for closer inspection. While he is a renowed artist in the game who came this far with his admirable ability to apply adversity, he does not do much to distinguish this project from the rest. He ends up coming off decent than exceptional, and that is infuriating when the standard for excellence in today's rap should have been far exceeded by Wayne.

    This album had no chance of living up to the hype, but that didn't necessarily mean it was not a good album. For Lil Wayne, this is an essential win for him in a period of downs.    … Expand
  34. gabrielcipriano
    Dec 21, 2018
    10
    The album is for everyone! We see the tremendous growth of Lil Wayne and that the strength, line and bar of hip hop / rap has been getting stronger and stronger. Everyone should hear this.
  35. Giec
    Nov 19, 2018
    9
    Best album made by Wayne after The Carter III, from the first track to the fourteenth is a very good album(Mona Lisa, Dedicated and Open Letter above all), the only bad note is the feat with Nicki. After that point the Carter V goes down until the last 2 recordings that take back the album to an high level
  36. rextree
    Feb 24, 2019
    7
    A very well polished and evolved Weezy. Most of the songs are very strong and it does have potential to be a classic in hip-hop over the coming decades.
  37. calebcorleone
    Feb 1, 2020
    9
    After sitting on this album for a while, it holds up really well. My favorite tracks are probably "Demon" and "Let It Fly," but most of them still hold up & I still find myself going back to most of the album from time to time.
  38. thinkinbout
    Feb 3, 2020
    10
    Best album of 2018. Great album with no skips. The album also gives a reflection of hip hop, whether you're looking for beats or hard-hitting bars, the flow or the message in the lines, old school or new school, the album combines those elements and it gives life. This album is for everybody

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Most Discussed Album of 2018
54
#54 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. NOW Magazine
    Oct 10, 2018
    60
    After the long wait it’s not a disappointing effort, but it’s all over the place.
    Read full review
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Oct 8, 2018
    60
    It’s not that C5 is too little, too late; more that the baton between the generations passed some time ago.
    Read full review
  3. Clash Music
    Oct 5, 2018
    80
    Tha Carter V was never going to be flawlessly executed--the odds were too stacked against it--but it certainly gives the audience the thrill we were hoping for. It’s a return to form, and a triumphant return for one of the greatest of all time.
    Read full review
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