Tha Carter

When Tha Carter hit shelves on June 29, 2004, Lil Wayne was already a veteran of the Cash Money roster, but this album changed the stakes. His fourth studio LP, released through Cash Money and Universal, traded some of his earlier party-ready bounce for a sharper, more introspective edge. Mannie Fresh handled most of the production, layering his signature trunk-rattling bass over Wayne's newly confident flow. Fresh left the label shortly after the album dropped, making this a last great collaboration between the two.

The record pulled together 21 tracks, running about 79 minutes, and it introduced Wayne's alter ego "Weezy" to a wider audience. Lead single "Go D.J." became his first big solo hit, cracking the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, moving 116,000 copies in its first week. Critics took notice of Wayne's growth, and the project earned a platinum certification from the RIAA in September 2020, long after its original release.

Tha Carter kicked off a franchise that would define Wayne's career. Sequels followed in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2018, and 2025, with Tha Carter III eventually winning a Grammy. In 2026, Wayne launched a 20th-anniversary tour celebrating the whole series, adding 25 new dates with 2 Chainz and The Game. He has also teased that Tha Carter VII might be on the way, though he's hinted the title could change. The original album remains a cornerstone of Southern hip-hop, a moment when a young rapper from New Orleans found his voice and set the stage for everything that came next. [edit]