
Hyper-talented, mercurial, unpredictable, prolific, hedonistic, and seemingly unstoppable,
Lil Wayne is, if not the best rapper alive, certainly among the most luridly fascinating. Fresh out of prison and reinvigorated, he's back with
Tha Carter IV, a record rife with more humor, violence, extravagance, and blockbuster cameos than every wan 2011 Hollywood sequel put together. So here's Rhapsody's exclusive guide, featuring an in-depth review of the record itself, an examination of Wayne's extended Young Money crew, a playlist celebrating Wayne's best recent tracks, and our salute to the Monsters of Rap, from Jay-Z to Eminem to, of course, the man himself. Enjoy.

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Is Tha Carter IV another classic? An extended look.
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Life After Rebirth: A deep playlist running down Wayne's latest hits, misses, and oddities
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Monsters of Rap: Jay, Kanye, 50, Wayne and more battle for hip-hop supremacy
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Young Money Talks: Thanks to Drake and Nicki Minaj, Wayne's crew is thriving
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