I don’t know a single person that isn’t happy for my guy Weezy right now. I feel like he deserves all the praise he’s been getting these last couple of weeks, as he enters into the final stages of his legendary career. However, don’t let it fool you, Wayne can still spit, showing us some pretty quaility bars in the original version of “Dedication 6.” Since the man is being held out from releasing an album by some very evil people, “D6: Reloaded” might be our best opportunity to hear one of the top 5 rappers (Dead Or Alive) spit over something/anything that is his.

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TOP 5

HONORABLE MENTION. BACK FROM THE 80’S

“Back From The 80’s” contains perhaps the most interesting instrumental Wayne has rapped over this year. It samples Kid Ink’s pop heavy “Tell Somebody,” a track that sounds like something you would hear at a hippies brunch in Brooklyn.

Wayne ignores what the beat asks for, instead rapping like a mad man from start to finish. At first, his rapping sounds pretty weird, but as the song goes on, you’ll find yourself saying “This s–t is actually kinda tight!”

 

 

5. BIG BAD WOLF

Wayne is clearly trying to make the ‘Guinness Book of World records’ for most outlandish things said in a four minute span on “Big Bad Wolf.”

Wayne goes absolutely H.A.M. on “Big Bad Wolf.” Over Blac Youngsta’s simple “Hip Hopper” beat, Wayne literally raps non-stop without taking a kit-kat break. It’s really astonishing to listen to, especially if you take the time to comprehend all the crazy s–t he’s saying on it.

Did Wayne just find a way to incorporate Antetokounmpo’s name into his raps? Give this n—a the crown, right now!

 

 

4. MAIN THINGS

So many artists tried to kill Tay K’s “The Race,” but I’m not sure if any of them killed it like Wayne did on “Main Things.”

This song has that heavy southern vibe to it, which means it fits the New Orleans born rapper perfectly! While he does drop some pretty decent bars on the track, it’s his singing that I think steals the show here. No it ain’t some Luther Vandross s–t, but it’s some s–t that I think makes the beat sound extra dynamic.

 

 

3.BLOODY MARY

Did you know that at one time in my life I thought Juelz was better than Wayne?

While we never got an actual album from Wayne and Juelz in the past, I’m happy to hear that they are still close enough to make loose tracks like this one. On “Blood Mary,” both rappers spit over this fast paced/triller version of Pac’s “Hail Mary” track, making the art of rap sound really easy with their serious punchlines and aggressive lines. It’s like a blast from the past for their fans, as it has this gritty/low quality sound that makes it feel like it was made on the street corner.

Bruh, Wayne and Juelz blacked out on this song! I legitimately think that both of their verses are two of the best I’ve heard in 5-10 years.

 

 

2. FOR NOTHING

“For Nothing” is so cold! It’s the type of Weezy that I believe actually mobbed back in the day.

DJ Drama starts the track off discussing this conversation he had with Wayne about dropping yet another Dedication Mixtape. As usual, his animated/boisterous voice will amp you all the way up to hear the tape.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Wayne when he experiments, but I think I love him a little more when he straight up raps like he does on “For Nothing.” There’s no gimmicks in Weezy’s verses, no mumbling, just straight up bars that contain so many punchlines that you will have to hear it at least twice to really comprehend them. It’s a lyrical exercise for Wayne on this song,  and I love every moment.

 

 

1. FAMILY FEUD

Ironically, Wayne and Drake prove the Young Money family aren’t feuding on ‘Family Feud’.

Drake and Wayne have been catering to different types of audiences this year, never really getting a chance to cross paths all that much. Well all that changed today, as by the very end of the year they decided to collaborate on a remix to Jay’s ‘Family Feud’.

Drake focuses on his ability to unite on his verse, calling a semi-truce to Meek Mill, discussing his willingness to pay Weezy everything he’s owed from Cash Money, and even detailing conversations he had with both Kaepernick and Diddy in the last couple of days. I guess Drake went into Urkels transformation chamber and came out Minister Farrakhan.

Wayne focuses more on wordplay on his verse, rhyming with the same syllable over and over again. I wouldn’t say he had a better verse than Drake, but I will say he had a more talented one.

We gotta free Carter 5! I need to hear 15 or 16 songs with this type of quality.

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SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. FOR NOTHING (5/5)

2. GO BRAZY (4.5/5)

3. WEEZY N MADONNA (3/5)

4. BIG BAD WOLF (4/5)

5. SICK (3.7/5)

6. FAMILY FEUD (5/5)

7. ABRACRADABRA (4/5)

8. BACK FROM THE 80’S (4.6/5)

9. GUMBO (3.9/5)

10. DROWNING (4/5)

11. BACK TO SLEEP (4.3/5)

12. THOUGHT IT WAS A DROUGHT (3.8/5)

13. GROUPIE GANG (4.3/5)

14. DON’T SHOOT EM (3.8/5)

15. 2 HOT FOR TV (4.4/5)

16. KREEP (4.5/5)

17. FREAKY SIDE (4.1/5)

18. MAIN THINGS (4.8/5)

18. LIGHT YEARS (3.8/5)

19. BLOODY MARY (5/5)

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OVERALL RATING

(8.2/10)

 

I may have gotten tired of Wayne’s music at one point in my life, but never have I questioned his ability to rap. In my opinion, the Wayne that you get on this Mixtape is the same Wayne you got for the last 7-8 years, and you can even argue that he’s hungrier now. Not only is his punchlines as hefty as they’ve ever been, but on many of the songs you get this relentlessness from him that reminds you why he’s one of the greatest of all time. My theory is that his swag is no longer as unique as it once was, so he can no longer get away with effortless bars like he did on tracks like “Pop Bottles” back in the day.

Unfortunately, ‘good’ Wayne means a lot of reckless lyrics. I’ll keep it real with you, I got a little tired of hearing how much he’s going to “F–k my B–tch” on this Mixtape. Nonetheless, that’s Wayne in his purest form, so I guess I gotta live with it.

You know what’s so impressive about Wayne’s Dedication series? On every episode he picked the most popular hip hop beats to rap to, and each time he finds a way to fit in (Do you understand how hard that is?). Hip Hop has changed so much since his first Dedication, yet Wayne has done his homework, finding a way to assimilate quite nicely. Let’s be real, can you see any other rapper being able to do this? I’ll answer that: No!