Pushed back 10 months from its original April 7 release, Lil Wayne’s Rebirth is finally here. We waited for it, knowing pretty well what was coming our way. After hearing the horrors of “Prom Queen” and “Hot Revolver,” dark omens of what was to come. So, should the fact that Rebirth is terrible surprise anyone?
Slogging through the whole album is quite a chore. Wayne’s vocals are Auto-Tuned and accompanied by a heavy echo, becoming more garbled and tiresome as the album progresses.All the instruments on the album sound like they were taken from an Offspring, Korn, or Blink-182 track (Travis Barker drums on the album). Riffs and chord progressions are repetitive and labored, and many of the solos are in Wayne’s signature aimless style. The tracks fail to differentiate themselves from each other, each one boasting even more boring and forgettable lyrics.
The only track that stands out is “Drop The World,” in which Wayne turns off the Auto-Tune and echo and returns to rap. Eminem, the only featured rapper on Rebirth, shines here, providing some of the best verses on the whole album.
Rebirth is a failure on the same level as 2008’s Dedication 3, a mixtape widely considered Lil Wayne’s worst unofficial compilation. Rebirth does not mean Wayne has crested; it will only create more anticipation for a return-to-form rap album as explosive as Tha Carter III. Wayne had his time to experiment as an “artist,” but now it’s time for Wayne to go back to doing what he does best. At least, let’s hope so.
Voice’s Choice: “Drop the World”
