The world changed for the better 13 years ago today. On June 10, 2008, “Tha Carter III” was released. Lil Wayne was at his absolute peak, and was the hottest thing going in Summer ’08. When TCIII came out, he went to a whole new level.
This album was packed front to back with bangers. Of course, “Lollipop” was and still is one of the most commercially popular hip hop songs of all time; but Weezy F didn’t just stop there. He also gave us “Mr. Carter,” “A Milli,” “Comfortable,” “Phone Home,” and “Shoot Me Down” all on one masterpiece album. He didn’t have to go that hard for us…but he did.
However, all of the above-mentioned songs, which unequivocally slap, pale in comparison to what I believe is not only the best song on TCIII…but Lil Wayne’s best offering of all time.
That’s right, in this round of “The Aughts Hot or Not,” we’re reviewing the 2008 hit “Let the Beat Build.”
Music Video
As we’ve done in past AHN’s, the music video review is a vital part in our final rating.
In what may be one of the worst crimes in the history of music, “Let the Beat Build” was actually not released as a single, and thus, has no music video to review.
In case you resided under a rock in Summer ’08, here’s the link to get you up to speed on this gem. If you’re familiar with our subject today, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the song is NSFW.
Best Lyric
Believe that, like a true story
Rims big, make the car look like it’s two stories
If I hop out, that’d be suicide
No back seats, call that paralyze
I don’t have a spine, I don’t fantasize
I mastermind, then go after mine
You see I handle mine, I dismantle mine
I tote a tool box, bitch it’s hammer time
I mean, come on. Each line bleeding into the next without effort. The metaphors are perfect, rhyme scheme is flawless, just a stellar batch of lyrics that one would be hard pressed to find any fault.
Worst Lyric
That I am the best rapper alive
I am the best rapper alive
And I will eat you alive
Think I’m lyin’?
Fully aware that a very popular line throughout Lil Tunechi’s entire catalogue is some type of variant of being the best rapper alive; which was possibly true in the early aughts. However, just filling the entire bridge with this reocurring trope seemed a bit repetitive.
Rating
My entire Summer ’08 was pumping Lil Wayne’s Pandora streaming numbers. I can remember Natty Light case races with “Let the Beat Build” and the like as our soundtrack. This song was incredibly strong back then, and it still is now.
Rating: 10 Carson Daly’s
