Confidence Has No Budget

Lil’ Wayne “Dr. Carter” – “Dr. Carter” is essentially an advice song in which Lil’ Wayne — starring as a doctor in a hip hop emergency room — offers words of wisdom to rappers who lack his skills and originality. Taken at face value, it’s very amusing and his craft is dazzling, but really, this is more than just a goofy, boastful skit extended to a full-length track; it’s the sound of a genius who is totally exasperated by the people who ought to be considered his peers. Throughout Tha Carter III, Wayne repeatedly suggests that he belongs in the company of acknowledged greats — Biggie, Tupac, Jay-Z, Andre 3000 — and he’s not wrong. He’s an absolutely brilliant MC who can make even terrible songs sound good simply by gracing the track, and he has a persona and gift for lyricism that is unmatched by anyone else in his age group. This is the frustration at the heart of “Dr. Carter” — Wayne isn’t bagging on anyone but the rappers of his generation, and in every moment of the song, you can hear his disappointment. This is a man who wants competition, and not just from guys ten years older than him. He seems desperate for a challenge, but more than that, he comes across like a person who just wants more good music, and for everyone else to raise their standards. When the track picks up at the end of each verse, Wayne sounds as earnest as an evangelist, and his intensity conveys a deep, passionate love of hip hop that totally eclipses the requisite egomania of a top MC.

Also, oh my GOD, this track. I already loved Swizz Beatz and have been wondering for some time why he doesn’t get the awe and respect he clearly deserves, but “Dr. Carter” takes it all to the next level. It’s not quite like any other Swizz composition — there’s no synths, the beat isn’t non-stop euphoria. It’s low key and organic, with a jazz-funk swing in the verses that shifts into a cinematic, symphonic grandeur as Wayne’s rap builds up to a crescendo. Swizz makes Wayne sound brave and heroic, and altogether, the piece is incredibly inspiring. Whether you’re a rapper or not, “Dr. Carter” will make you want to do better, and to aspire to its greatness. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)