Lil Wayne — Tha Carter LP

The album that marked the beginning of one of hip-hop’s most celebrated series, Tha Carter finds Lil Wayne stepping into his own as both a lyricist and superstar. Released in 2004, the album introduced a sharper, more mature Wayne while laying the foundation for the legendary Carter saga that would follow.

Featuring standout tracks like “Go DJ,” “Bring It Back,” “BM J.R.,” “This Is the Carter,” and “Who Wanna,” Tha Carter captures Wayne’s evolution from Hot Boys standout to one of rap’s defining voices.