"The Review" by A-lo

Good Morning,

In light of recent happenings, I would like to institute the first annual Groundhog Day Award. This is simply the documentary or drama film I would like to watch again and maybe again on Netflix.

This year the award goes to "The Carter!" A documentary about rapper Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. aka "Lil Wayne."

For 90 minutes I sat wondering why do people become fascinated with him?

NBA players, filmmakers, ESPN analysts, anybody who knows anybody in the hip hop R&B/rap world…He has been featured in songs with Chris Brown, Babyface…Birdman they ALL seem to want to collaborate with him.

The easy answer is that he has no filter. This funky little dude is all "id." The "morality checker" the Ego-Superego has suffocated in a cloud of weed smoke...and we all love someone who rises up to stick the digit, give the finger to The Man (in beats and rhyme).

I do not like that answer. I think to understand Lil Wayne's appeal you have to experience his infectious quality. he is his music. He eats it, breaths it, sleeps it until he created a language of his own.

[lyrics-Lil Wayne]
Yeah
To you forever, from me to you
I heard somebody say "church!" I'ma need a suit
I'ma need a Coupe, I won't need a roof
Flyer then Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice

Perhaps because there has never been anyone there to stop him?...he comes up with lines like "Beetle juice, beetle juice, beetle juice..." and seems very pleased with himself. I for one admire that complete brain fart? It makes him human (or waaaaay too high).

Clearly, what he cares about most are his music and drugs. Weed, weed, weed...groggy from cough syrup? explains his mumbling delivery but not his passionate recording habits. Lil Wayne is not some princely male diva demanding all blue M&M’s be removed from the recording studio catering table, instead, he is in his hotel room, on the tour bus with his recording machine spitting out his lyrics and songs on the spot.

Petulant and sullen he refuses to let media types (journalists, TV DJs) root his music in anyone’s history. When asked to reflect on the possible connections to his home town New Orleans jazz, Lil Wayne promptly sent the befuddled reporter out on his ear. “This is a rap interview! you interviewin' a rappa. I don’t do music &^%!”

Not very bright? Not true. Lil Wayne knows how to work recording equipment and is spot on with his lettuce salad of lyrics. There is no logic to “Beetle juice, beetle juice, beetle juice“ but Lil Wayne who writes nothing down including the volumes of lyrics is able to lip sync almost perfectly to any of his songs.

[lyrics- "S on my Chest"]
Yep, Cash Money, Cash Money
Monsta Boys, Mafia Bitch, Even Cops A Boy,
When You Say You Want Beef,
Then I Got Yah Boy,
Ill Juss Let The Big Mac
Whopp Ya Boy

it's a perfect angry blend of cop hating and fast food culture? (I distinctly heard throw offs of three burger meccas in there McDonald's, Burger King, and Frisch's Restaurants...or gun play : (

Lil Wayne at times plays games with the tiresome questions. To thwart another journalist he makes it clear he has no intentions of running for political office…ever, (I hope)

Here’s the platform he proposed to run on…

As president I would:

Legalize weed
Put coke (cocaine) back in Coke
Do away with child support
End divorce $$$$
Legalize steroids in sports

So, for the record, Mr. Officer

Lil Wayne at heart is a sad, sympathetic- lonely little boy. The film requires subtitles and possibly 2-3 months of listening to tracks from The Carter III (his latest album) but allows you to fully appreciate this eccentric, unfiltered, raw, and powerful artist...Beetle juice beetle juice beetle juice...

Happy Monday.

A-lo