Tha Carter III

The most anticipated release of 2008 that sold a million copies in its debut week.

Tha Carter III is the seventh studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne, released on June 10, 2008, through Cash Money, Universal Motown, and Young Money Entertainment. Arriving after a string of mixtapes and guest spots, it became one of the most anticipated releases of 2008 despite significant leaks and delays. The album features prominent appearances from Jay-Z, T-Pain, Kanye West, Static Major, and others. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling over one million copies in its first week, making it one of the fastest-selling albums in US history.

Quick Facts

Artist

Lil Wayne

Released

10 June 2008

Recorded

2006–2008

Genre

Hip hop; pop rap

Length

77:04

Label

Cash Money
Universal Motown
Young Money

Lore & Background

The road to Tha Carter III was paved with leaks and legal battles. After much of the album leaked online in mid-2007, Wayne released an interim project titled The Leak on December 18, 2007, which included leaked tracks plus four new songs. During production, he worked with a massive roster of producers including The Alchemist, Timbaland, and Kanye West, who reportedly left fifteen joints on a CD during one visit before Wayne asked him to slow down. A copyright controversy arose over the track "Playing with Fire," which Abkco Music Inc. claimed was derived from The Rolling Stones' "Play with Fire." Consequently, the song was removed from all online stores and replaced with David Banner's "Pussy Monster." Despite these hurdles, the album earned widespread acclaim, receiving a Metacritic score of 84 based on 25 reviews.

Reader's Guide

For listeners, Tha Carter III offers a deep dive into Wayne's lyrical versatility and the era's production styles. Key tracks include "Mr. Carter," featuring Jay-Z, which was praised for its verse exchange and nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The album also features "Tie My Hands," noted for its political commentary and despair, and "Phone Home," which uses alien metaphors reminiscent of E.T. While the final cut excluded several planned skits featuring artists like Tyga, Cory Gunz, and 13-year-old Lil Chuckee, the released tracks showcase Wayne's ability to blend humor with serious themes. The album also faced lawsuits from producers Deezle, Bangladesh, David Kirkwood, and Play-N-Skillz regarding unpaid royalties in 2011, highlighting the complex business behind the music.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1	3 Peat	Dwayne Carter, Vaushaun Brooks, Colin Westover	3:19
2	Mr. Carter (featuring Jay-Z)	Carter, Andrews Correa, Sha Ron Prescott, Shawn Carter, Marco Rodriguez	5:16
3	A Milli	Carter, C. Hester, Shondrae Crawford, Quentin Cook	3:41
4	Got Money (featuring T-Pain)	Carter, Faheem Najm, Juan Salinas, Oscar Salinas	4:04
5	Comfortable (featuring Babyface)	Carter, Kanye West, Kenneth Edmonds	4:25
6	Dr. Carter	Carter, Kasseem Dean, David Axelrod	4:24
7	Phone Home	Carter, Eddie Montilla, Andre Lyon, Marcello Valenzano	3:11
8	Tie My Hands (featuring Robin Thicke)	Carter, Robin Thicke	5:19
9	Mrs. Officer (featuring Bobby V and Kidd Kidd)	Carter, Darius Harrison, Bobby Wilson	4:47
10	Let the Beat Build	Carter, West, Harrison, Edward Kendrick	5:09
11	Shoot Me Down (featuring D. Smith)	Carter, Dreshan Smith	4:29
12	Lollipop (featuring Static Major)	Carter, Harrison, Stephen Garrett, James Scheffer	4:59
13	La La (featuring Brisco & Busta Rhymes)	Carter, Lavell Crump, British Mitchell, Trevor Smith, Jr.	4:21
14	Playing with Fire (featuring Betty Wright)	D. Carter, Nicholas Warwar, Jason Desrouleaux, Betty Wright	4:21
15	You Ain't Got Nuthin (featuring Juelz Santana & Fabolous)	Carter, Harrison, Alan Maman, John Jackson, LaRon James	5:27
16	DontGetIt	Carter, Mousa, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus, Rodnae Young, Benne Benjamin, Eunice Waymon	9:52
Total length			77:04

Did You Know?

The album features Static Major, who is credited posthumously following his death in February 2008.
"Lollipop" spent five non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Wayne's most successful solo single.
Multiple planned skits featuring artists like Tyga, Lil Mama, and 13-year-old Lil Chuckee were included in early plans but did not make the final cut of the album.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tha Carter III?

Tha Carter III is Lil Wayne's sixth studio album, released on June 10, 2008, through Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records. It arrived after a period of extensive mixtape work and was one of the most highly anticipated hip-hop releases of that year.

Which major artists appear on Tha Carter III?

The project features high-profile guest verses from industry giants like Jay-Z, Kanye West, T-Pain, and Static Major. These collaborations helped solidify the album's status as a cultural milestone in 2008.

How did Tha Carter III perform commercially upon release?

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart despite facing significant pre-release leaks and delays. Its massive first-week sales eventually led to an octuple platinum certification by the RIAA.