Time flies… Lil Wayne in 2004 was a teenager operating on a different frequency than everyone else in rap. Still a member of Cash Money Records and Hot Boys, Wayne was transitioning from group rapper to undeniable solo force. That year he dropped “Tha Carter,” an album that quietly announced the arrival of something special. The project showcased a young Wayne with an appetite for wordplay that felt unmatched for his age. He was rhyming with a recklessness and creativity that older veterans could not manufacture. Lines came in waves, stacked with imagery and internal rhyme schemes that rap fans had rarely heard constructed so naturally. At just 21 years old, Wayne was already building the foundation for what would become one of rap’s greatest runs. #rapmusic #lilwayne #youngmoney