Lil' Wayne Translates Street Cred to Album Sales
Tha Carter III hits record stores today.
Lil' Wayne has the rap game figured out.
After appearing on Juvenile's 1998 mega-hit, "Back That Thang Up," with lyrics that said, "Now, after you back it up, the stop/ Wobbly, wobbly, drop, drop it like it's hot," he reinvigorated his career by not focusing on chart success but rather increasing his street credibility that has led him to drop the best rap album since the release of Kanye West's Graduation last year.
In order to obtain his street cred, Lil' Wayne released a slew of mixtapes (much like Lupe Fiasco has done in recent years) that repeated the notion that he is the best rapper of all time. And after saying that he is indeed the best rapper alive over and over on the tracks of rappers that many considered to be better than Lil' Wayne, people have started to believe it.
His street cred has led to success on the charts, specifically on Tha Carter II, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard, and will translate into the success of Lil' Wayne's newest album (released today).
And with the immensely popular single, "Lollipop," Lil' Wayne figures to have his Tha Carter III challenge Coldplay for the top spot on the charts this week.
How far he has come.
