Although we are still in the early months of 2010, this unenviable distinction will most likely stick with the rapper until the end of the year, this unless another well-established artist commits such an exceptional misstep (which we doubt).
The basic concept in itself, however, was not a bad idea: combining “Weezy’s” rhythmic rap (and powerful "one-liners”) to a more rock and aggressive music.
Unfortunately, two major problems immediately surface from the outset: for one, the very poor quality of the "rock" music found on the album and second, the obvious overuse “auto-tune” - the electronic distortion of the voice, much too present in R&B music and hip hop these days – which only gets annoying after a few minutes of listen and persists until the very end of the album.
Disaster from start to finish
Bad start, with the song "American Star" Lil Wayne introduces us to his new sound, a pathetic punch-rock reminiscent of late night talk show bands. As for the rest of the song, it calls on bad patriotic slogans echoing Kid Rock’s false macho attitude.
After which, we come to notice the bad mixing choices: the voice too much at the forefront and the guitars faded and bland in the background. Furthermore, an indication unreliable, since each song seems to have been mixed independently.
Later comes "Knockout", a songs which starts off on guitar lines as predictable as an Avril Lavigne track, followed by, you guessed it, Lil Wayne's mutant voice trying too hard on a duet with Nicki Minaj. Verdict: it’s juvenile, it’s a miss.
A break in the flow, the song "On Fire" offers a new wave intro before recovering with a warm R&B rhythm much more appropriate.
Fortunately, "Weezy" saw fit to invite Eminem to take the lead on one of the tracks’ verse on "Drop the World", probably the least problematic of the lot. Also well-done are the verses of "Runnin”, which aren’t without charm either.
And to top it all of, a chorus à la Evanescence comes to add another layer of a bad rock to an album that did not needed anymore. Otherwise, all is sorely lacking in good taste and will not please fans of previous albums from Lil Wayne, or for fans of aggressive music. A confirmed miss.
Hits:
Drop the World (avec Eminem), On Fire
Misses:
The Price is Wrong, American Star, Paradice
Cote: 
