''Free Weezy Album'' (abbreviated as ''FWA'') is the eleventh
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
by American rapper
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. He is often regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, as well as one of the greatest rappers of all ...
. It was released on July 4, 2015, by
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne in 2005. It was launched as an imprint of Cash Money Records — a joint venture colloquially branded as Young Money Cash Money Billionaires (abbreviated as YMCMB ...
and
Republic Records
Republic Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). Based in New York City, it was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially ...
, exclusively on
TIDAL. It was released on
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...
and
Apple Music
Apple Music is an audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users can select music to stream to their device on-demand, or listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the sister internet radio stations Apple Musi ...
on July 3, 2020, to commemorate its fifth anniversary, though some samples were changed due to clearance issues, and some tracks are absent completely.
Background
On December 4, 2014, just five days before Lil Wayne's ''
Tha Carter V
''Tha Carter V'' is the twelfth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne. It was released on September 27, 2018, by Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records. The album's release date coincided with the day of Lil Wayne's 36th birthday. T ...
'' was due to be released, Wayne issued a statement saying the album would not be released on its expected release date, due to his displeasure with
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is an American record label founded in 1991 by brothers Ronald "Slim" Williams and Birdman (rapper), Bryan "Baby" Williams. The label gained prominence in the late 1990s for having signed and released albums for New Orleans– ...
label-boss
Birdman, not wanting to release the album although it had been completed. Wayne also expressed his feelings by stating he felt both he and his creativity were "being held prisoner". On January 20, 2015, Wayne
self-released
Self-publishing is an author-driven publication of any media without the involvement of a third-party publisher. Since the advent of the internet, self-published usually depends upon digital platforms and print-on-demand technology, ranging fr ...
''
Sorry 4 the Wait 2'', a mixtape to compensate for the continued delay of ''Tha Carter V''. It is the sequel to 2011's ''
Sorry 4 the Wait
''Sorry 4 the Wait'' is the tenth mixtape by American rapper Lil Wayne, named as an attempt to apologize for the continued delay of his ninth album, ''Tha Carter IV''. Wayne said the mixtape would have about ten songs and be similar to '' No Cei ...
'', which served for the same purpose during the delay of his ninth album, ''
Tha Carter IV
''Tha Carter IV'' is the ninth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne, released on August 29, 2011, through Cash Money Records, Universal Republic Records and Young Money Entertainment. Recording sessions for the album began in late 2008, sho ...
'' (2011). Upon ''Sorry 4 the Wait 2''s release, it was noted Wayne
disses Birdman and Cash Money Records, several times throughout the mixtape. On January 28, 2015, it was reported Wayne filed a $51 million lawsuit against Birdman and Cash Money Records over the delay of ''Tha Carter V''.
On the 5 year anniversary of the initial release, the album was made available on all streaming platforms in 2020. It included the bonus track "We Livin' Like That" but is missing original tracks "I Feel Good", "Thinking About You", "He's Dead" and "Without You". Additionally, many tracks had production changes to avoid sample clearance issues."
Release and promotion
In February 2015, due to ''Tha Carter V''s continuous delay, Wayne announced a ''Free Weezy Album'', would be released prior to the fifth installment in his popular series. In June 2015, Wayne announced he joined fellow American rapper
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...
's
TIDAL, as an artist owner, kicking off the partnership by exclusively releasing a single on the service titled "Glory". The album's
cover art
Cover art is a type of artwork presented as an illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product, such as a book (often on a dust jacket), magazine, newspaper ( tabloid), comic book, video game ( box art), music album ( album ar ...
and track-listing were unveiled on July 3, 2015. After the album was released on July 4, 2015, exclusively to
TIDAL, ''Free Weezy Album'' had been streamed over 10 million times in first week of availability.
On July 3, 2020, the album was re-released on all platforms. In addition to this, multiple songs such as "Glory", "Pick Up Your Heart" and others were altered in order for sample clearances.
For the week of July 18, 2020, ''Free Weezy Album'' entered and peaked on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart at number 77.
Critical reception
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. ''
The Atlantic
''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science.
It was founded in 185 ...
'' positively stated, "''Free Weezy Album'' at first seems like pure swagger. But then you realize what's really on the rapper's mind" and critiqued the first few tracks, although praised closer "Pick Up Your Heart".
''
HipHopDX
''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of Hip hop music, hip hop music criticism and news. ''HipHopDX'' has over 3.5M monthly readers, the website encompassing hip hop news, interviews, music, and reviews. The website's founder and CEO is Sharath C ...
''s Ural Garrett enthusiastically said, "''Free Weezy Album'' features both that lovely stream-of-consciousness lyricism and oddly refreshing conceptual themes that made him so worthwhile. Wayne sounds like he finally gets it." ''
Uproxx
Uproxx Studios (stylized as ''UPROXX'') is an American music, entertainment and popular culture website and content studio. It was founded in 2008 by Jarret Myer and Brian Brater. The website was acquired in 2014 by Woven Digital (which later ...
'' wrote very favourably, "''Free Weezy Album'' is proof Lil Wayne is on his way back" going on to say, "invigorated by his long, drawn-out dispute with Cash Money Records, Wayne seems to have new life in him on this impromptu project. For the first time since ''Tha Carter III'', Wayne has put out a body of work that has inspired beats, as well as meaningful content", finishing the review with "Wayne has some kinks to continue to work out, but for an artist whose name was becoming more of a punchline with each release, ''FWA'' is a huge step forward."
Track listing
;Notes
* signifies a co-producer.
* "He's Dead", "I Feel Good", "Thinking Bout You" and "Without You" are removed on
Apple Music
Apple Music is an audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users can select music to stream to their device on-demand, or listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the sister internet radio stations Apple Musi ...
and
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...
.
;Sample credits
*"Glory" contains a sample from "Arise, Shine" performed by Greg Dykes and The Synanon Choir.
*"He's Dead" contains a sample from "I See Ghost" performed by As Animals.
*"I Feel Good" contains a sample from "
I Got You (I Feel Good)
"I Got You (I Feel Good)" is a song by the American singer James Brown. First recorded for the 1964 album '' Out of Sight'' and then released in an alternate take as a single in 1965 and included on the compilation album of the same name, it w ...
" performed by
James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is referred to by Honorific nick ...
.
Charts
Release history
References
{{Authority control
2015 albums
Lil Wayne albums
Albums produced by Kane Beatz
Albums produced by Cool & Dre
Albums produced by London on da Track
Republic Records albums
Unauthorized albums