With so many chart-topping albums and hit songs from Lil Wayne over the years, the rapper makes success look easy. In fact, it's not hard to forget that even Weezy F. Baby had to hustle for a few years before dropping Tha Carter, which is considered his breakout album.
Tha Carter sold nearly 116,000 copies in its first week and was certified platinum. Most importantly, however, Lil Wayne's name became recognized everywhere after the album dropped. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tha Carter, we present an art history lesson, featuring Weezy's masterful verses. Here is our guide on How to Sound Like an Art History Expert (With Lil Wayne Lyrics). Who knew Wayne had so much in common with classic art?
"Cash Money Millionaires" meets Diamond Dust Shoes by Andy Warhol (1980)
Lyric: "And they love the way I come out with the gear. This jacket, these shoes don't come out this year."
"Bring It Back" meets At the Pool by Walter Battiss (ca. 1900s)
Lyric: "I don't need no pool, I'm swimming in you."
"Walk In" meets Meat and Eggs by Felix Vallotton (1918)
Lyric: "You do not want angus, USDA prime beef, you're dead meat."
"Go DJ" meets Snakes by M.C. Escher (1969)
Lyric: "You snakes, stop hiding in the grass."
"The Heat" meets Hunters Shooting at Ducks by Pietro Longhi (ca 1700s)
Lyric: "I shoot your arm, leg, leg, arm, head."
"We Don't" meets The Circus by Marc Chagall (1964)
Lyric: "I took over the circus... 'Cause I'ma act a clown if you put your feet down on my surface."
"Get Down" meets Woman Tying Her Shoe by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1918)
Lyric: "Now yo' b*tch a** gotta clean yo' shoe up."
"This Is The Carter" meets Letter Interrupted by Vasily Vereshchagin (1901)
Lyric: "Flow sicker than a third floor in hospitals."
"Snitch" meets Mouth (Brigitte Bardot's Lips) by Gerhard Richter (1963)
Lyric: "Never let shit about G'z leave ya mouth."
"Only Way" meets Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!) by Henri Rousseau (1891)
Lyric: "N*gga you ain't scaring nothin. Weezy been a tiger in the jungle since a cub."
"Earthquake" meets Fly Alarmowka by Jacek Yerka (2004)
"Ain't That A Bitch" meets Police Raid by George Pemba (1981)
Lyric: "Because the cops is watchin, the streets is talkin."
"BM J.R." meets Pie a La Mode by Claes Oldenburg (1962)
Lyric: "And when we hungry, you look like pie."
"I Miss My Dawgs" meets Youth with Dogs by Titian (1575)
Lyric: "Man, I miss my dawgs."
"Hoes" meets Olympia by Édouard Manet (1863)
Lyric: "Hoes, let's just talk about hoes... Can we talk about hoes, hoes."