Kanye West, Ludacris, 50 Cent Congratulate Lil Wayne On "Tha Carter III's" Success

[Rahim]

"Bow in the presence of a true living legend in hip-hop," Kanye says of Weezy's million-plus sales.

They used to just talk about his songs — now hip-hop's biggest stars are talking about his numbers too.

Lil Wayne's peers are publicly recognizing how great a feat it was for the New Orleans native to move over a million units of his Tha Carter III in the first week.

"Congrats to my homie, Wayne," Kanye West, who produced on the album, posted on his blog Tuesday. "I'm happy to know this guy! Bow in the presence of a true living legend in hip-hop. Lil Wayne the God!"

On Thursday (June 19), while calling in to New York radio station Hot 97, 50 Cent — who was the last artist before Wayne to sell a million copies in first week of release with 2005's The Massacre — labeled Tha Carter III's debut "amazing."

"I think I'm really confused," 50 added. "I think all I need to do is make good music and see what happens. Usher had a #1 record across the board, and he only sold over 400,000. Then Wayne comes and does those numbers. ... I don't understand what the connection is. What audience is going out to buy it?"

While in Atlanta, Ludacris told MTV News that Wayne's success was hard-earned. "Wayne's been in the game a long time," said Cris, while sitting in the studio with DJ Drama. "I've done records with him. Apart from everything else that's going on, it's well-deserved. Wayne, congratulations. You worked hard for that's sh--, and you deserve it."

A Luda and Wayne collaboration was originally slated to be on Tha Carter III and may still find a home elsewhere. "I know he has a million songs, but we're still trying to find a placement for this song me and Lil Wayne did," Luda said.

Source: MTV

 

[Rahim]

I think 50's statement on the radio kinda sounds like he's implying that Wayne's sales were rigged...

 

[FourSix]

I think it's a bad time in hip-hop seeing that lil wayne is being called a living legend, i'd struggle to even call him a decent rapper. album sales equal nothing but popularity, it doesn't equal talent. hopefully this new bubblegum genre headed by lil wayne dies, and hopefully hip-hop resurrects itself with nas' new album.

 

[Rahim]

you know what would be surprising? if pac came out with an OG album..now that would probably 'resurrect' rap back to its original spot..wait till they hear some of the shit thats still in the vaults...ppl will be surprised..but that's unlikely...right now...

 

[Rukas]

Lil Wayne is legendary, if for nothing more than creating the hype he did and pushing 1 million records in a week especially in today's climate. That isnt a commentary on his skills as an MC either way. I think that is what Kanye was trying to say too.

As for what Rahim said, even if they released a fully OG album it wouldnt sell a million copies period, let alone first week. Amaru, Eminem and the bootleggers saturdated and diluted the Tupac market.

 

[Rahim]

^^ if they actually shot some high budget videos instead of the typical 'thugz mansion' type videos they've been shooting, they might have a chance to come close to lil waynes album sales amount, but not as quick i don't think. you look at rhianna and all of them..and even lil wayne...lets say he didn't have any music videos for his album/singles...his album probably would be lacking some sales right now. im not saying that albums are fully dependent on music videoes, but lets say they put out an OG Pac album and they promoted it right and then they put out a crappy video... it just wouldnt sell as well. almost every album that amaru put a good video with has hit platinum a number of times. R U STILL DOWn and UTEOT are good examples. they both went platinum bunch of times...


they have a lot of material left (including OG's)...if they were to even put out the Og's of songs we already have and make it like a part 2 album and shoot videos and have street/radio promotion they could pull something off...sure..i don't think it would be near lil waynes sales the first week...but if u can't beat em, join them. and i bet that's just what they will do. i won't be surprised if lil wayne ends up on the next pac album or even kanye west cuz in the past, all the up and upcoming and rappers who've done something or contributed to the industry ended up on pac's album. its like they are trying to recreate who they think pac would work with if he was physically with us...but theres no telling for sure.....

 

[roaches]

A fancy video wouldn't get 2Pac a million in a week. Come on.

 

[Preach]

I think 50's statement on the radio kinda sounds like he's implying that Wayne's sales were rigged...

50 is an executive, i think his focus was more that he wanted to know how to make that success.

 

[Da_Funk]

^^ if they actually shot some high budget videos instead of the typical 'thugz mansion' type videos they've been shooting, they might have a chance to come close to lil waynes album sales amount, but not as quick i don't think. you look at rhianna and all of them..and even lil wayne...lets say he didn't have any music videos for his album/singles...his album probably would be lacking some sales right now. im not saying that albums are fully dependent on music videoes, but lets say they put out an OG Pac album and they promoted it right and then they put out a crappy video... it just wouldnt sell as well. almost every album that amaru put a good video with has hit platinum a number of times. R U STILL DOWn and UTEOT are good examples. they both went platinum bunch of times...


they have a lot of material left (including OG's)...if they were to even put out the Og's of songs we already have and make it like a part 2 album and shoot videos and have street/radio promotion they could pull something off...sure..i don't think it would be near lil waynes sales the first week...but if u can't beat em, join them. and i bet that's just what they will do. i won't be surprised if lil wayne ends up on the next pac album or even kanye west cuz in the past, all the up and upcoming and rappers who've done something or contributed to the industry ended up on pac's album. its like they are trying to recreate who they think pac would work with if he was physically with us...but theres no telling for sure.....

Man just give it up. This will never happen. You can't recreate what Pac had going for him.

 

[Rahim]

50 is an executive, i think his focus was more that he wanted to know how to make that success.

executive yes, and it could be what he's not implying at all but that's still not what it sounded like to me.

Man just give it up. This will never happen. You can't recreate what Pac had going for him.

never say never.

 

[Carter III SUCKS]

Lil Waynes last good album was The Carter. Carter II wasnt that good and III just sucks. He says the same gay shit over and over again. What the fuck Wayne, you used to be hot as hell now you just suck!

 

[Rahim]

^^ tell that to the million+ people that just bought his album..they didn't think it sucked at all........

 

[HEY YO]

MR

Lil' Wayne And Tupac Are Not What Hip-hop Is About. I Wish Brothers Would Grow Up And Stop Acting Like Thugs And Be Responsible Men. Show Young Ladies Respect And Teach The Young Men What Being A True Is.