Wired 25: The 25 Best Songs From “Mixtape Weezy” [LISTEN]

As news arrived this past weekend that DJ Drama and Lil Wayne were reuniting for the fourth installment of the Dedication series, fans were intrigued and excited. After Sorry 4 The Wait was lacking a little something and Tha Carter 4 was met with a critical yawn despite massive commercial success, fans and critics alike were yearning for the “Mixtape Weezy.”

A lot of Lil Wayne’s commercial success can be attributed to the street foundation he built after carving out one of the most illustrious mixtape runs in Hip-Hop history. Dedication 1 through 3, Da Drought 1 through 3, No Ceilings, and more were what established Lil Wayne as a major player in the rap game while shedding the image of being Cash Money’s child mascot. After his breakout performance on The Dedication, he showed that it was no fluke with a mixtape classic, Dedication 2. The rest, as they say, is history.

Forays into rock, autotune, skating, singing, and a ton of more things may distracted Weezy from his untouchable mixtape status. However, a reunion with DJ Drama might be just what the Carter ordered. Hip-Hop Wired takes a look back at 25 of the songs from Tunechi’s incredible mixtape run that took the YMCMB rapper to the next level. Hit the jump to listen up.

MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• When The Money Goes: 8 Rappers Who Turned To A Life Of Crime (And Got Caught)

• The Dark Knight Rises x Under Armour – Gotham City Rogues Collection [PHOTOS]

• Drake Buys $7.7 Million Mansion [PHOTOS]

• Hip-Hop Wired Presents: A Tribute To BET’s Rap City: Tha Basement [VIDEO]

• Beyoncé Shows Off Blue Ivy [PHOTO]

• Rick Ross Talks Grilling Tilapia And Eating Cheese With Bon Appétit [PHOTOS]

• Bangin Candy: New Basketball Wives: LA Star Brooke Bailey [PHOTOS]

• 10 Nas Albums, 10 Memorable Album Covers [PHOTOS]

• A Journey Through The Life And Legacy Of Nelson Mandela [PHOTOS]

—

Photo: Terry Richardson

25. “You’re Gonna Love Me” – The Dedication

Lil Wayne took on little known rap group Da Back Woodz’ hit single, “You’re Gonna Love Me,” which sampled Jennifer Holiday’s epic solo from Dreamgirls. 

24. “Walk It Off” – Dedication 2

Wayne at his pinnacle would take a song from a little known artist and do so well on it that you kind of forgot who sung the original. For you rap nerds, U.N.L.V.’s “Don’t Be Greedy” was Wayne’s next victim.

23. “Boom” – Da Drought 3 (Disc 2)

Lil Wayne makes it a New Orleans occasion as he snatches Lil Boosie’s “Zoom” from under his skin fade.

22. “Lovin It” – Dedication 2 

Weezy talks to the ladies as he owns this 9th Wonder-produced, Little Brother classic.

21. Motivation – The Dedication 

T.I. was the undisputed King Of The South at this point and Lil Wayne was hot on his coattails as the young upstart.

20. “Bang Bang” – Dedication 3 

Soulja Boy’s version of this song sucked. Lil Wayne’s version ? Awesome. It’s a pretty simple concept.

19. “Seat Down Low” – Da Drought 3

Wayne is more comfortable on this Mannie Fresh beat than a lot of the original artists on this song.

18. “Get High, Rule The World” – Da Drought 3

Lil Wayne drops memorable lines like “I’m on the toilet watching Martin just laughing and s**t,” continuing his hilarious infatuation with his own fecal matter. Nonetheless he does the classic Nas record justice.

17. “Blooded” – Da Drought 3 (Disc 2)

Jeezy’s lead single, “I Luv It,” from The Inspiration became an anthem for gang members with an affinity for the color red.

16. “Sportscenter” – Dedication 2 

Rap’s favorite front runner let’s you know just how much he thoroughly enjoys his ESPN.

15. “Down & Out” – The Dedication

Tunechi loves him some Dipset beats, so much so they became fast friends with each other before Young Money took off. Here, Wayne does justice to some slick Kanye West production.

14. “Dedication 3” – Dedication 3 

“And this is just a mixtape, damn.”

13. “President” Ft. Curren$y – Da Drought 3 (Disc 2)

There are certain instrumentals that you just aren’t allowed to touch unless you are in a certain weight class. During this era, Weezy was more than welcome to take on Jigga’s Reasonable Doubt classic.

12. “No Ceilings” ft. Birdman – No Ceilings 

Nonsensical hook attached to a beat so hard you’d slap your mom? That was “No Ceilings” in a nutshell. Birdman is also at his rich negro ish talking best on this Cool & Dre produced gem.

11. “D.O.A.” – No Ceilings 

Jay-Z said himself on this song “I might give it to the Mixtape Weezy.” Super appropriate.

10. “Where The Cash At?” ft. Curren$y & Remy Ma – Dedication 2 

Original records were few and far between in Wayne’s mixtape legacy, but here, his first Young Money artist drops a heater with Remy Ma.

9. “Upgrade” – Da Drought 3

Admit it, when Wayne rapped “kidnap your b***h, talk about ‘how much you love your lady?’ money” on “I’m Good,” it kind of made it awkward to listen to this song. Am I right?

8. “Wasted” – No Ceilings 

When unofficial remixes become official remixes because you wanted it to, you know you are a beast. Young Tune tosses Gucci Two Times some life on his hit single for free.

7. “Spitter” – Dedication 2

The updated Notorious B.I.G. single has Wayne dancing all over this beat.

6. “Swag Surf” – No Ceilings

If there is anything that Wayne has learned to nail, it is the mixtape intro. On “Swag Surf,” Wayne does it again with a hard hitting intro, borrowing from another one-hit wonder.

5. “Dedication 2” – Dedication 2

The loose Dipset affiliation that Lil Wayne had at this point was what made this record a standout. “Ground Zero” from Diplomatic Immunity was never truly the same after Dedication 2. 

4. “Dough Is What I Got” – Da Drought 3 (Disk 1)

Wayne is at the apex of his lyrical prowess as he takes Jay-Z’s return to the rap game as a personal challenge. It’s still tough to call who got off crazier on this one between the dueling Carters.

3. “Georgia Bush” – Dedication 2 

This song, which had dropped only days after the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans was a somber yet stinging reminder of the devastation going on in Wayne’s hometown.

2. “We Takin’ Over” – Da Drought 3

If Mr. “Feed Me Rappers or Feed Me Beats” first go around on this beat wasn’t enough, Lil Wayne bests what was already a standout verse by addressing kissing Birdman and his claim as the best rapper breathing.

1. “Cannon” ft. Freeway, Willie The Kid, Detroit Red, and Juice – Dedication 2 

Nothing is touching this record. When this Don Cannon beat was a right of passage to any Gangsta Grillz, Lil Wayne destroyed it. This cemented Wayne’s status as a mixtape legend.