When Lil Wayne’s I Am Not a Human Being dropped, the title seemed accurate. Weezy’s status in the industry was at an all-time high (sales and reputation-wise), so telling competition they’d need a space shuttle to reach his level wasn’t so pretentious; he’d earned that spot. The first installment came out following his successful The Carter III and Rebirth. This is back when his lyrics contained clever metaphors that were better organized. Wayne actually cared about precision and originality and brought a new spark to the game.
But with the sequel, I Am Not a Human Being II is he still worthy of that alien status? Weezy’s the self-proclaimed “best rapper alive” right? It can be argued that at one point he was, but it seems those days are long gone. This was his shot at a revival of his rep as one of the greatest. And it’s sad to say that he just might have reached those desperate measures of a “has-been”.
IANAHB II is the epitome of a party rap album. Its sole existence is based on what’s popular in the mainstream channel right now, with Weezy’s own influence.
The vulgar, redundant project is filled with auto-tuned verses of recycled substance you’ve heard a million times from the Young Money leader. However, faint glimmers of hope have you thinking he still might have that fire, deep down inside a perhaps more sober Tunechi.
The album’s intro ‘IANAHB’ initially offers something out of the usual for Wayne, containing a backdrop created entirely of piano. The instrumental is rather fluid and pleasant until Weezy’s raspy voice enters. Between all the genitalia and sex talk on this record, you’ll hear his old adept wordplay: “And last night I took a transformer/ And had a dream that my dick turned to Megatron/ But my girl was sleeping with Decepticons.”
The majority of the rest of the album features production and lyrics you’d need to pop a molly or sip codeine to withstand. Songs like his major singles “My Homies Still” and “No Worries” weren’t developed on a concept so they’re hard to appreciate unless you’re “turnt” up. Not two lines in “Trigger Finger” are cohesive: “Got the world in my hands, I’ma dribble that bitch/ Money is the issue, full court pressure/ I like my blunt, Nutty Professor”. We know you’re sick with the punchlines Tunechi, but seriously, don’t you think it’s time to make sense of what you’re saying?
Some of the tracks are even just straight up lazy, possibly done just for a specific collaboration. “Beat the Shit” includes Gunplay on the track, but it’s hard to believe it actually made the cut for the final product; he carelessly screams pussy, ass, and nigga every five seconds.
Regardless of IANAHB II’s low quality in every aspect, Weezy has already established himself in the industry. Therefore, his sales will probably do well due to his enormous fan base of diehards and young adolescents growing up in this Trinidad James loving era. But, they don’t know about The Dedication and The Carter II. It’s either time for Wayne to take a seat, or get a reality check.