Dedication 2 is the fifth mixtape by Lil Wayne, hosted by DJ Drama. It is a sequel to Lil Wayne's previous mixtape, The Dedication, and is second in DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz series with Lil Wayne. It is one of the few mixtapes in the hip hop genre to be both financially successful and critically acclaimed.[5] Despite its illegal use of unlicensed instrumentals and samples,[4] it was sold through iTunes and retail stores such as Best Buy and FYE,[6] was widely reviewed in the mainstream media,[6] and peaked at #69 on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart.[7] The cover shows Lil Wayne with "Fear God" tattooed on his eyelids.[1] Much of the mixtape showcases Lil Wayne's free associating rhymes and "liquid non-sequiturs."[3]

Dedication 2
Mixtape by
ReleasedMay 22, 2006 (2006-05-22)
GenreHip hop
Length81:07
LabelCash Money, The Aphilliates
Producer
CompilerDJ Drama
Lil Wayne chronology
The Dedication
(2005)
Dedication 2
(2006)
Like Father, Like Son
(2006)
Back cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
Robert Christgau(choice cut) link
Pitchfork Media(8.1/10) [1]
RapReviews(8/10) link
Rhapsody(favorable) link
Slate(favorable) [2]
StylusB link
Village Voice(favorable) [3]
Washington Post(favorable) [4]
XXL [citation needed]

Critical reception edit

Dedication 2 became a highly acclaimed mixtape by appearing on the year-end top ten lists from the New Yorker critic Sasha Frere-Jones,[8] The New York Times critic Kelefa Sanneh,[9][10] the Baltimore City Paper's Jason Torres,[11] and appearing on a panel of critics at the Washington City Paper.[12] Tom Breihan of The Village Voice proclaimed it the best summer album of 2006, praising DJ Drama's "impeccable beat selection".[3] "SportsCenter" was complimented for its "free associating brain bursts."[13] The track titled "Georgia... Bush" was also acclaimed for its "mesmerizing indictment" of President Bush.[4][2] In 2009, Rhapsody ranked this album at number 15 on its "100 Best Albums of the Decade"[14] list.

Track listing edit

# Title Length Producer(s) Featured guest(s) Sample(s)
1 "The Best in the Business" 0:41
2 "Get 'Em" 3:20 Hannon Lane
3 "They Still Like Me" 2:18
  • Jamall Willingham
  • Maurice Gleaton
4 "I'm the Best Rapper Alive" 1:16
5 "Cannon (AMG Remix)" 6:15 Don Cannon
6 "Workin Em" 3:12 DJ Infamous
7 "SportsCenter" 2:49 DJ Green Lantern
  • "The Game Iz Mine" by Jay-Z
8 "Welcome to tha Jungle" 2:29 Clayton Haraba Juelz Santana
9 "Spitter" 3:15 Swizz Beatz
10 "South Muzik" 3:16 Organized Noize
11 "This What I Call Her" 2:44 9th Wonder
12 "Dedication 2" 2:43
13 "Weezy on Retirement" 0:42
14 "Poppin them Bottles" 4:33
  • DJ Paul
  • Juicy J
15 "What You Know (Remix)" 4:09 DJ Toomp T.I.
16 "Where da Cash At" 4:24 The Runners
17 "Ridin wit the AK" 4:17
  • Currensy
  • Mack Maine
18 "Weezy on the Streetz of N.O." 0:26
19 "Walk It Off" 5:40
  • "Don't U Be Greedy" by U.N.L.V.
20 "Hustlin" 4:00 The Runners
21 "Gettin Some Head" 3:47 Xcel Pharrell
22 "A Dedication After Disaster" 0:48
23 "No Other" 5:27 Juelz Santana
24 "Outta Here" 0:53
25 "Georgia... Bush" 7:27 Vudu Spellz
"Weezy's Ambitionz" (Hidden Track) Daz Dillinger

Charts edit

Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[16] 30
US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] 69

References edit

  1. ^ a b Macia, Peter (June 22, 2006). "DJ Drama & Lil Wayne - Dedication 2". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Rosen, Jody (October 3, 2006). "The Best Rapper Alive vs. George Bush". Slate. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (July 5, 2006). "The Quarterly Report: The Summer's Best Albums". The Village Voice. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c Richards, Chris (July 5, 2006). "Hip-Hop Mixtapes: Unlicensed to Thrill". The Washington Post. p. C5. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  5. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (November 1, 2006). "A Rap Star at His Peak, With Fans to Let Down". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Shapiro, Samantha M. (February 18, 2007). "Hip-Hop Outlaw (Industry Version)". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  7. ^ "Artist Chart History - Lil Wayne". Billboard. 2007. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
  8. ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha (December 14, 2006). "Best of 2006". Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  9. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (December 24, 2006). "Timberlake, Timbaland and Monkeys". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  10. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (July 20, 2006). "Mixtapes Mix In the Marketing That Fuels the Hip-Hop Industry". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  11. ^ Torres, Jason (December 13, 2006). "The Year in Music". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  12. ^ "The 2006 CP Top 20". Washington City Paper. 2006. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  13. ^ Dombal, Ryan (June 2, 2006). "DJ Drama & Lil Wayne: "Sportscenter" (Track Review)". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  14. ^ "Rhapsody's 100 Best Albums of the Decade" Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  15. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (December 4, 2006). "Eminem and Lil Wayne rapping with friends". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  16. ^ "Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  17. ^ "DJ Drama Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 11, 2012.

External links edit