All 14 Lil Wayne Albums, Ranked (Staff Picks)

Over the weekend, Lil Wayne shook the game up once again by dropping off his latest album Tha Carter VI. To celebrate the release, Weezy also hosted a blockbuster show at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Friday (June 6), where he ran through hits both new and old, flexing his dominating catalog in a star-studded 70 minute showcase. It was a glorious reminder of Tunechi’s unparalleled greatness and hard work. From his early days as a Hot Boy, to his legendary mixtape run, to his groundbreaking studio records, Wayne’s awe-inspiring grind resulted in one of the greatest outputs in hip-hop history.

Over the years, Weezy has evolved into a genre-defining figure, and his catalog as a result is a wild ride filled with exorbitant highs (Tha Carter III) and crushing lows (Rebirth). Not every Wayne album is perfect — and from our first handful of listens, Tha Carter VI might unfortunately be one of his more imperfect releases — but the New Orleans spitter has made a career out of taking creative risks regardless of the outcome, and that needs to be applauded. Even when these risks haven’t paid off, it’s undeniable that Wayne has forever changed the course of mainstream rap because of them.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or not, the breakdown below of Wayne’s albums aim to celebrate the highs, acknowledge the missteps and explore how Weezy’s music reflects a career forever defined by resilience, reinvention and a relentless amount of unparalleled lyricism. Let’s dive in and see how the legacy stacks up, one album at a time.