Honestly, there was a point in 2015 where it felt like we’d never actually see a real lil wayne carter v songs list. The legal drama with Cash Money and Birdman felt like a never-ending cycle of "coming soon" tweets followed by crushing delays. For years, the album was a ghost. It was the hip-hop version of Detox, a mythical project that fans joked about but secretly feared was locked in a vault forever.
When it finally dropped on September 28, 2018—Wayne’s 36th birthday—it wasn’t just an album. It was a 23-track relief.
The record didn't just meet the hype; it obliterated the idea that Weezy was past his prime. It’s a massive, sprawling project that balances his classic "Mixtape Wayne" energy with a vulnerability we hadn't really seen before. If you're looking for the full rundown of what made the cut, plus the extra tracks that surfaced later, I’ve got you.
The Official 2018 Tracklist (The 23 Originals)
The standard edition is a marathon. It runs nearly 90 minutes. You’ve got everything from radio-ready hits like "Uproar" to deep, narrative-driven experiments like "Mona Lisa."
- I Love You Dwayne – A tear-jerker intro featuring a voicemail from his mom, Jacida Carter.
- Don’t Cry (feat. XXXTentacion) – A somber, melodic opener that felt like a passing of the torch.
- Dedicate – Pure flex. Wayne reminds everyone he basically birthed the current generation of rappers.
- Uproar (feat. Swizz Beatz) – The "Special Delivery" sample makes this an instant classic. It’s high energy and impossible not to head-nod to.
- Let It Fly (feat. Travis Scott) – One of the most modern-sounding tracks on the record.
- Can’t Be Broken – A soulful anthem about resilience.
- Dark Side of the Moon (feat. Nicki Minaj) – A rare, melodic R&B vibe from the Young Money duo.
- Mona Lisa (feat. Kendrick Lamar) – This is the standout. It’s a 5-minute storytelling masterclass with Kendrick doing some of his most unhinged voice work.
- What About Me (feat. Sosamann) – A moody, post-breakup track.
- Open Letter – Wayne getting introspective about his life and the industry.
- Famous (feat. Reginae Carter) – A family affair featuring his daughter.
- Problems – Zaytoven on the beat. Very Atlanta, very bouncy.
- Dope Niggaz (feat. Snoop Dogg) – Sampling Dr. Dre's "Xxplosive," this is West Coast vibes through a New Orleans lens.
- Hittas – Classic Weezy wordplay.
- Took His Time – Reflective and spiritual.
- Open Safe – DJ Mustard production that brings that club energy.
- Start This Shit Off Right (feat. Ashanti & Mack Maine) – This one actually sounds like it was recorded in 2014, and that's because it probably was. It has that vintage Mannie Fresh feel.
- Demon – A darker, more aggressive cut.
- Mess – A very literal song about a messy life and messy relationships.
- Dope New Gospel (feat. Nivea) – A reunion with the mother of one of his children, featuring a great Marvin Sapp sample.
- Perfect Strangers – A more experimental, synth-heavy track.
- Used 2 – Metro Boomin production. Wayne proves he can still slide on modern trap beats.
- Let It All Work Out – The perfect closer. He finally addresses the 12-year-old suicide attempt that fans had speculated about for decades.
The 2020 Deluxe Edition: 10 New Chapters
Two years after the initial release, Wayne decided to "Free the C5" even more. He dropped a Deluxe version that added 10 songs. This wasn't just filler; some of these were the "lost" tracks fans had been begging for since the 2014 leaks.
- Life of Mr. Carter – Many fans argue this should have been the original intro. It’s elite lyricism.
- Holy – A slow burn that deals with his relationship with faith.
- More to the Story (feat. Raekwon) – A legendary pairing. Seeing a Wu-Tang member on a Carter album was a "bucket list" moment for rap nerds.
- Scottie – A fan favorite from the "leak" era.
- F Him Good – Originally intended for the 2014 version of the album.
- Siri (feat. 2 Chainz) – Whenever these two get together, it's gold.
- Lost – A more melodic, melancholic vibe.
- In This House (feat. Gucci Mane) – High energy and long overdue.
- What About Me (feat. Post Malone) – A remix of the original track that arguably fits the vibe better than the Sosamann version.
- Hasta La Vista – A Tay Keith-produced banger that feels very much like a 2020 track.
Why This Specific List Matters So Much
Look, tracklists get released every day. But the lil wayne carter v songs list is different because it represents a survivor's manual.
Wayne was suing his "father figure" Birdman for $51 million. He was effectively barred from releasing music under his own name for a significant period. When you listen to the songs in order, you can actually hear the timeline.
You can tell which songs were recorded in the "dark ages" of 2014 (like "Start This Shit Off Right") and which ones were fresh for 2018 (like "Uproar"). The fact that the album feels even remotely cohesive is a miracle of engineering and executive production by Mack Maine.
The Tracks That Defined the Era
If you don't have time for the full 33-song experience, you basically have to hear these three. They define why C5 is ranked so high in his discography.
Mona Lisa is widely considered the "lyrical centerpiece." Wayne and Kendrick Lamar tell a story from two different perspectives about a setup. The way Kendrick's voice breaks and shifts into a frantic crying-rap at the end is some of the most intense work in his career. It’s not just a song; it’s a short film.
Then there is Uproar. This song kept Wayne on the charts. It went viral with the "Uproar Challenge," proving that even after a seven-year hiatus from the Carter series, Wayne still knew how to dominate the culture. It's loud, it's fun, and it's quintessentially Weezy.
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Finally, Let It All Work Out. This is the most important song Wayne has ever recorded. For years, he told a story about an accidental shooting when he was a kid. On this track, he finally tells the truth: it was an attempted suicide. The Sampha sample ("I'm given all the love I've got, I will let it all work out") provides a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for that level of honesty.
Beyond the Official Release
There are still "lost" tracks that never quite made the official lil wayne carter v songs list due to sample clearance issues or label politics. "Believe Me" featuring Drake and "Grindin" were huge singles back in 2014 that technically belonged to this era but aren't on the standard streaming version of the album.
If you want the "true" experience, you sort of have to build your own playlist that incorporates those 2014-era singles with the 2018 release.
How to Listen Now
If you’re diving back in, start with the Deluxe version. It’s the most complete vision of what Wayne was trying to do.
Don't just shuffle it. Listen from start to finish. You’ll hear a man who went through a legal war and came out the other side with his sanity and his bars intact.
To get the most out of your listening session, pay attention to the production credits. You've got legends like Mannie Fresh and Cool & Dre alongside the "new school" like Metro Boomin and Tay Keith. It's a bridge between two eras of hip-hop that only Lil Wayne could have built.
Check out the "Life of Mr. Carter" lyric video if you really want to see how dense his wordplay is—it's a good reminder that even after twenty years in the game, he's still a "best rapper alive" contender.
Actionable Next Steps
- Create a "Master C5" Playlist: Combine the 23 original tracks, the 10 deluxe additions, and the 2014 singles "Believe Me" and "Grindin" to get the full story of the album's evolution.
- Watch the "Mona Lisa" Lyric Breakdown: There are several deep-dive videos on YouTube that explain the complex narrative layers of the track—it's worth it to catch the metaphors you definitely missed on the first listen.
- Compare the Versions: Listen to the Sosamann and Post Malone versions of "What About Me" back-to-back; it’s a fascinating look at how a different feature can completely change the emotional weight of a song.