Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.comLil Wayne came home from Rikers Island prison today. At the moment, he is no doubt celebrating with his closest friends and family, maybe starting to think about hitting the studio later. Sometime soon, though, he’s going to have to start catching up on all the new tunes he missed out on during his eight months behind bars.
Weezy is known as a voracious music fan. This is the guy who got put in solitary confinement for keeping MP3 equipment in his cell. Leaving out whatever he might have heard before that gear was confiscated last month, he has an entire spring, summer, and fall of new music to get through.
EW’s Brad Wete and I were in a helpful mood, so we came up with 10 suggestions to start with. Check out our list after the jump.
- Drake’s Thank Me Later: Lil Wayne probably heard much of his protégé’s full-length debut while it was still being recorded, but that’s not the same as the finished product.
- Eminem’s “No Love” video: Wayne actually co-stars in this clip, thanks to some green-screen work before his sentence began. He must be curious to see how it turned out.
- Rick Ross’ Teflon Don: Released in July, this was one of the biggest rap albums while Weezy was away. Time to get familiar.
- Kanye West’s Runaway movie: Wayne and West have put in some memorable work together in the past. We bet Wayne will love his collaborator’s ambitious new art film.
- Chris Brown’s “Deuces”: An impressive roster of rap stars contributed to a remix of this R&B hit while Wayne was away. Would he have kicked a verse if he were around? Only one way to find out.
- Cee-Lo’s “F— You”: Anyone who uses swear words as creatively and copiously as Wayne would appreciate this summer sensation.
- Taylor Swift’s Speak Now: Surely he’d like to hear the first album since his own Tha Carter III to sell a million copies in a week.
- Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream”: It’s possible that Wayne heard these pop smashes on the radio, but he’s said he “only listened to the slow jams station.” We would love to hear him reinterpret either track on his next mixtape.
- The Black Keys’ Brothers: Just a hunch, but we think he might like this well-reviewed indie-rock disc.
- John Lennon reissues: This one is a bit of a long shot, but Wayne did rap terrifically over the Beatles’ “Help” a few years ago. Maybe he’d see something of himself in the singer’s often misunderstood solo work.
What other recent music releases do you think Lil Wayne should check out now that he’s a free man? Suggest away in the comments.
(Follow The Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More on the Music Mix:
Lil Wayne headed “straight to the studio” after leaving prison, says label head
Lil Wayne promises to be “the same Martian I was when I left, just better” in last letter from jail
Wow EW! This must be a slow day for the music side of the office. Lame!
He sucks, so who cares?
The Biebs. Duh.
Speak Now…NOT!!
Weezy could have stayed in jail for all I care. So overrated.
Are you kidding me? He listened to all this while he is in prison. I am sure he heard all this except the black keys? Who the hell is this?
Get em Wayne, they got comfortable while you were gone!
Lil Wayne is titled to be the best rapper alive ; what do you haters know about real music?? you guys sit here sayin he sucks your just made you cant make it like he did ; stop being a hater and be an appreciator for once…that dude has more verses than the bible. Wezzy’s back and he aint goin nowhere !! Free Weezy !!
He Needs to listen to anything kanye has put out lately, and he needs to listen to 2Pac’s Me against the world, i know its old but its a must own for any Hip-Hop fan, or music fan in general.
so true.
Simon,
Actually, a remix of Chris Brown’s Deuces with Lil’ Wayne, Drake and Kanye came out last week. It’s called “Letter from Weezy” .
That remix was an unofficial blend using an old Lil Wayne verse from 2009, though.
geez EW…howabout recommending music that’s not mostly machines? maybe Sam Cooke at the Harlem Square Club? give Li’l Wayne something to think about besides not dropping the soap.
WAYNE IS THE BEST $$$$
all you haters and suck it and go sit on your thumb. Weezy is the sh*t and everyone knows it. your favorite rap artists are all about to be sat down and taken to school when his first album comes out
can not and
The one album that would truly match Lil Wayne’s sensibilities while simultaneously blowing his mind is LCD Soundsystem’s “This Is Happening”. Easily one of the best albums of the year and just right conceptually for him.