Lil Wayne is one of the most influential and successful rappers to ever touch a mic. Spanning over almost three decades, his career has been nothing short of extraordinary. His discography includes some of the most iconic songs ever made. The best Lil Wayne songs are literally some of the greatest songs of all time. From his early days as a Hot Boy to his illustrious solo career, Lil Wayne has constantly pushed boundaries and reinvented himself.He’s made history on a few occasions. He has won four Grammy Awards and sold over 100 million records worldwide. Wayne has remained a staple in pop culture, releasing project after project and hit after hit. One of the most remarkable things about Lil Wayne is his ability to create timeless music. For someone with a recording habit like Lil Wayne, compiling a list of his best songs is a tough task, but that’s what I undertook. Below is a list of the 51 best Lil Wayne songs of all time.
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The 51 Best Lil Wayne Songs Of All-Time
51. "Levels"
Year Released: 2013
Album: Dedication 5
After the first pair of Dedication mixtapes, many thought the series had seen its best days following the lukewarm reception to Dedication 3, which felt more like a label compilation to some. Perhaps they were right in totality, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t gems to come. From Dedication 5, this freestyle over Meek Mill’s "Levels" is a standout performance from Wayne in recent years.
50. "London Roads"
Year Released: 2015
Album: FWA
2015's FWA (Free Weezy Album) was one of the Best Rapper Alive's most forgettable projects ever. In the midst of his Cash Money turmoil, Wayne dropped an album that was all of the place. However, that album did have a few gems, including the London on Da Track-produced "London Roads."
49. "3 Peat"
Year Released: 2008
Album: Tha Carter
You might expect the opening song of one of the most commercially successful Hip-Hop albums of all time to be something that tries to be poetic, or even something with a wider appeal to represent the size of the audience. "3 Peat" couldn’t be further away from any of that. “I might go crazy on these n*ggas, I don’t give a motherfuck, run up in a n*gga house and shoot his grandmother up” Wayne raps on the drop. As the beat builds, Wayne is as charismatic as ever, almost as though he was already fueled by the success he didn’t know had come yet. He covers shooting himself in the chest, promising his mother a better life and watching SportsCenter in the space of a few lines. It’s a stream of consciousness like no other.
48. "Kobe Bryant"
Year Released: 2009
Album: n/a
An updated version of this song appears on the remastered, streaming service version of No Ceilings, but the original version that dropped in 2009 is definitely the superior version. Wayne selflessly dedicates multiple verses to the sports legend. Of course, the song only means more after Kobe’s tragic passing.
47. "Weezy’s Ambitionz"
Year Released: 2005
Album: Dedication 2
Funnily enough, this song is part of "Georgia… Bush" is, although they’re technically two different songs. After the heavy subject matter of the previous song, fans are treated to a lyrical exhibition to end D2. Wayne raps from start to finish over 2Pac’s "Ambitionz Az A Ridah" and despite the greatness of the original, puts his own stamp on the beat.
46. "BM J.R."
Year Released: 2004
Album: Tha Carter
Despite how early he got in the game, many consider Tha Carter in 2004 to be Lil Wayne’s breakout album. "BM J.R." is a standout from the LP and arguably one of the better displays of rapping in Weezy’s entire career, mixtapes and guest appearances included. He switches up his flow frequently and controls the English language like a puppeteer controls puppets.
45. "Cry Out"
Year Released: 2016
Album: n/a
Songs where Lil Wayne sticks to a particular subject are rare, but "Cry Out" is one of the best examples of that. Over soulful STREETRUNNER production, the New Orleans rapper reminisces on his younger days and pays tribute to friends of his who have passed away. This song leaked in 2006 and wasn’t officially released until 10 years later.
44. "Trouble"
Year Released: 2016
Album: n/a
"Trouble" is yet another collaboration between Lil Wayne and STREETRUNNER. Wayne opens up about his friend Chris killing himself, rapping “he was high as a plane on that same night, shit I probably been on that same flight”. He also covers his stepfather’s death, which is softened by the presence of his own daughter. This is Wayne at his best.
43. "Yes"
Year Released: 2008
Album: n/a
What would Lil Wayne sound like on a Pharrell beat? Just check out the leak “Yes” to find out. The hard-hitting track even features a Skateboard P verse.
42. "Me And My Drank"
Year Released: 2008
Album: n/a
Likening Hip-Hop to a woman is a concept that’s been done a thousand times now, but I’m not sure anyone has ever rapped about cough syrup as though it were a woman. As strange as the concept sounds, Wayne genuinely makes it sound like a love song and croons over the purple drank that he helped popularise.
41. "Gossip"
Year Released: 2007
Album: The Leak (EP)
"Gossip" is another instance of Lil Wayne going in over STREETRUNNER production. The beat has an epic feel and Wayne pierces through its atmosphere with some of his wittier lyrics. “I’ma wear that championship belt so tight… and if I’m wrong, there is Snow White” he raps, not only implying that fairy tales are true if he’s wrong, but likening Snow White to cocaine, acknowledging that he could always go to selling it if rapping went wrong for him. His performance of the song at the 2007 BET Awards is one of his best ever.
40. "Live From 504"
Year Released: 2007
Album: Da Drought 3
Many will know this better as the verse that Lil Wayne spat when he was on Rap City, but it lives as "Live From 504" on Da Drought 3. One of the highlights is Wayne personifying the instrumental, claiming it begs him for sympathy. Another highlight is the line “and to the kids, drugs kill, I’m acknowledging that, but when I’m on the drugs I don’t have a problem with that”, a contrast that you can’t help but shake your head and laugh at.
39. "Rollin'"
Year Released: 2011
Album: Sorry 4 The Wait (Mixtape)
Gunplay and Waka Flocka Flame’s "Rollin’’ is an energetic beat which Wayne matched with his own energy on Sorry 4 The Wait’s "Rollin’’. He jumps from one thought to another as though he lives in his own brain and is just pulling thoughts as they pass, magically making them rhyme. Mixtape Wayne is crazy.
38. "La La La"
Year Released: 2008
Album: Tha Carter III
Not to be confused with "La La" from Tha Carter III, "La La La" is a song that was made around the same time and is a part of the highly regarded C3 Sessions. The song sees him thinking back to his younger days and reflecting on his journey to where he was at the time of recording.
37. "I’m Me"
Year Released: 2007
Album: The Leak (EP)
The fact that this song got left off of C3 due to leaking just speaks to the greatness of that album. "I’m Me" was supposed to be the intro, and so on it, Wayne flaunts his lifestyle and brags about his skills. He also raps about his loyalty to Cash Money and being shunned by the GRAMMYs.
36. "Dontgetit"
Year Released: 2008
Album: Tha Carter III
"Dontgetit", ironically often called "Misunderstood" by fans, is the outro to Tha Carter III and sits at nearly 10 minutes long. Wayne raps for maybe 20% of the record, sandwiching a pair of verses between rich Nina Simone vocals. After that, he talks for a few minutes about mass incarceration and how black people are disproportionately imprisoned. He does this in a way that stays true to himself though, going at Al Sharpton and coughing in the middle of it all. Either way, the song in whole is one of Wayne’s more impressive performances on a song.
35. "Dough Is What I Got"
Year Released: 2007
Album: Da Drought 3
Da Drought 3 is arguably Lil Wayne’s best mixtape and on there is a freestyle over JAY-Z’s "Show Me What You Got" called "Dough Is What I Got". When JAY retired a few years prior, Wayne took the opportunity to proclaim himself “the best rapper alive”, even naming a song after it. Of course, the Hov single appears on his comeback album Kingdom Come, but Wayne continued to claim the spot despite JAY’s return. On the freestyle, he went in and to say Hov was impressed would be an understatement. He told Noreaga “when he rapped on ‘Show Me What You Got’, I had to take a long walk and look at myself in the mirror and I said ‘are you sure you still got this?’”
34. "Dr. Carter"
Year Released: 2008
Album: Tha Carter III
Perhaps when JAY-Z is involved, there’s an extra motivation for Wayne, because this next song involves him too. Swizz Beatz made the "Dr. Carter" instrumental for JAY-Z, but played it for Wayne just to see what he’d do on it. The result was one of the better concept records of all time, where Wayne raps as a surgeon who works on patients who are other rappers and eventually saves Hip-Hop. He did more than enough to keep the song from JAY.
33. "Mona Lisa"
Year Released: 2018
Album: Tha Carter V
When Tha Carter V finally dropped, fans rejoiced at the Kendrick Lamar feature that appeared on the track list. The collaboration had been years in the making and had a lot of hype around it. When you finally clicked play on it, you were welcomed by a concept where Wayne used women to get the trust of men to eventually rob them. Kendrick comes in playing a distressed boyfriend, to tie things together.
32. "President Carter"
Year Released: 2011
Album: Tha Carter IV
This song continues the tradition of Wayne giving himself titles, like "Mr. Carter" and "Dr. Carter". "President Carter" lives right in that space too, as one of his better songs ever. The mellow instrumental is the perfect backdrop for his verses which feature his vintage wordplay. The outro which acts as a Presidential speech is special too.
31. "Tha Mobb"
Year Released: 2005
Album: Tha Carter II
Like "A Milli", "Tha Mobb" is another example of mixtape Wayne showing up on an album. In this case, it was the intro to Tha Carter II, which many believe to be the best in the series. He’s in rare form here, likening the hood to a jungle and making gunfights and selling drugs sound like expressions of art.
30. "Ride 4 My N*ggas"
Year Released: 2007
Album: Da Drought 3
There might be no better example of Lil Wayne taking someone else’s song and making it his own. This beat originally belonged to Mike Jones, but with "Ride 4 My N*ggas" (often referred to as "Sky Is The Limit"), Wayne snatched it unapologetically. This is a signature Lil Wayne record.
29. "Something You Forgot"
Year Released: 2007
Album: n/a
When discussions about what the best Lil Wayne song of all time is come up, "Something You Forgot" always gets a nod. It’s such a left turn from what you’re used to from Wayne, with him spilling his fillings, rapping about a relationship that ended because of mistakes he made. Amazingly, this song leaked and was never supposed to be out in the first place.
28. "Feel Me"
Year Released: 2005
Album: Tha Carter II
"They ain't got that heat rock like me," says Wayne on this Carter II deep cut. He also claims to be the coldest. Either way, he's right.
27. "B.B. King Freestyle"
Year Released: 2020
Album: No Ceilings 3
Weezy and Drizzy don’t miss. And “B.B. King Freestyle” is a perfect example of their chemistry. The Young Money representers go hard on the laid back instrumental found on the third installment of Wayne’s No Ceilings series.
26. "Believe Me"
Year Released: 2015
Album: n/a
Originally slated to be the first single to Tha Carter IV, "Believe Me" set the tone for what could've been expected. Drake and Wayne go back and forth to prove their point.
25. "Don't Cry"
Year Released: 2018
Album: Tha Carter IV
Rest In Paradise, X
24. "Bill Gates"
Year Released: 2010
Album: I Am Not A Human
The former Cash Money general is all about his money on “Bill Gates.”
23. "She Will"
Year Released: 2011
Album: Tha Carter IV
22. "Tha Block Is Hot"
Year Released: 1999
Album: Tha Block Is Hot
The OG Hot Boy let us know he could turn the heat up with the early banger.
21. "Stuntin' Like My Daddy"
Year Released: 2006
Album: Like Father Like Son
"Stuntin' Like My Daddy" reached the top 25 on Billboard’s single’s charts and won a BET Award. Chief Keef, Young Jeezy and Plies were just a few of the names that have freestyled to the popular song’s instrumental.
20. "Cannon (AMG Remix)"
Year Released: 2006
Album: Dedication 2
The 2005 - 2007 version of Lil Wayne has been coined Mixtape Weezy. “Cannon” finds Wayne in prime Mixtape Weezy mode, from his flow to that delivery to those crazy bars.
19. "Love Me"
Year Released: 2013
Album: I Am Not A Human Being II
Lil Wayne assembled a dream team lineup for his hit “Love Me.” Future and Drake handle hook duties, while Mike Will Made It laid the beat. Ladies love Weezy.
18. "Bring It Back"
Year Released: 2004
Album: Tha Carter
17. "Money On My Mind"
Year Released: 2005
Album: Tha Carter II
16. "Leather So Soft"
Year Released: 2006
Album: Like Father Like Son
15. "Shine"
Year Released: 2000
Album: Lights Out
14. "Drop The World"
Year Released: 2010
Album: Rebirth
At one point, Lil Wayne wondered if Eminem was scared to link in the booth. When the two titans finally did link for “Drop The World" it was well worth the wait. The G.O.A.T.s did what they do best: rap their asses off.
13. "Let Do It"
Year Released: 2009
Album: No Ceilings
Lil Wayne didn’t just do his thing on "Let Do It." He took a Waka Flocka banger and straight killed it. Or as he put it, “Murder the beat/the beat was slain/Rest in peace, that's a shame/he kill anybody's song.”
12. "Hustler Musik"
Year Released: 2005
Album: Tha Carter II
"Hustler Musik" should have a place on everyone’s list of the best Lil Wayne songs. The title of the song describes it perfectly. On the chorus, Wayne asks his companion why she’s “tripping” when he’s doing what he has to do so that they can both live comfortably. The verses is masterful and his delivery makes it all sound effortless.
11. "Wasted"
Year Released: 2009
Album: No Ceilings
A trend with this list has been either songs where Wayne opens up more than he usually does, or when he’s at his best on a mixtape record. This is an example of the latter. Wayne takes Gucci Mane’s ‘Wasted’ beat and demolishes it. It appears on No Ceilings, which is a tape that Weezy did just to get back rapping after he recorded his Rock album, Rebirth. It’s safe to say he came back with a vengeance.
10. "John"
Year Released: 2011
Album: Tha Carter IV
Rick Ross was on fire in 2010 - 2011. So it’s no wonder Wayne would reinterpret one of Ross’ anthems. “John”, one of Wayne’s many collabs with Ross, featured lyrics from Rick’s "I'm Not a Star."
9. "Shooter"
Year Released: 2005
Album: Tha Carter II
Before Robin Thicke was a household name, he made a surprise appearance on a Lil Wayne song. Unknown to many Wayne fans at the time, Thicke had a standout performance on one of the most eclectic Weezy songs pre-Carter III.
8. "Single"
Year Released: 2009
Album: No Ceilings
Wayne lowkey had the break up to make up anthem of the early 2010s with this one.
7. "Georgia… Bush"
Year Released: 2005
Album: Dedication 2
Wayne’s spin on Ludacris’ "Georgia" record has to be one of the best mixtape songs of all time. He dedicates his version of the record to then-President George Bush, pouring his heart out about their poor handling of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. It’s a rare vulnerable moment from Wayne and he does it incredibly well.
6. "Go D.J."
Year Released: 2004
Album: Tha Carter
Before he shot into superstardom in 2008, "Go D.J." from the first Carter album was Wayne’s biggest single. It featured and was produced by Mannie Fresh, hence the name. With a chorus borrowed from U.N.L.V., Wayne rapped three aggressive verses and matched the energy with a video that saw him breaking out of prison – in fact, the same prison that Shawshank Redemption was filmed in.
5. "How To Love"
Year Released: 2011
Album: Tha Carter IV
When Wayne rapped, “so many styles– I am a group” he wasn’t lying. The self-proclaimed Martian showed his softer side with the release of “How To Love,” showing gangstas have hearts too. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
4. "I Feel Like Dying"
Year Released: 2007
Album: Leaked
The Jim Jonsin-produced track leaked in 2007 and couldn’t be officially released due to a sample not being able to be cleared. The song still ended up being a cult classic.
3. "Fireman"
Year Released: 2005
Album: Tha Carter II
“Fireman” ushered in a new era for Lil Wayne. It was the first single from Tha Carter II— Wayne’s first album without Mannie Fresh’s productions.
2. "6 Foot 7 Foot"
Year Released: 2010
Album: Tha Carter IV
Before anyone has even heard it, it was clear that "6 Foot 7 Foot" had all the makings of a successful song. It was produced by Bangladesh, the same man who produced "A Milli". It was the first single from Tha Carter IV. It came out just a few weeks after Lil Wayne was released from prison after serving 8 months of a 12-month sentence. Even with those high expectations, Wayne and Cory Gunz knocked it out of the park. Neither of them wasted a single bar and for Wayne especially, almost everything he rapped was a punchline. The video played on this fact, with there being a scene for almost every line. As hard as it seemed to do, "6 Foot 7 Foot" was "A Milli" on steroids, or HGH as Wayne said.
1. "A Milli"
Year Released: 2008
Album: Tha Carter III
But of course, that doesn’t mean that the original doesn’t deserve a song on this list. "A Milli" is a timeless Hip-Hop song, which only makes it all the more impressive when you learn that it was a last-minute addition to Tha Carter III. The album was close to being turned in and Wayne was conscious that his fans loved when he rapped from start to finish on a song like he did on his mixtapes. That was missing from the LP and so, "A Milli" was born. You know a record has impact when JAY-Z, Drake, Fabolous, Cassidy, Busta Rhymes, The Game and Jeezy are just a handful of the rappers that jumped on the instrumental afterwards.
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