Lil Wayne dropped the sixth installment of his iconic Tha Carter series on Friday (June 6), but despite the hype, early reactions have been far from glowing.
According to HITSDD, Tha Carter VI is projected to sell between 120,000 and 140,000 equivalent album units in its first week, securing a #2 debut on the Billboard 200. While that’s a respectable showing in today’s market, it marks a significant dip from the 480,000 units moved by Tha Carter V in 2018.
The Carter series has long been a pillar of Lil Wayne’s legacy, with Tha Carter III (1.01 million in 2008) and Tha Carter IV (964,000 in 2011) standing as major commercial milestones. Tha Carter VI, stacked with a star-studded guest list, was expected to follow suit—but early listener feedback has painted a different picture.
Initial fan responses across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have been overwhelmingly critical. Some longtime supporters were vocal in their disappointment over the album’s production, feature choices, and what they perceive as a lack of artistic evolution.
“This one of the worst rap albums from a legend I’ve ever heard 🕊,” wrote one user.
“Wow just listened to Lil Wayne’s album Tha Carter VI. One of the worst albums I’ve ever heard. Wayne officially lost his last three dreads and his voice sounds like a bug. It’s time to put the mic down Weezy,” another posted.
Popular YouTube reactor NoLifeShaq also weighed in, saying: “Damn Weezy 😭 you should’ve kept this one 😔.”
Still, Lil Wayne’s loyal fanbase helped push the album to a solid first-week projection, proving that his name still carries weight in the industry—even if the music isn’t resonating as strongly this time around.
To celebrate the album’s release, Wayne headlined a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden, where he thanked fans and collaborators for their continued support.
“I must say thank you to every single soul supporting that motherf—king album,” he told the crowd.
Whether Tha Carter VI can find its footing in the weeks to come remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: Wayne’s legacy continues to command attention—even in controversy.