As a Lil Wayne fan, I am a frequent passenger on the Dwayne Carter emotional rollercoaster, but the release of “Funeral” set me on a different ride. Not only was a full album drop a surprise, but I also did not like it at first. 

When Lil Wayne tweeted the album art for “Funeral,” I assumed he was only previewing a single song: “Funeral,” which is only one part of the 24 song soundtrack. The album includes a variety of features, from Maroon V’s lead singer, Adam Levine, to rappers Lil Baby and Big Sean, who appear on “I Do It.” “I Do It” has accrued over ten million streams on Spotify, making it the most listened to song on the album. 

Although known for his love for the professional football team the Green Bay Packers, Lil Wayne makes several basketball references in “Funeral.” “Harden” is inspired and named after James Harden, a professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets. Additionally, Lil Wayne references Harden’s teammate Russell Westbrook in “Wild Dogs.” 

Now, I enjoy most of the album, with my favorite song easily being “Harden.” Not only does he center the song around a basketball player, but he also incorporates a soulful beat while rapping about his feelings on being rejected. Many songs on the album are noteworthy, but there are a few that fall below the bar since no 24-song album can be perfect. For example, “Get Outta My Head” did not impress me, along with the final three songs. Even though I initially experienced shock and dissatisfaction, I finished the Dwayne Carter emotional rollercoaster with a satisfied heart.