Lil Wayne's 30 Best Mixtape Tracks

Pigeons

Updated April 12, 2018 at 10:36 AM

We originally put this list together years back, but in the spirit of #LilWeek, it felt like the right time to revisit. Here are the 30 best Lil Wayne mixtape tracks, in our opinion. Feel free to disagree, because if there's one thing Lil Wayne is good at, it's getting people to argue.

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By Confusion, Joyce Ng, Katie K., & Jon Tanners
With the release of Lil Wayne's new album, we're going to hear a lot of the same shit that we always hear about Lil Wayne. Instead of joining that toxic merry-go-round of a discussion, let's focus in on something we can all agree on: Mixtape Weezy.
Wayne had a run in music that was unlike anything hip-hop has ever seen. He was claiming to be the best rapper alive, and a string of mixtapes had a lot of people convinced. It's a strange kind of success, because these weren't radio hits, they weren't money-makers that were filling the Young Money bank accounts, and they certainly weren't the kind of catchy, pop-leaning circus acts that Lil Wayne has proved himself capable of creating. For a while there, Wayne was in a zone, and he was rapping his ass off.
Without a doubt, Lil Wayne's latest album, I Am Not A Human Being II, will do big numbers, yield at least a few mainstream hits, and on paper, it will be a huge success—but there's nothing quite like that mixtape material, when Lil Wayne was honing his oddball skills and rapping like he had something to prove.
Wayne doesn't have much to prove anymore. No matter what, he'll go down in hip-hop history as one of the most important rappers of his time. And some people will always hate that. But before you judge him for "Lollipop" or Rebirth, remember the mixtapes like Dedication 2 and Da Drought 3.
Here are the 30 Best Lil Wayne Mixtape Tracks. And feel free to disagree, because if there's one thing Lil Wayne is good at, it's getting people to argue.
30. "Ice Cream"
Mixtape: No Ceilings
Year: 2009
"Street shit, well of course / I smoke mad weed, I'm on my high horse / Please don't shoot me down, I land feet flat / Then walk a million miles with New Orleans on my back / Haha, I need a massage / And when it comes to hoes man I got a collage"
On No Ceilings, Wayne was back to rapping like he had something to prove. After an Auto-Tune spree and talk of the self-proclaimed Best Rapper Alive losing his touch, this tape was like a big, "I've still got it." But in true Wayne fashion, he did it his own way—a stream-of-consciousness mix of wordplay, giggling, and skipping from one idea to the next without warning. And it was great.
29. "Walk it Out"
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
André 3000 killed this beat, but Wayne kills it for over three minutes. He addresses the shit-talking on the picture of him and Birdman kissing, claims that he gets the mic wet because his words are like seduction, and brags about exploding in a bitch mouth like a Gusher. It's a verbal assault filled with similes and not-giving-a-fucks, and Wayne hitting us with some kind of crazy combo that takes planning, foresight, and the ability to make "dungeon" rhyme with "trust you," "Russia," and "abduction." Only Wayne.
28. "Dick Pleaser"
Mixtape: Dedication 3
Year: 2008
The third installment of the Dedication series didn't match up to number two, but there was some magic in the nasty simplicity of "Dick Pleaser." For one, that production is deadly—with a few keys, some strings, what sounds like a crying baby, and maybe a ping pong ball dropped from an inch off the table, it's a sinister, weirdo beat that doesn't match the storytelling vibe of the lyrics, but that just makes it all the more intriguing. Also, the clean version is called "Thingy Pleaser," which is incredibly creepy.
27. "Help"
Mixtape: The Drought Is Over 2 (The Carter 3 Sessions)
Year: 2006
This one was always destined to be a mixtape track—shit, it features a Beatles sample, it's less than a minute-and-a-half long, and it's really just a short lyrical flex. But Wayne goes crazy on this one, hitting the ground running and not wasting a second. "The instruments are yelling out, 'Where the sympathy at!?'"
26. "Where The Cash At?"
Mixtape: Dedication 2
Year: 2006
While the Curren$y-featuring "Where The Cash At?" wasn't a smash hit or a profound statement, it was the kind of song that was packed with quotables, a catchy hook, and a big beat. What else do you want from Spitta and Tunechi?
25. "Rewind"
Mixtape: Blow
Year: 2006
Ah, I Can't Feel My Face. It's one of those albums that has become something of an urban legend, and maybe it's better that way. But we do have plenty of proof that Juelz and Wayne did put in work, and "Rewind" gives us a key-bump of what could have been. It feels like a thing of the past, but damn, when Weezy and Juelz were on the top of their coke-raps, it didn't get much better than the thumping, crass "Rewind."
24. "Get High, Rule The World"
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
When he was in his zone, Lil Wayne was the kind of rapper that made you press rewind. He was so comfortable with weaving his flows in and out of the music that he did some shit that had you listening, then a few seconds later going, "Wait a second..." On this Da Drought 3 cut, he might not match the depth of the original (Nas and Lauryn Hill's "If I Ruled The World"), but when he goes, "Peep how I wrote it, I was rappin' to the thng, thng, thng, thng, thng" it's one of those moments that makes it very clear: Wayne thinks different.
23. "David Banner"
Mixtape: Lil Weezy Ana Vol. 1
Year: 2006
At one point in his ascent—the 2006-2007 golden period of Lil Wayne mixtapes—he not only had a habit for murdering beats, he had an uncanny ability for inhabiting the tracks he chose, mirroring the sounds and rhythms with the potent instrument that was his voice. "David Banner" (or "Monster" as it is occasionally called) was an exercise in an energy, control, and deft delivery, as Wayne matched a thunderous, country rap tune with a bouncing, increasingly intense flow. The complete package is, to paraphrase Weezy, a recorded thunderstorm.
22. "Wasted"
Mixtape: No Ceilings
Year: 2009
Lil Wayne uses three Gucci Mane tracks on No Ceilings, this time freestyling over Gucci's hit "Wasted." And while the track serves up Wayne's usual bout of untamed ferocity, its best moment comes at the end when Wayne gives meaning to the mixtape's title: "Young Money, baby, and the building grows / As we look up, where did the ceilings go?"
21. "Prostitute Flange"
Mixtape: The Drought Is Over 2 (The Carter 3 Sessions)
Year: 2006
This is possibly the weirdest song Lil Wayne ever made, and that's saying a lot. It's not good in any traditional sense of the word, but at the end of it, it's like, "God bless Lil Wayne for making this song." Shit, Biggie made "Playa Hater." Little did we know what other strange paths Wayne would go down after this, but there's something brilliantly off about "Prostitute Flange" and, along with "I Feel Like Dying," it's one of Wayne's quirky classics that you probably either love or hate.
20. "D.O.A."
Mixtape: No Ceilings
Year: 2009
Wayne tackled another Jay-Z track on his No Ceilings mixtape, this time freestyling over Jay's monster hit "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)." Propelled by both his support of Auto-Tune and his continued subtle beef with Hova, the track is full of subliminal swipes at the Roc Nation rapper—"Young or old there ain't no comparing me / I just cleared that up moment of clarity ugh!"—although arguably what pushes this remix into Wayne greatness is his playful incorporation of Jay's original "I might send this to the mixtape Weezy" line at the end. Perfect.
19. "Zoo"
Mixtape: The Drought Is Over 2 (The Carter 3 Sessions)
Year: 2006
Survival of the fittest is the mentality that reigns supreme in rap: if you don't bring something hot enough to protect you, your competitors are ready to chew you up and spit you out. Wayne and fellow YMCMB member Mack Maine demonstrate this ideology in The Drought Is Over 2 standout "Zoo." "Welcome to the zoo" they warn newcomers, and with a beat and hook as infectious as the one they have behind them, it might be wise to be wary before jumping into the lion's den.
18. "Boom Bap"
Mixtape: The W. Carter Collection
Year: 2006
Wayne's not known for straying too far from his highly entertaining, energetic, out-of-his-mind flow, but don't get it fucked up—he can pull it off when he wants to. Every now and then he shows a more serious, reflective side, and the beat on "Boom Bap" lays the groundwork perfectly. Wayne tones down his usual showboating for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, and the result is one of his most underrated mixtape cuts.
17. "I Can't Feel My Face"
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
On this Da Drought 3 track, Weezy raps about his love for drugs, among other things, and pairs the phrase "I can't feel my face" with a hook catchy enough to make a straight edger sing about coke. The freestyle also spurred one of Wayne's most alien lyrics, "I'm crazy for being Wayne, or is Wayne just crazy," helping to perpetuate the idea that when Wayne's in the creative flow (and maybe under the influence of a few things) he most certainly is not a human being.
16. "Sportscenter"
Mixtape: Dedication 2
Year: 2006
One of the early knocks against Wayne—typically lobbied by East Coast elitists and true schoolers—was that he couldn't match wits with some of rap's great lyricists and wordsmiths. While it doesn't delve into particularly weighty territory, "Sportscenter" is a definitive middle finger to doubters, displaying Wayne's particular gift for irreverent wordplay.
15. "Triggaman"
Mixtape: Lil Weezy Ana Vol. 1
Year: 2006
Lil Wayne enlists Curren$y and reps for New Orleans on this bounce staple. Musically, it's a change of pace from his usual production choices, but he doesn't let that affect his vicious approach.
14. "We Takin' Over"
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
Lil Wayne stole the show on the original "We Takin' Over," so it makes sense that he'd go in for round two and keep it a Wayne-only affair. And when it's a Wayne-only affair, it never gets boring.
13. "Dough is What I Got"
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
In the original Jay-Z song Wayne samples for this cut, Hova demands "show me what you got" and so, Wayne answers: dough. An arrogant but clever response in true Wayne fashion, but one that also proved Weezy doesn't have to be complex to be brilliant.
12. "Birds Flyin' High"
Mixtape: Blow
Year: 2006
There are dozens of Wayne and Juelz Santana songs out there, but the sped-up Nina Simone sample, swooping strings, and sedated tone of "Birds Flyin' High" make this one essential. It hits many of the same notes that Juelz and Wayne normally touch on, but it does so with an unmatched level of finesse.
11. "Cannon"
Mixtape: Dedication 2
Year: 2006
This Don Cannon production is one of those mixtape beats that works like an alley-oop. It sets up any capable rapper with a chance to show off, and that's what Wayne does. He brings along Freeway, Willie the Kid, Detroit Red & Juice for a posse cut that stands out among the rest of the excellent Dedication 2 material and while there's nothing flashy about it, the repetitive and simple backdrop makes it easy to focus on Wayne's lyrical flexing.
"N*ggas know I'm sick, I don't spit, I vomit, got it? / One egg short of the omelette"
10. "Grew Up A Screw Up"
Mixtape: Lil Weezy Ana Vol. 1
Year: 2006
Over a thumping beat, Wayne flips a classic Biggie line into one of his own best opening lines and brings 2 Chainz along for the ride. This is one of the best examples of Lil Wayne's talent of manipulating words to fit his own needs. He even says, "I can say don't rhyme, and it's gon' rhyme."
9. "Watch My Shoes"
Mixtape: No Ceilings
Year: 2009
This song starts off with an overjoyed Wayne greeting you, "No ceilings motherfucker, good morning / Dick in your mouth while you're yawning." By the time this song ends and Wayne laughs, "Ha, no ceilings," you can finally exhale. If there was any doubt of Wayne's stamina by 2009, this song abolishes it.
8. "Georgia...Bush"
Mixtape: Dedication 2
Year: 2006
Lil Wayne takes pride in his home city of New Orleans, so it's not surprising the rapper took such aim at President Bush in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But instead of reacting out of pure anger, Wayne took the time to write "Georgia…Bush," a stunning track that articulates the despair of the situation: "Look at the bullshit we been through / Had the n****s sittin' on top they roofs / The white people smiling like everything cool / But I know people that died in that pool."
7. "Dipset"
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
Really Wayne? Within the first two lines of this track, things already get taken to the extreme—"fuck you with an AIDS dick"—but to be honest, nobody ever loved Lil Wayne for his tact and subtlety. Out of all his tracks on what is probably his best mixtape, this is the most relentless, and it gives you that drug-fueled Wayne that never held back.
6. "Something You Forgot"
Mixtape: The Drought Is Over 2 (The Carter 3 Sessions)
Year: 2006
"Something You Forgot" stands out as not only one of Wayne's best mixtape songs, but one of his best fully-formed tracks overall. It's one of the rare glimpses we get into his usually protected vulnerability, as he raps about a girl who got away because of mistakes he made. It's a passionate, emotional affair, and unlike most tracks on this list, it shows Wayne's talent as a songwriter instead of just flaunting his rapping abilities.
5. "Famous"
Mixtape: Lil Weezy Ana Vol. 1
Year: 2006
Lil Wayne typically rhymed at a pace and energy level that made it easy to miss the fine print, but on "Famous" he's spitting with the fury of a casual conversation, shifting all emphasis to timing and his curious choice of words. Combining no more than a few syllables at a time and zig-zagging from topic to topic, "Famous" is one of Wayne's most free-form songs, and when he starts rhyming in French, it's game over.
4. "Upgrade"
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
Speaking on Da Drought 3, Lil Wayne said that he was going in over any instrumental he heard come on the radio. Not even Beyoncé was safe, and Wayne didn't hold back on "Upgrade U." With a short intro and outro plus over three minutes of non-stop rapping, Wayne lets loose an avalanche of absurd non sequiturs and pop culture references. At times—like the hockey team line—it's absolutely ridiculous, but it's also one of Wayne's most entertaining tracks of all time.
3. "Get 'Em"
Mixtape: Dedication 2
Year: 2006
"Get 'Em" is Lil Wayne in attack mode, but instead of an undisciplined, aggressive assault, he is cold, calculated, and as precise as ever. At this point in his career, Wayne had mastered the art of control over his flow. While many of the best rappers remained focused solely on the words and the timing, Wayne was playing with subtle details of each word delivered. Even seemingly simple lines like "Y'all motherfuckers know me, I'm a rider in the side of the south" become highlights, showcasing Wayne's ability to flip his Southern drawl into potent ingredient.
2. "I Feel Like Dying"
Mixtape: The Drought Is Over 2 (The Carter 3 Sessions)
Year: 2006
Before Wayne's drug use became a topic of debate and concern as opposed to a muse, his love of various narcotics and their myriad effects formed the center of one of his most compelling and unhinged performances on "I Feel Like Dying." Crafting a surreal journey through a "sea of codeine," among other drug-related locales, Wayne painted a fascinating portrait of a man teetering between enlightenment and addiction, possibly tapping into both as he threw a little slack into his delivery and melted into the cloudy beat. "I Feel Like Dying" conjured the sense of too many drugs done at once, filtered through a virtuoso performance that was expressive without being overly emotive, loose without losing form.
1. "Sky is the Limit"
Mixtape: Da Drought 3
Year: 2007
Jacking beats for mixtapes is nothing new, but Lil Wayne took it to a new level with "Sky is the Limit." He lifted the production from Mike Jones' "Mr. Jones" and crafted a whole new song over it, chorus and all. The best part is that it's even better than the original. "Sky is the Limit" is the pinnacle of Mixtape Weezy.