Dedication 2 Explained

Dedication 2
Type:Mixtape
Artist:Lil Wayne
Cover:Dedication 2.jpg
Genre:Hip hop
Length:81:07
Label:Cash Money, The Aphilliates
Producer:
Compiler:DJ Drama
Prev Title:The Dedication
Prev Year:2005
Next Title:Like Father, Like Son
Next Year:2006

Dedication 2 is the sixth mixtape by Lil Wayne, hosted by DJ Drama. It is a sequel to Lil Wayne's previous mixtape, The Dedication, and is second in DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz series with Lil Wayne. It is one of the few mixtapes in the hip hop genre to be both financially successful and critically acclaimed.[1] Despite its illegal use of unlicensed instrumentals and samples,[2] it was sold through iTunes and retail stores such as Best Buy and FYE,[3] was widely reviewed in the mainstream media, and peaked at #69 on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart.[4] The cover shows Lil Wayne with "Fear God" tattooed on his eyelids.[5] Much of the mixtape showcases Lil Wayne's free associating rhymes and "liquid non-sequiturs."[6]

Critical reception

Dedication 2 became a highly acclaimed mixtape by appearing on the year-end top ten lists from the New Yorker critic Sasha Frere-Jones,[7] The New York Times critic Kelefa Sanneh,[8] [9] the Baltimore City Paper's]] Jason Torres,[10] and appearing on a panel of critics at the Washington City Paper.[11] Tom Breihan of The Village Voice proclaimed it the best summer album of 2006, praising DJ Drama's "impeccable beat selection". "SportsCenter" was complimented for its "free associating brain bursts."[12] The track titled "Georgia... Bush" was also acclaimed for its "mesmerizing indictment" of President Bush.[13] In 2009, Rhapsody ranked this album at number 15 on its "100 Best Albums of the Decade"[14] list.

Track listing

TitleLengthProducer(s)Featured guest(s)Sample(s)
1"The Best in the Business"0:41
2"Get 'Em"3:20Hannon Lane
3"They Still Like Me"2:18
4"I'm the Best Rapper Alive"1:16
5"Cannon (AMG Remix)"6:15Don Cannon
6"Workin Em"3:12DJ Infamous
7"SportsCenter"2:49DJ Green Lantern
  • "The Game Iz Mine" by Jay-Z
8"Welcome to tha Jungle"2:29Clayton HarabaJuelz Santana
9"Spitter"3:15Swizz Beatz
10"South Muzik"3:16Organized Noize
11"This What I Call Her"2:449th Wonder
12"Dedication 2"2:43
13"Weezy on Retirement"0:42
14"Poppin them Bottles"4:33
15"What You Know (Remix)"4:09DJ ToompT.I.
16"Where da Cash At"4:24The Runners
17"Ridin wit the AK"4:17
18"Weezy on the Streetz of N.O."0:26
19"Walk It Off"5:40
  • "Don't U Be Greedy" by U.N.L.V.
20"Hustlin"4:00The Runners
21"Gettin Some Head"3:47XcelPharrell
22"A Dedication After Disaster"0:48
23"No Other"5:27Juelz Santana
24"Outta Here"0:53
25"Georgia... Bush"7:27Vudu Spellz
"Weezy's Ambitionz" (Hidden Track)Daz Dillinger

Charts

Chart (2007)Peak
position
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[16] 30
US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] 69

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: A Rap Star at His Peak, With Fans to Let Down. Sanneh. Kelefa. Kelefa Sanneh. The New York Times. November 1, 2006. 2007-10-07.
  2. News: Hip-Hop Mixtapes: Unlicensed to Thrill. Richards. Chris. The Washington Post. July 5, 2006. C5. 2007-10-07.
  3. News: Hip-Hop Outlaw (Industry Version). Shapiro. Samantha M.. The New York Times. February 18, 2007. 2007-10-07.
  4. Artist Chart History - Lil Wayne . . 2007 . 2007-10-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140427201012/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-05-24/r-b-hip-hop-albums . April 27, 2014 .
  5. Web site: DJ Drama & Lil Wayne - Dedication 2. Macia. Peter. Pitchfork Media. June 22, 2006. 2013-08-28.
  6. News: The Quarterly Report: The Summer's Best Albums. Breihan. Tom. The Village Voice. July 5, 2006. 2007-10-07.
  7. Web site: Best of 2006. Frere-Jones. Sasha. Sasha Frere-Jones. December 14, 2006. 2007-10-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20071006171821/http://www.sashafrerejones.com/2005/12/best_of_2006.html. October 6, 2007. dead.
  8. News: Timberlake, Timbaland and Monkeys. Sanneh. Kelefa. Kelefa Sanneh. The New York Times. December 24, 2006. 2007-10-07.
  9. News: Mixtapes Mix In the Marketing That Fuels the Hip-Hop Industry. Sanneh. Kelefa. Kelefa Sanneh. The New York Times. July 20, 2006. 2007-10-07.
  10. Web site: The Year in Music. Torres. Jason. Baltimore City Paper. December 13, 2006. 2007-10-07.
  11. News: The 2006 CP Top 20. Washington City Paper. 2006. 2007-10-07. October 29, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071029132602/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/special/2006top20/. dead.
  12. Web site: DJ Drama & Lil Wayne: "Sportscenter" (Track Review). Dombal. Ryan. Pitchfork Media. June 2, 2006. 2013-08-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20070512122906/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/track_review/36871-sportscenter. 2007-05-12. dead.
  13. The Best Rapper Alive vs. George Bush. Rosen. Jody. Slate. October 3, 2006. 2007-10-07.
  14. http://blog.rhapsody.com/2009/12/100-best-pop-albums-of-the-decade-20-11.html "Rhapsody's 100 Best Albums of the Decade"
  15. News: Eminem and Lil Wayne rapping with friends. Sanneh. Kelefa. Kelefa Sanneh. International Herald Tribune. December 4, 2006. 2007-10-07.
  16. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lil wayne|chart=Independent Albums}} Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History: Independent Albums]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2012-03-11.
  17. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=dj drama|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums B}} DJ Drama Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2012-03-11.