Dedication 2
Dedication 2 is the fifth 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.[5] Despite its illegal use of unlicensed instrumentals and samples,[4] it was sold through iTunes and retail stores such as Best Buy and FYE,[6] was widely reviewed in the mainstream media,[6] and peaked at #69 on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart.[7] The cover shows Lil Wayne with "Fear God" tattooed on his eyelids.[1] Much of the mixtape showcases Lil Wayne's free associating rhymes and "liquid non-sequiturs."[3]
Dedication 2 | ||||
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Mixtape by | ||||
Released | May 22, 2006 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 81:07 | |||
Label | Cash Money, The Aphilliates | |||
Producer |
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Compiler | DJ Drama | |||
Lil Wayne chronology | ||||
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Back cover | ||||
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | link |
Robert Christgau | link |
Pitchfork Media | (8.1/10) [1] |
RapReviews | (8/10) link |
Rhapsody | (favorable) link |
Slate | (favorable) [2] |
Stylus | B link |
Village Voice | (favorable) [3] |
Washington Post | (favorable) [4] |
XXL |
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,[8] The New York Times critic Kelefa Sanneh,[9][10] the Baltimore City Paper's Jason Torres,[11] and appearing on a panel of critics at the Washington City Paper.[12] Tom Breihan of The Village Voice proclaimed it the best summer album of 2006, praising DJ Drama's "impeccable beat selection".[3] "SportsCenter" was complimented for its "free associating brain bursts."[13] The track titled "Georgia... Bush" was also acclaimed for its "mesmerizing indictment" of President Bush.[4][2] In 2009, Rhapsody ranked this album at number 15 on its "100 Best Albums of the Decade"[14] list.
Track listing
# | Title | Length | Producer(s) | Featured guest(s) | Sample(s) |
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1 | "The Best in the Business" | 0:41 | |||
2 | "Get 'Em" | 3:20 | Hannon Lane |
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3 | "They Still Like Me" | 2:18 |
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4 | "I'm the Best Rapper Alive" | 1:16 |
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5 | "Cannon (AMG Remix)" | 6:15 | Don Cannon |
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6 | "Workin Em" | 3:12 | DJ Infamous | ||
7 | "SportsCenter" | 2:49 | DJ Green Lantern |
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8 | "Welcome to tha Jungle" | 2:29 | Clayton Haraba | Juelz Santana | |
9 | "Spitter" | 3:15 | Swizz Beatz | ||
10 | "South Muzik" | 3:16 | Organized Noize | ||
11 | "This What I Call Her" | 2:44 | 9th Wonder |
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12 | "Dedication 2" | 2:43 | Kanye West |
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13 | "Weezy on Retirement" | 0:42 | |||
14 | "Poppin them Bottles" | 4:33 |
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15 | "What You Know (Remix)" | 4:09 | DJ Toomp | T.I. |
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16 | "Where da Cash At" | 4:24 | The Runners |
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17 | "Ridin wit the AK" | 4:17 |
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18 | "Weezy on the Streetz of N.O." | 0:26 | |||
19 | "Walk It Off" | 5:40 |
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20 | "Hustlin" | 4:00 | The Runners | ||
21 | "Gettin Some Head" | 3:47 | Xcel | Pharrell |
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22 | "A Dedication After Disaster" | 0:48 | |||
23 | "No Other" | 5:27 |
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Juelz Santana |
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24 | "Outta Here" | 0:53 | |||
25 | "Georgia... Bush" | 7:27 | Vudu Spellz |
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"Weezy's Ambitionz" (Hidden Track) | Daz Dillinger |
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Charts
Chart (2007) | Peak position |
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US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] | 69 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[17] | 30 |
References
- Macia, Peter (June 22, 2006). "DJ Drama & Lil Wayne - Dedication 2". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- Rosen, Jody (October 3, 2006). "The Best Rapper Alive vs. George Bush". Slate. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- Breihan, Tom (July 5, 2006). "The Quarterly Report: The Summer's Best Albums". The Village Voice. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- Richards, Chris (July 5, 2006). "Hip-Hop Mixtapes: Unlicensed to Thrill". The Washington Post. p. C5. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- Sanneh, Kelefa (November 1, 2006). "A Rap Star at His Peak, With Fans to Let Down". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- Shapiro, Samantha M. (February 18, 2007). "Hip-Hop Outlaw (Industry Version)". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- "Artist Chart History - Lil Wayne". Billboard. 2007. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
- Frere-Jones, Sasha (December 14, 2006). "Best of 2006". Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- Sanneh, Kelefa (December 24, 2006). "Timberlake, Timbaland and Monkeys". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- Sanneh, Kelefa (July 20, 2006). "Mixtapes Mix In the Marketing That Fuels the Hip-Hop Industry". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- Torres, Jason (December 13, 2006). "The Year in Music". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- "The 2006 CP Top 20". Washington City Paper. 2006. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- Dombal, Ryan (June 2, 2006). "DJ Drama & Lil Wayne: "Sportscenter" (Track Review)". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- "Rhapsody's 100 Best Albums of the Decade" Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- Sanneh, Kelefa (December 4, 2006). "Eminem and Lil Wayne rapping with friends". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- "DJ Drama Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- "Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 11, 2012.