During a recent episode of his self-titled podcast, Joe Budden commented on how he feels that Lil Wayne isn't the same artist anymore, judging from his work on Tha Carter VI.

Lil Wayne’s long-anticipated Tha Carter VI has officially arrived, marking the return of one of hip-hop’s most celebrated series. Released at midnight on June 6, the 19-track album showcases Wayne’s lyrical agility and genre-bending ambition, reaffirming his position as a creative force.

“Welcome 2 Tha Carter” follows with what sounds like an AI-generated soul sample. Wayne spits scorching bars, sounding confident and lucid. At this point, everything is going as expected—Wayne is sharp, the production feels ambitious, and you’re ready for a ride through a new royal era. But that momentum fades by track six.