Lil Wayne dropped Tha Carter VI on June 6, 2025, and as expected, it made a strong splash, just not quite enough to hit No. 1. The album landed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, pulling in 108,000 equivalent album units in its debut week. Of those, about 73,000 came from streaming, roughly 97 million on-demand plays, while 34,000 were from good old-fashioned album sales.
Lil Wayne: A Strong Debut but Not Number One
Finishing second isn’t bad by any means, but for an artist of Wayne’s caliber, it’s a shift. The album was edged out by Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem, which continues to ride a massive wave of success, claiming the top spot for a fourth straight week. Wallen nearly doubled Wayne’s first-week numbers.
For context, Wayne’s last solo project, Funeral (2020), debuted at No. 1 with 139,000 units. And going back to Tha Carter V in 2018? That album opened with a whopping 480,000 units. So yeah, Tha Carter VI is still a win, but it’s a quieter one compared to Wayne’s past blockbuster drops.
What’s New With Carter VI?
Tha Carter VI spans 19 tracks and blends Lil Wayne’s signature flow with a wide range of collaborations. You’ve got familiar faces like 2 Chainz and Big Sean, but also some eyebrow-raising cameos from U2’s Bono and opera legend Andrea Bocelli. Yep, Bocelli. And it doesn’t stop there, Wayne’s sons, Kameron Carter and Lil Novi, even hop on the mic, adding a more intimate, family-driven vibe to the mix.
Production-wise, the album brings together a variety of heavy hitters, including Wheezy, Wyclef Jean, and even Kanye West (or Ye, if you’re keeping up). The result is a sound that feels both experimental and rooted in Wayne’s style. One track, “The Days” featuring Bono, even made it into ESPN’s NBA Finals coverage, signaling the album’s crossover appeal.
Mixed Reviews and Fan Reactions
Despite the lineup and production polish, fan reactions have been mixed, and critics haven’t been overly kind either. A common complaint? The album just doesn’t hit like the earlier Carter entries. Some longtime fans say it lacks the raw energy that defined Wayne’s rise and cemented his legacy.
Still a Legend, Still Evolving
Regardless of where the album charted, Tha Carter VI is Wayne’s 13th top 10 album on the Billboard 200, proof he’s still got staying power. But the numbers also hint that we might be entering a different phase of his career. The big splashy dominance may be fading, but Wayne’s willingness to evolve and explore new sounds hasn’t gone anywhere.
He’s also hitting the road to support the album, kicking things off with a major show at Madison Square Garden on June 6. Whether you’re a day-one fan or just curious to see what Wayne’s up to these days, the tour could be a chance to hear Tha Carter VI the way it was meant to be experienced: loud, live, and straight from the legend himself.
