500 Degreez

A year before the release of his third solo project, Lil' Wayne remained the only member of the Hot Boys quartet under the Cash Money Records, as his companions Turk, B.G. and Juvenile all left the group and the label due to financial disagreements. After the departure of the Cash Money's top-selling artist at that time, Juvenile, Wayne suggested to the head of the label and, concurrently, his mentor, Birdman, that he call his upcoming solo album 500 Degreez as a nod to Juve's 400 Degreez, which by December 19, 2000 had already been sold four million copies. "It was a rebellion album, we was supposed to show that Juvie was gone and we were still here", said Lil' Wayne in an interview with Wild Wayne of New Orleans radio station Q93 in 2015, "When we did it, we had no problem saying, 'Yeah, we don't need no Juvie. This is 500 Degreez{{'}}".{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Cherise |date=July 8, 2015 |title=Lil Wayne Explains Link Between Young Thug's "Barter 6" & Juvenile's "400 Degreez" |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.34573/title.lil-wayne-explains-link-between-young-thugs-barter-6-juveniles-400-degreez |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}} Juvenile, in turn, threatened to release 600 Degrees, but the project never materialised.{{Cite web |last=Van Nguyen |first=Dean |date=November 23, 2018 |title=Juvenile's '400 Degreez' encapsulated Cash Money's first wave of inventiveness |url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/juveniles-400-degreez-encapsulated-cash-moneys-first-wave-of-inventiveness/ |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=CRACK}} However, Juvenile's manager Aubrey Francis and Birdman met and negotiated a deal for Juvenile to release one further solo album for Cash Money. Thus, in 2003, Juve the Great was released omitting Wayne's participation in it.

A roughly similar situation arose while waiting for the release of Lil' Wayne's Tha Carter V, when rapper Young Thug at the end of 2014 announced his plans to release a series of projects entitled Carter from IV to X as an homage to Wayne.{{Cite web |last=Mojica |first=Nicholas |date=April 15, 2015 |title=Young Thug Vs. Lil Wayne: A Timeline Of The Rapper's 'Carter 6' Beef |url=http://www.designntrend.com/articles/47414/20150415/young-thug-vs-lil-wayne-a-timeline-of-the-rappers-carter-6-beef.htm |access-date=July 10, 2015 |website=Design & Trend|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710133915/http://www.designntrend.com/articles/47414/20150415/young-thug-vs-lil-wayne-a-timeline-of-the-rappers-carter-6-beef.htm |archive-date=10 July 2015 }} Subsequently, due to delays of Tha Carter V release, a feud with Young Thug (since he nevertheless released his mixtape, but under the name Barter 6, wherein Birdman appeared on two tracks), contractual disputes with the label, personal disputes with Birdman, a lengthy legal battle, Lil' Wayne have been finally released from his Cash Money Records contract in June 2018.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=John |title=500 Degreez - Lil Wayne {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/500-degreez-mw0000660211 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107183722/http://www.allmusic.com/album/500-degreez-mw0000660211 |archive-date=January 7, 2017 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}

| rev2 = HipHopDX

| rev2score = 3/5{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=DeMarco |date=August 8, 2002 |title=Lil' Wayne - 500 Degreez |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.199/title.lil-wayne-500-degreez |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924135800/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.199/title.lil-wayne-500-degreez |archive-date=September 24, 2012 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}

| rev3 = RapReviews

| rev3score = 6/10{{Cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve 'Flash' |date=July 23, 2002 |title=Lil Wayne 500 Degreez |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2002/07/lil-wayne-500-degreez/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525235746/http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2002_07F_500.html |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=RapReviews |language=en-US}}

| rev4 = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev4score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite book |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&q=Lil+Wayne+500+Degreez&pg=PA394 |title={The New} Rolling Stone Album Guide |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7432-0169-8 |editor-last=Brackett |editor-first=Nathan |editor-link=Nathan Brackett |editor-last2=Hoard |editor-first2=Christian David |editor-link2=Christian Hoard |pages=394–395 |language=en |via=Google Books}}

| rev5 = USA Today

| rev5score = {{Rating|2|4}}{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Steve |date=July 30, 2002 |title=Lil' Wayne, 500 Degreez (two stars) |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2002-07-29-listen-up_x.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026044746/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2002-07-29-listen-up_x.htm |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |newspaper=USA Today |page=D10}}

| rev6 = XXL

| rev6score = 2/5 (M){{Cite magazine |last=Coolidge |first=Ian |date=September 2002 |title=Critical Breakdown: Lil' Wayne – 500 Degreez |magazine=XXL |publisher=Harris Publications |location=New York |page=196 |issue=40}}

}}

500 Degreez received average reviews from music critics.

Together with Mannie Fresh's "smooth, laid-back production" and "top-flight beats", AllMusic's John Bush also praised "Wayne's drawling delivery" and Petey Pablo's guest spot on the album. Brett Berliner of Stylus Magazine highlighted the album's lead single "Way of Life" for its "trademark southern flair".{{Cite magazine |last=Berliner |first=Brett |date=November 18, 2002 |title=Pop Playground - October 2002 Hip Hop Round-Up |url=http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/pop_playground/october-2002-hip-hop-round-up.htm |access-date=May 10, 2012 |magazine=Stylus Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510102230/http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/pop_playground/october-2002-hip-hop-round-up.htm |archive-date=10 May 2012 |via=Wayback Machine}} Sam Chennault of Rhapsody stated that the album "has a score of killer hooks and infectious Dirty South beats" and found "Fresh's adlibs are among the funniest in all the business and are comic foil to Wayne's party anthems".{{Cite web |last=Chennault |first=Sam |date= |title=500 Degreez : Lil Wayne : Rhapsody |url=http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/lil-wayne/album/500-degreez |access-date=March 31, 2013 |website=Rhapsody |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331220430/http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/lil-wayne/album/500-degreez |archive-date=31 March 2013 |via=Wayback Machine}}

In mixed reviews, DeMarco Williams of HipHopDX called it "just another average Cash Money Records release". Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews resumed: "the only hot thing about 500 Degreez is the Fresh beats found within". Steve Jones of USA Today wrote: "Wayne covers too much of the same bling-bling and gangsta territory that has been trodden so many times before. The same goes for the fast-forward-fodder skits, which add length but not depth". Keith Harris of The Village Voice wrote: "on 500 Degreez, Wayne's clipped, slightly nasal chatter shares heartfelt but commonplace observations about the street hustle atop standard-issue Mannie Fresh bump-and-twitch", adding that "Wayne's between-track ad libs are more entertaining than his actual rhymes".{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Keith |date=October 8, 2002 |title=Licensed to Lil |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/licensed-to-lil/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205172950/http://www.villagevoice.com/2002-10-08/music/licensed-to-lil/ |archive-date=February 5, 2015 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=The Village Voice |language=en-US}}

The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts in the United States, with 141,000 copies sold in the first week.{{Cite magazine |last= |first= |date=August 1, 2002 |title=New Keith Album 'Unleashed' At No. 1 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/new-keith-album-unleashed-at-no-1-74734/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122073504/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/74734/new-keith-album-unleashed-at-no-1 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} 500 Degreez marks Wayne's second US top-ten debut as well as his second number-one R&B album, following 1999's Tha Block Is Hot.{{Cite web |last=Pierre |first=Georgette |date=August 8, 2014 |title=Drake Vs. Lil Wayne: Comparing Their Careers At Age 27 |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/jqk5d1/drake-vs-lil-wayne-comparison |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201031537/https://www.vh1.com/news/jqk5d1/drake-vs-lil-wayne-comparison |archive-date=December 1, 2023 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=VH1 |language=en-us}} As of September 3, 2002, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States alone.

Its lead single, "Way of Life", peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, number 26 on the Hot Rap Songs and number 27 on the Rhythmic charts.

{{Track listing

| all_writing =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Fly Talkin'

| writer1 = {{hlist|Bryan Williams|Byron Thomas}}

| extra1 = Mannie Fresh

| length1 = 1:35

| title2 = Look at Me

| writer2 = {{hlist|Dwayne Carter|Williams|Thomas}}

| extra2 = Mannie Fresh

| length2 = 4:00

| title3 = Way of Life

| note3 = featuring Big Tymers and TQ

| writer3 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas|Terrence Quaites|Francine Vicki Golde|Dennis Lambert|Duane Hitchings}}

| extra3 = Mannie Fresh

| length3 = 3:59

| title4 = Big Tigger Live on the Radio

| writer4 = {{hlist|Darian Morgan|Thomas}}

| extra4 = Mannie Fresh

| length4 = 1:31

| title5 = Gangsta and Pimps

| note5 = featuring Baby

| writer5 = {{hlist|Williams|Thomas|G. Green}}

| extra5 = Mannie Fresh

| length5 = 4:41

| title6 = Lovely

| writer6 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas}}

| extra6 = Mannie Fresh

| length6 = 4:02

| title7 = Gangsta Shit

| note7 = featuring Petey Pablo

| writer7 = {{hlist|Carter|Moses Barrett III|Thomas}}

| extra7 = Mannie Fresh

| length7 = 3:40

| title8 = Big Tigger Live on the Radio

| writer8 = {{hlist|Morgan|Thomas}}

| extra8 = Mannie Fresh

| length8 = 0:58

| title9 = Bloodline

| writer9 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas}}

| extra9 = Mannie Fresh

| length9 = 4:21

| title10 = Where You At

| writer10 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas}}

| extra10 = Mannie Fresh

| length10 = 3:50

| title11 = Worry Me

| writer11 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas}}

| extra11 = Mannie Fresh

| length11 = 4:06

| title12 = 500 Degreez

| writer12 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas}}

| extra12 = Mannie Fresh

| length12 = 3:45

| title13 = Go Hard

| writer13 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas}}

| extra13 = Mannie Fresh

| length13 = 3:30

| title14 = Young'n Blues

| writer14 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas}}

| extra14 = Mannie Fresh

| length14 = 4:32

| title15 = Believe That

| note15 = featuring Blaque and Mannie Fresh

| writer15 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas|Phalon Alexander}}

| extra15 = Jazze Pha

| length15 = 4:12

| title16 = Rob Nice Live on the Radio

| writer16 = {{hlist|Rob Nice|Thomas}}

| extra16 = Mannie Fresh

| length16 = 1:13

| title17 = Fuck You

| note17 = featuring Big Tymers

| writer17 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas|Williams}}

| extra17 = Mannie Fresh

| length17 = 4:20

| title18 = What Does Life Mean to Me

| note18 = featuring TQ and Big Tymers

| writer18 = {{hlist|Carter|Quaites|Thomas|Williams}}

| extra18 = Mannie Fresh

| length18 = 1:25

| title19 = Get That Dough

| note19 = featuring Baby, Tateeze and Cristale

| writer19 = {{hlist|Carter|Williams|Alexander}}

| extra19 = Jazze Pha

| length19 = 3:38

| title20 = Fo Sheezy

| writer20 = {{hlist|Carter|Thomas}}

| extra20 = Mannie Fresh

| length20 = 3:44

| title21 = Fly Talkin' Go Home

| writer21 = {{hlist|Williams|Thomas}}

| extra21 = Mannie Fresh

| length21 = 3:20

| total_length = 1:10:22

}}

;Sample credits

• Track 3 contains elements from "Don't Look Any Further" written by Francine Vicki Golde, Dennis Lambert and Duane Hitchings and performed by Dennis Edwards.

{{div col}}

• Dwayne "Lil' Wayne" Carter – vocals
• Bryan "Baby" Williams – vocals, executive producer
• Byron "Mannie Fresh" Thomas – vocals, producer
• Terrance "TQ" Quaites – vocals (tracks: 3, 18)
• Darian "Big Tigger" Morgan – vocals (tracks: 4, 8)
• Moses "Petey Pablo" Barrett III – vocals (track 7)
• Blaque – vocals (track 15)
• Rob Nice – vocals (track 16)
• Marinna "Tateeze" Teal – vocals (track 19)
• Cristale – vocals (track 19)
• Phalon "Jazze Pha" Alexander – producer (tracks: 15, 19)
• Mark Goodchild – recording (tracks: 1, 4, 6-12, 15-19, 21), mixing (tracks: 1, 4, 8, 16, 18, 21)
• Mike Wilson – recording (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20)
• Steve Fisher – recording (tracks: 7, 9, 10, 20), mixing assistant (tracks: 2, 3, 5-7, 9-14, 17)
• Leslie Brathwaite – mixing (tracks: 2, 3, 5-7, 9-15, 17, 19, 20)
• Greg Stewart – engineering assistant (tracks: 1, 4, 8, 15, 16, 18-21)
• Cory Williams – engineering assistant (track 15), mixing assistant (tracks: 7, 9, 10, 20)
• Ismel "Nino" Ramos – engineering assistant (track 17), mixing assistant (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 9)
• Aaron Harris – mixing assistant (track 3)
• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• Ronald "Slim" Williams – executive producer
• Adrienne Muhammad – A&R
• Dino Delvaille – A&R

{{div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Lil Wayne|title=500 Degreez|award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|93036|500 Degreez|type=album}}

{{Lil Wayne}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2002 albums

Category:Lil Wayne albums

Category:Universal Records albums

Category:Cash Money Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Jazze Pha

Category:Albums produced by Mannie Fresh