Dedication 4
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Dedication 4
| type = Mixtape
| artist = Lil Wayne
| cover = Dedication_4_Artwork.jpg
| alt =
| released = September 3, 2012
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 52:00
| label = Young Money, Aphilliates Music Group
| producer = * DJ Drama
- The Beat Bully
- Brian Soko
- Chase Davis
- Detail
- DJ Khaled
- DJ Spinz
- Dre Proctor
- EZ Elpee
- Hit-Boy
- Jahlil Beats
- Kanye West
- K.E. on the Track
- Key Wane
- Lifted
- Mike Will Made It
- Outkast
- Rasool Diaz
- Sarom
- Sonny Digital
- Streetrunner
- Young Chop
| compiler = DJ Drama
| prev_title = Tha Carter IV
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = I Am Not a Human Being II
| next_year = 2013
}}
Dedication 4 is the eleventh mixtape by American rapper Lil Wayne. The mixtape, hosted by DJ Drama, was originally supposed to be released on August 15, 2012,{{Cite web |url=http://www.thesource.com/articles/235270?thesource-prod=kr3f9cu37ouvot4j8j894lbti1 |title=The Source - Lil Wayne Talks to DJ Drama About Dedication 4 |access-date=2012-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201090420/http://www.thesource.com/articles/235270?thesource-prod=kr3f9cu37ouvot4j8j894lbti1 |archive-date=2012-12-01 |url-status=dead }} but got delayed several times{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/mackmaine/status/235727144603504640 |title=Mack Maine on Twitter: "Dedication 4 will not drop today we will announce the new date soon...(Dodges bullets)" |publisher=Twitter.com |date=2012-08-15 |access-date=2015-07-18}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LilTunechi/status/238759443993595904 |title=Lil Wayne WEEZY F on Twitter: "D4 aug-30" |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2015-07-18}} and was released on September 3, 2012. It is the fourth installment of Lil Wayne's Dedication series, following its predecessors The Dedication, Dedication 2 and Dedication 3. It's also the fourth installment of Lil Wayne's "Gangsta Grillz" series.
Background
On July 15, 2012, Lil Wayne announced that the mixtape will be released sometime in August 2012, stating "Dedikation 4 coming next month".{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LilTunechi/status/227135510445973504 |title=Lil Wayne WEEZY F on Twitter: "Dedikation 4 komin next month." |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2015-07-18}} DJ Drama revealed to MTV, stated that Cortez Bryant told him that Wayne "had been mentioning it and was gearing up", and during a stop of Drake's Club Paradise Tour, where Bryant told him "it was a 100% go".{{cite web|last=Robertson |first=Darryl |url=http://www.vibe.com/article/lil-wayne-and-dj-drama-will-release-dedication-4-mixtape |title=Lil Wayne and DJ Drama Will Release 'Dedication 4′ Mixtape |publisher=Vibe |date=2012-07-23 |access-date=2015-07-18}} On August 1, Wayne confirmed the release date of the mixtape when he called into DJ Drama's Hot 107.9 radio show. Wayne then also named three instrumentals ("Cashin Out", "I Don't Like", and "Burn") that he had already rapped over.{{cite web|url=http://www.lilwaynehq.com/tag/dedication-4/ |title=Dedication 4 Tag |publisher=Lil Wayne HQ |access-date=2015-07-18}} On August 15, Mack Maine wrote that the release date of the mixtape got pushed back to a then unknown date, Maine also said that Wayne would announce the new release date and that there "something special" (which later turned out to be the track, "No Lie"{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9s3WDjOu9I |title=Dedikation Update(directed by Dj Scoob Doo) |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-08-15 |access-date=2015-07-18}}), stating "Announcement and something special will be delivered by @LilTunechi today....#stayTUNEd".{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/mackmaine/status/235735077781401600 |title=Mack Maine on Twitter: "Announcement and something special will be delivered by @LilTunechi today #stayTUNEd" |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=2015-07-18}} Also on August 15, Wayne later explained that he didn't release Dedication 4, because his friend and fellow rapper 2 Chainz released his debut record, Based on a T.R.U. Story (August 14), and that he wanted all the attention to go onto 2 Chainz.{{cite web|url=http://www.karencivil.com/2012/08/16/lil-wayne-drops-no-lie-freestyle-off-dedication-4/ |title=Karen Civil.com |publisher=Karen Civil.com |date=2012-08-16 |access-date=2015-07-18}} The mixtape{{'s}} official artwork was released through Wayne's Facebook page on August 16.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150266535304959&set=a.278066004958.28971.6885814958&type=1 |title=Lil Wayne - Timeline Photos |publisher=Facebook |access-date=2015-07-18}}
On August 17, Nicki Minaj confirmed that she would be featured on the mixtape.{{cite web|author=mtv |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691989/nicki-minaj-lil-wayne-dedication-4.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818220626/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691989/nicki-minaj-lil-wayne-dedication-4.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |title=Lil Wayne Gives Nicki Minaj Control Of Dedication 4 Freestyle |publisher=MTV |date=2012-08-17 |access-date=2015-07-18}} On August 24, Wayne announced the mixtape would be released on August 30, stating "D4 aug-30", however, on August 30, it was confirmed by DJ Drama that the mixtape would be pushed back to September 3. The mixtape got pushed back again, because Cortez Bryant wanted DJ Drama to properly set it up.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1hxtBETgSA&feature=g-all-u |title=Welcome To The Dedication 4(directed by Dj Scoob Doo) |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-08-31 |access-date=2015-07-18}} On September 3, the mixtape was released for free download on multiple mixtape websites at 12:00PM EST, in which then got pushed back to 4:00PM EST, and was finally release at 4:30PM EST. On February 4, 2025, the mixtape was re-released on streaming services.{{Citation |title=Dedication 4 |date=2012-09-03 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5IE1a9XPiP4Mr8RkxnYoFE |access-date=2025-02-05 |language=en}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = BET.com
|rev2 = Billboard
|rev2Score = (58/100){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1066880/mixtape-review-lil-wayne-dj-drama-dedication-4|title=Mixtape Review: Lil Wayne & DJ Drama, 'Dedication 4'|magazine=Billboard }}
|rev3 = Consequence of Sound
|rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Rosenberg |first=Gabe |url=https://consequence.net/2012/09/album-review-lil-wayne-dedication-4-mixtape/ |title=Lil Wayne – Dedication 4 |publisher=Consequence of Sound |date=2012-09-13 |access-date=2015-07-18}}
|rev4 = Exclaim!
|rev5 = HipHopDX
|rev6 = Pitchfork Media
|rev6Score = (5/10){{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17159-dedication-4/ |title=Lil Wayne: Dedication 4 |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2012-09-10 |access-date=2015-07-18}}
|rev7 = RapReviews
|rev8 = Rolling Stone
|rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Rosen |first=Jody |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/dedication-4-20120910 |title=Lil Wayne Dedication 4 Album Review |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2012-09-10 |access-date=2015-07-18}}
|rev9 = The Washington Post
|rev10 = XXL
|rev10Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Fleischer |first=Adam |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2012/09/lil-wayne-dedication-4/ |title=Lil Wayne, Dedication 4 |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2012-09-08 |access-date=2015-07-18}}
}}
Upon its release, Dedication 4 was met with mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60, which indicates "mixed or average reviews" based on 7 reviews. Kevin Jones of Exclaim! said, "Wayne's current stylistic tack of relying entirely on rap metaphors, along with a thematic scope limited almost exclusively to sex and periodic sprinkles of king-of-the-hill braggadocio, leaves listeners awash in an endless streams of exhausting wordplay, with relatively few moments of genuine, smirk-inducing entertainment." William Ketchum III of HipHopDX said, "Dedication 4 won’t have the iconic, game-changing longevity that the series’ first two did, but it's still a snack-sized offering that offers glimpses of the New Orleans youngster who proclaimed himself as the "Best Rapper Alive" Regardless, seeing Dedication in the title will likely inspire listeners to turn up previous classics like "Cannon," "Georgia…Bush" and "Motivation." Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone said, "This summer, Lil Wayne told a radio station that rap had become "boring," and that he prefers to spend time on his skateboard. Yet on much of this mixtape, he sounds less bored than he has in years, drawling filthy, funny rhymes over beats borrowed from Rick Ross, 2 Chainz and more." Jayson Greene of Pitchfork Media said, "The worst I can say about Dedication 4 is that there isn't one moment where I wouldn't rather be listening to the often mediocre originals. There are a dozen or so good punch lines scattered on D4, enough to make it fun enough for one listen "
Track listing
All tracks were arranged by DJ Drama.
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Original Instrumental
| title1 = So Dedicated
| note1 = featuring Birdman
| length1 = 2:44
| extra1 = "So Sophisticated" (Rick Ross and Meek Mill)
| title2 = Same Damn Tune
| length2 = 3:06
| extra2 = "Same Damn Time" (Future)
| title3 = Cashed Out
| length3 = 3:57
| extra3 = "Cashin' Out" (Cash Out)
| title4 = No Worries
| note4 = featuring Detail
| length4 = 3:30
| extra4 =
| title5 = Mercy
| note5 = featuring Nicki Minaj
| length5= 4:48
| extra5 = "Mercy" (Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)
| title6 = Burn
| length6 = 3:38
| extra6 = "Burn" (Meek Mill and Big Sean)
| title7 = Amen
| note7 = featuring Boo
| length7 = 3:18
| extra7 = "Amen" (Meek Mill and Drake)
| title8 = Get Smoked (Remix)
| note8 = performed by Lil Mouse featuring Lil Wayne
| length8= 3:49
| extra8 = "Get Smoked" (Lil Mouse)
| title9 = My Homies Still
| note9 = performed by Young Jeezy, Jae Millz, and Gudda Gudda
| length9 = 2:57
| extra9 = "My Homies Still" (Lil Wayne and Big Sean)
| title10 = Green Ranger
| note10 = featuring J. Cole
| length10 = 3:21
| extra10 = "Special Delivery" (G. Dep and P. Diddy)
| title11 = Don't Like
| note11 =
| length11 = 2:35
| extra11 = "I Don't Like (GOOD Music Remix)" (Chief Keef, Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean, and Jadakiss)
| title12 = No Lie
| length12 = 2:31
| extra12 = "No Lie" (2 Chainz and Drake)
| title13 = Magic
| note13 = featuring Flow
| length13 = 2:34
| extra13 = "Magic" (Future and T.I.)
| title14 = Wish You Would
| length14 = 3:02
| extra14 = "Wish You Would" (DJ Khaled, Kanye West, and Rick Ross)
| title15 = A Dedication
| length15 = 6:10
| extra15 = "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" (Outkast)
| total_length = 52:00
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Lil Wayne}}
{{DJ Drama}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Lil Wayne mixtape albums