Director Adam Bhala Lough lets Lil Wayne’s music speak in this one. It should always be that way in music docs, but Lough does it because he has to (Wayne refused to answer Lough’s questions and eventually dropped his support for the film and tried to sue the producers). The Carter is an affirmation of how solitary, surreal and rock star the rapper is—Wayne’s candid use of “syrup” (promethazine-codeine) becomes parallel to Kurt Cobain’s abuse of heroin. If you aren’t already a fan, this probably won’t convert you. But if you’re one of the 16 million people who have bought one of his albums, Wayne’s dark world will captivate.
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2010.