No Drake, No Nicki: Lil Wayne Surprises Fans With Unexpected “Carter VI” Guests

Lil Wayne delivered his long-awaited Tha Carter VI on Friday (June 6), unleashing a 19-track album packed with unexpected collaborations.

The project marks Wayne’s first solo release since 2020’s Funeral and continues the legacy of his Carter series, which has consistently topped the Billboard 200.

Clocking in at 67 minutes, the album blends his signature wordplay with a wide range of guest appearances, including Bono, Andrea Bocelli, Wyclef Jean, Jelly Roll, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Kodak Black, MGK, and Mannie Fresh.

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One of the album’s standout tracks, “Maria,” features Bocelli singing “Ave Maria” alongside Wyclef Jean.

According to Wyclef, he flew to Italy to personally ask Bocelli for permission to sample him. After learning about Wayne’s childhood trauma and surviving a self-inflicted gunshot at age 12, Bocelli chose to record the part himself. Wyclef told Rolling Stone, “It’s one of them records that I feel is going to stop time.”

Wayne’s sons Kameron Carter and Lil Novi make an appearance on “Rari” and “Mula Komin In,” respectively.

Despite swirling rumors, Drake and Nicki Minaj are nowhere to be found on the tracklist, leaving many listeners disappointed.

The only single released ahead of the album, “The Days” featuring Bono, premiered during NBA Finals coverage, keeping the rollout relatively quiet.

LIL WAYNE
BONO

THE DAYS

THE CARTER VI SINGLE PREMIERED FOR THE NBA FINALS

TONIGHT

pic.twitter.com/44tB1qDnJp

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) June 5, 2025

Lil Wayne Reveals Approach To “That Carter VI”

Wayne explained his creative process in a Rolling Stone interview, saying, “If there’s one thing about this album that’s different, it’s me approaching it like, ‘Man, what would I sound like on something with such and such?’ ”

The album’s eclectic mix includes “Sharks” with Big Sean and Jelly Roll, “Cotton Candy” with 2 Chainz, and “Alone In The Studio With My Gun” featuring MGK and Kodak Black.

Longtime collaborator Mannie Fresh also returns, along with appearances by BigXThaPlug, Jay Jones, Lil Novi and more.

Wyclef summed up the energy in the studio: “Leaving Wyclef Jean and Lil Wayne in a studio for 24 hours is a dangerous thing. You don’t know what’s going to pop out.”

While some listeners praised the album’s range and Wayne’s evolving sound, others weren’t as impressed, calling the project “mid” and longing for the classic Carter feel.

Meanwhile, Tha Carter VI Tour will kick off Friday (June 6) at Madison Square Garden. The trek continues in July and hits 34 cities across North America.