Lil Wayne’s ‘Tha Carter IV’ Represents Three Different Stages in Rapper’s Life

Lil Wayne released his highly anticipated 'Tha Carter IV' on Aug. 29 and now Young Money President Mack Maine reveals that the album was actually conceptualized in three stages -- before, during and after prison.

"He did the 'Blunt Blowin' joint as soon as he got out. He actually wrote that one while he was in Rikers," Mack Maine tells MTV News of the second track on the LP. "But he also did 'So Special' and he did 'She Will' when he came home, which the ladies are gonna love. So that was kinda like the difference."

Wayne began recording 'Tha Carter IV' in 2008, but shifted his focus to releasing his 'Rebirth' and 'I Am Not a Human Being' albums while he was serving an eight-month term in prison. Weezy was released from jail in November 2010, and dropped '6 Foot 7 Foot' one month later, marking the beginning of what was to become 'Tha Carter IV.'

According to Mack, everything happened for a reason. "I don't think he would've did 'She Will' or 'So Special' right before he went in," he said. "That wasn't where his mind was at, but all in all, you got some of Wayne before he went in, you actually got some of Wayne while he was in there, and you got some when he came out. So you got three different sides of Wayne."