We saw it first with Beyoncé and reportedly Nicki Minaj is going to do something similar (although not entirely the same), and now Lil Wayne will be the latest artist to release a major project on a dime, without much in the way of prior promotion as is typical for big studio albums.
Arguably, Yeezus started the trend before that. While that album did announce an advanced release date, it came quite out of the blue, with little promotion. Of course, it was done before (remember that Radiohead album?) by artists of different genres, but it seems like Beyoncé's enormously successful eponymous effort has really marked the method as a trend.
Cash Money Records Vice President of Promotion Mel Smith spoke to the Canisius College newspaper, saying "It's going to be a huge surprise to everyone, it's an incredible album … I can't release the date because he wants to surprise people, he wants his true fan base to get excited but he's worked extremely hard on it and you won't be disappointed."
He also went on the record saying of Wayne, "He's one of the artists like Prince who just continues to record. He does it for the love of the art, for the record, he continues to work hard to top himself, like when he does the 'I Am Not A Human Being' records that he's, which are a little more rock and roll tangent, a little more pop tangent while 'Tha Carter V' is a little more Lil Wayne getting it to you straight from New Orleans."
Sounds like it might drop anytime now. Many people are looking forward to Tha Carter V, do you think this installment can bring the series back to its former glory?
[via]