June 20, 2008

Kanye West, Ludacris, 50 Cent Congratulate Lil Wayne On Tha Carter III's Success

By Shaheem Reid (MTV.com)

They used to just talk about his songs - now hip-hop's biggest stars are talking about his numbers too.

Lil Wayne's peers are publicly recognizing how great a feat it was for the New Orleans native to move over a million units of his Tha Carter III in the first week.

"Congrats to my homie, Wayne," Kanye West, who produced on the album, posted on his blog Tuesday. "I'm happy to know this guy! Bow in the presence of a true living legend in hip-hop. Lil Wayne the God!"

On Thursday (June 19), while calling in to New York radio station Hot 97, 50 Cent - who was the last artist before Wayne to sell a million copies in first week of release with 2005's The Massacre - labeled Tha Carter III's debut "amazing."

"I think I'm really confused," 50 added. "I think all I need to do is make good music and see what happens. Usher had a #1 record across the board, and he only sold over 400,000. Then Wayne comes and does those numbers. ... I don't understand what the connection is. What audience is going out to buy it?"

While in Atlanta, Ludacris told MTV News that Wayne's success was hard-earned. "Wayne's been in the game a long time," said 'Cris, while sitting in the studio with DJ Drama. "I've done records with him. Apart from everything else that's going on, it's well-deserved. Wayne, congratulations. You worked hard for that's sh--, and you deserve it."

A Luda and Wayne collaboration was originally slated to be on Tha Carter III and may still find a home elsewhere. "I know he has a million songs, but we're still trying to find a placement for this song me and Lil Wayne did," Luda said.