[NEW RELEASES] YOUNG MONEY

YOUNG MONEY , “Rise of an Empire” , Label: Universal Music , Genre: Rap, Hip-hop

Lil Wayne isn’t just the founder of Young Money Cash Money Billionaires, he’s the rap squad’s captain, too. And on “Rise of an Empire,” Weezy plays his role well, anchoring a winning compilation from the camp, and making up for last year’s lackluster “I Am Not a Human Being II.”

“All y’all that lashed out, I’ll come see what that’s ’bout, but you don’t need to call the fireman, to put a [expletive] match out,” Wayne rhymes on “Moment,” his singular solo contribution to the group’s latest release.

Weezy is energetic on the D.A.-produced “Senile,” trotting out what sounds like a Drake-inspired flow, while Tyga dishes up a solid but forgettable verse in addition to his duties on the hook. Nicki Minaj drops in on “Senile,” too, but she’s best on another single, the ruthless “Lookin’ [Expletive] [Expletive].” The song pleased Minaj’s Barbz, but the colorful rapper drew heavy criticism when she used a photo of Malcom X with a rifle in his hands and juxtaposing it with a racial slur for the track’s artwork.

AP