Producers include: Mannie Fresh, Jazzie Pha, Cash Money Millionaires, Big Tymers, Mack 10.

Recorded at Sony Studios, New York, New York, Patchwerk Recording Studios, Atlanta, Georgia.

Personnel: Lil' Wayne, Big Tymers, TQ, Baby, Petey Pablo, Blaque, Mannie Fresh, Tateeze, Cristale (rap vocals).

Recorded at Patchwerk, Atlanta, Georgia and Sony Studios, New York, New York.

Lil Wayne comes on as hard as can be on 500 DEGREEZ, throwing gangsta imagery around like Rip Taylor with a fresh supply of confetti. Still, no matter how strenuously he underscores his gangsta themes on such representative tracks as "Gangsta S***," "F*** You," and "Way of Life," his hard-hitting approach is offset by a subtle-yet-undeniable sense of humor. For one thing, there's Wayne's voice itself, which at its most vituperative has echoes of Eminem's Jerry Lewis-isms. Then there's the production, which is laced throughout with goofy ensemble vocals and synth riffs that bespeak a deep devotion to the street-cred quirk of George Clinton. Such guests as Baby, Big Tymers, and TQ are on hand to bolster Wayne's hard-as-nails image, but he still can't hide the sly grin behind his thug-life frown.

Lil Wayne comes on as hard as can be on 500 DEGREEZ, throwing gangsta imagery around like Rip Taylor with a fresh supply of confetti. Still, no matter how strenuously he underscores his gangsta themes on such representative tracks as "Gangsta S***," "F*** You," and "Way of Life," his hard-hitting approach is offset by a subtle-yet-undeniable sense of humor. For one thing, there's Wayne's voice itself, which at its most vituperative has echoes of Eminem's Jerry Lewis-isms. Then there's the production, which is laced throughout with goofy ensemble vocals and synth riffs that bespeak a deep devotion to the street-cred quirk of George Clinton. Such guests as Baby, Big Tymers, and TQ are on hand to bolster Wayne's hard-as-nails image, but he still can't hide the sly grin behind his thug-life frown.