Tha Fix Before Tha VI is the seventeenth mixtape by American rapper Lil Wayne, which serves as a prelude to his fourteenth solo studio album Tha Carter VI. The mixtape was released by Young Money Records and Republic Records on September 29, 2023. It consists of 10 tracks, including the single "Kat Food", and features guest appearances from Jon Batiste, Euro, Cool & Dre, and Fousheé.

Promotion and release

The mixtape's first and only single "Kat Food" was released on September 1, 2023. It charted at number 4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. On September 20, 2023, he posted a link to pre-save the album on his Instagram and Twitter pages, as well as revealing the cover of the album. The cover is reminiscent of his 2011 mixtape Sorry 4 the Wait. He then revealed the album's track list on September 27, in which he also announced that the album was going to release on September 29, 2023.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Clash5/10
HipHopDX2.1/5

Tha Fix Before Tha VI received negative reviews from critics.

AllMusic stated that his discography "includes some of the most incredible music to ever grace the rap genre, but if Tha Fix Before Tha VI is any indication of where he's going next, it might usher in the sad realization that the days when Wayne could confidently proclaim himself the "best rapper alive" are behind him."

Robin Murray of Clash said that the album "contains numerous experiments, collaborations, and drafts, indicating his willingness to continually step outside convention – yet it doesn’t always land."

HipHopDX's Alec Siegel said, "It’s impressive that Wayne’s storied recording schedule has evidently remained consistent three decades into his career." But he then called the album "a potent reminder that some music is best kept stashed in the vault"

HotNewHipHop said "Wayne is clearly a gifted rapper, but his songwriting is still inconsistent and the project is tainted by lazy choruses and poor production selection. Let’s hope that Lil Wayne is saving his best material for Tha Carter VI."

Commercial performance

"Tha Fix Before Tha VI" debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200 chart, moving 19,000 units.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Act Up" (with Jon Batiste)Dwayne CarterJon BatisteBennie BriggmanTarik AzzouzNicolas WarwarJeremy Maurice BrantMichael BriggmanSTREETRUNNERTarik Azzouz3:39
2."Birds"CarterLee LindstromZachary FosterFosterMurda Beatz2:45
3."Slip"CarterMario K JeffersonChristopher RiosDarius Ginn JrJermain Anthony BaxterKhalif MuhammadDavid StylesKasseem DeanJason PhillipsVictor SantiagoCameron GilesTheNightAftrKamoSelf B Tru3:31
4."Kat Food"CarterChris SteinDarryl McDanielsDebbie HarryFnZJocelyn DonaldJoseph SimmonsMissy ElliottPaul SimonRogét ChahayedCharlie HandsomeRogét ChahayedCharlie HandsomeFnZ4:47
5."Tuxedo" (with Euro)CarterEufradis RodriguezJulian MunroManny GalvezJulian MunroManny Galvez3:10
6."To The Bank" (with Cool & Dre)CarterRayshon Cobbs JrAndre LyonKevin SpencerMarcello ValenzanoLeon Sylvers808-RayCool & Dre2:13
7."Chanel No. 5" (with Fousheé)CarterMunroBritanny FousheeGalvezJulian MunroManny Galvez3:24
8."No New Bitches"CarterWesley GlassRobert RichardsonWheezyBobby Raps2:38
9."Tity Boi" (with TheNightAftr)CarterJeffersonGinn JrTheNightAftr5:14
10."Good Morning"CarterRoberto CurtiJared GutstadtGalvezSwedeManny Galvez1:49
Total length:33:10

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart performance for Tha Fix Before Tha VI
Chart (2023)Peak position
US Billboard 20040
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)13