Lil Wayne’s ‘Tha Carter’ Cover Art Through The Years

It's Carter season, baby. Lil Wayne went on ESPN today to unveil the cover art and release date for his rumored final "retirement" album and the last in his iconic series, Tha Carter V. With the album finally on its way Oct. 28, more than three years since Tha Carter IV, let's take a walk down memory lane and revisit each of Tha Carter album covers throughout the years, straight from the Weezy family scrapbook.

Release Date: June 29, 2004
The first was fairly straightforward—Wayne at 21 years old, ready to take on the world.

Release Date: Dec. 6, 2005
At age 23, Weezy was coming into his own—shirtless with baggy pants and a slight upgrade in background ornamentation. Whew, that car is nice. Laces untied, too. Peak 2005.

Release Date: June 10, 2008
At 25 years old, Weezy submitted arguably his masterpiece, and took the cover art back to Illmatic and Ready To Die-type places. Tats included, of course.

Release Date: Aug. 29, 2011
It's a celebration! Lil Tunechi graduates from Kindergarten, and Mrs. Carter drops off the photograph to back it up. Slightly more tatted than III, but no less joyous.

Release Date: Oct. 28, 2014
Mama Carter makes her first cover appearance, shepherding Lil Weezy with his striped collared shirt. If not exactly chronological, it's another snapshot into Wayne's adorable childhood years, before he took the rap game by the scruff of its neck.

Previously: Lil Wayne’s New Album Tha Carter V Will Drop On October 28
Did Lil Wayne Preview A New Song From Tha Carter V At Chris Brown’s Kickball Game?
Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter: By The Numbers
Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III Recounted Through Oral History For 5th Anniversary
Everything We Know About Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V