Lil Wayne – Sharks ft. Jelly Roll, & Big Sean

Lil Wayne has finally released Tha Carter VI and it features some unanticipated collaborations as he had previously promised. The track “Sharks” features Jelly Roll on the chorus, and it’s a closed off song. Big Sean is also present, marking this as his first collaboration with Weezy since 2020.

The Jelly Roll element is perhaps the most captivating aspect of “Sharks,” particularly given its popularity. Jelly Roll indeed has a substantial hip-hop background. His Tennessee upbringing influenced him to experiment with the Memphis sound that the Three 6 Mafia were pioneering.

It has been several years since that era, and he’s become a star due to his transition into country music. He delivers a hauntingly eerie chorus here, particularly with his cautious lyrics. “Snakes aren’t always found in the grass (Yeah, yeah, yeah) / Sharks aren’t always in the water (Yeah, yeah, yeah) / Thieves aren’t always active at night (Yeah, yeah, yeah) / God isn’t always present at the altar (Yeah, yeah).”

Roll’s tone is emulated by Lil Wayne and Big Sean, with lyrics focusing on having one’s back protected, maintaining peace, and pursuing one’s goals, even if it means doing so independently. As Big Sean raps, “Jesus had Judas, Caesar had Brutus / Always someone plottin’, gotta beat ’em to it / Key to do this sh*t is first you gotta do it, then do it again and find another way to do it,” illustrating this point.