This has been a rough year for Lil Wayne, and the general disinterest that the tracks released from Rebirth makes it easy to think about him as in decline. But “Swag Surfin” from this fall’s No Ceilings mixtape reminded me why we keep listening. First, he rhymes anything with Nomar Garciaparra, then there comes the point when the string of boasts takes on a language-driven life of its own:

– “I’m too much for these niggas and three-much for these hos”

– “I love my baby mamas / they get my highest honor / You gotta take care of kids, man / I know you heard Obama”

– “Even at the White House / we pull up at the back door”

And that’s all within the space of a minute. There’s simply so much imagination, wit and play in his rhymes that boasts become a structural component like the dozens – not so much meant as a common platform from which rappers show what they can do. On the album he put out for download while he works on his “rock” album, Lil Wayne shows he can do more than most.

… and I just caught an Aaron Brooks reference. Brilliant.