Lil Wayne announces Tha Carter V release date

The wait is finally over. Tha Carter V has a release date.

After much anticipation, Lil Wayne has revealed an official release date for his long-awaited album. In a PSA posted on social media, Weezy announced that C5 will drop at midnight on Friday (Sept. 28), which coincides with his 36th birthday this week. The album was previously rumored to arrive on Sept. 21.

“On my birthday, I actually have something special. I will be releasing Tha Carter V on my birthday,” said Wayne. “Y’all hung in there with me, so I can’t do nothing but thank y’all for all the love and all the passion and every ounce of anything.”

The Young Money chief has set up a website, ThaCarterV.com, which counts down to the Friday release. He also unveiled the previously-seen artwork, a childhood photo of him and his mother Cita.

“I always give y’all all of me, but with this album, I’m giving you more than me,” said Wayne of the follow-up to 2011’s Tha Carter IV. “You gotta always remember that this is years of work. This is four, five, six years of work that you’ll be listening to. I hope you enjoy it. You don’t have to love it, you don’t even have to like it, just hope you enjoy it.”

The announcement follows Wayne and Birdman’s lengthy legal battle. Weezy sued Cash Money for $51 million in 2015 to terminate his contract. In June, he reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount.

Tha Carter V will be the first Wayne album that doesn’t carry a Cash Money logo