Those lives directly affected by 2005's Hurricane Katrina will
obviously never be the same. Lil Wayne, who delivered the No. 1
album of 2008, was a New Orleans native named Dwayne Carter Jr.
before he became a rap star. In "Tie My Hands," with spectacular
assistance from Robin Thicke, Wayne bears his soul about the
relationship he has with the Big Easy. From his belief that the
city was ignored in a time of desperation to the notion that love
is what's needed after such a disaster, he lays it out with a
compassion well beyond the duo's Grammy Awards performance that
will quickly be embraced by many radio formats. Wayne's best song
to date will be remembered not only as a testament to the power of
music, but the human spirit.—Shad Reed
