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The eponymous fifth album from thrash metal icons Metallica (also known as “The Black Album” for its dark cover) marked a huge shift in sound for the band, one which would catapult them into being the biggest band in the world, while arguably diluting the elements that had once made them so vital and influential.

The album debuted at number one on 10 album charts (including 4 weeks at #1 on the Billboard), is certified 16x platinum in America and is the 24th best-selling album of all time (selling more copies than Bad, Nevermind and even Backstreet’s Back or …Baby One More Time). That actually makes it the highest selling album of the last 25 years.

Oh, and it won them their third Grammy in a row.

Produced by Bob Rock, the whole songwriting process and focus of the album changed from previous records. Lyrics were more introspective, songs were shorter, and Lars' drumming was simpler:

When we started using Bob, it was because Bob made all the best rock records that were going on at that time. Everything that was going on in the late eighties was all about Bob Rock.
- Lars “I killed Napster” Ulrich

The album produced 5 singles:

FUN FACT
The album almost had a very different name:

The working title we had for the last record – you don’t get much stupider than that. Three of us were getting divorces. And we were sitting there getting real down on ourselves. When we wanted to cheer ourselves up, we looked at each other and said, “You know who we’re married to? We’re married to metal!” And that became the running joke on the last album: Married to Metal
- Lars “I have a sense of humour” Ulrich

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The eponymous fifth album from thrash metal icons [Metallica](/artists/Metallica) (also known as "The Black Album" for its dark cover) marked a huge shift in sound for the band, one which would catapult them into being the biggest band in the world, while arguably diluting the elements that had once made them so vital and influential.

The album debuted at number one on 10 album charts [(including 4 weeks at #1 on the Billboard)](http://www.billboard.com/artist/310639/Metallica/chart?f=305), is certified [16x platinum in America](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6099381/metallica-black-album-sales-16-million-nielsen-soundscan) and is the [24th best-selling album of all time](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums#30.E2.80.9339_million_copies) (selling more copies than [*Bad*](http://genius.com/albums/Michael-jackson/Bad), [*Nevermind*](http://genius.com/albums/Nirvana/Nevermind) and even [*Backstreet's Back*](http://genius.com/albums/Backstreet-boys/Backstreet-s-back) or [*...Baby One More Time*](http://genius.com/albums/Britney-spears/Baby-one-more-time)).  That actually makes it the [highest selling album of the last 25 years](http://www.metalinjection.net/its-just-business/record-sales/metallicas-black-album-sells-16-million-copies-becomes-highest-selling-album-of-the-last-23-years).

Oh, and it [won them their third Grammy in a row.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Metal_Performance)

Produced by [Bob Rock](/artists/Bob-rock), the whole songwriting process and focus of the album changed from previous records. Lyrics were more introspective, songs were shorter, and Lars' drumming was simpler:

> When we started using Bob, it was because Bob made all the best rock records that were going on at that time. Everything that was going on in the late eighties was all about Bob Rock.
- Lars ["I killed Napster"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r6wn47_Vqs) Ulrich

The album produced 5 singles:

- ["Enter Sandman"](/Metallica-enter-sandman-lyrics)
- ["The Unforgiven"](/Metallica-the-unforgiven-lyrics)
- ["Nothing Else Matters"](/Metallica-nothing-else-matters-lyrics)
- ["Wherever I May Roam"](/Metallica-wherever-i-may-roam-lyrics)
- ["Sad but True"](/Metallica-sad-but-true-lyrics)
_____________________________
**FUN FACT**
The album almost had a **very** different name:
>The working title we had for the last record - you don't get much stupider than that. Three of us were getting divorces. And we were sitting there getting real down on ourselves. When we wanted to cheer ourselves up, we looked at each other and said, "You know who we're married to? We're married to metal!" And that became the running joke on the last album: [*Married to Metal*](http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/Interviews/1995_lars_marriedtometal.htm)
- Lars ["I have a sense of humour"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q0Z3gBActg) Ulrich

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Lil' nigga, finish your chores up
That's my word, I got shows booked Ab-Soul (Ft. SZA) – God's Reign

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The first line is a continuation of the previous line- Soulo is comparing himself to other rappers. He’s doing well, but other rappers need to “get their paper up”, and actually put work into their craft; “finishing their chores up”.

The Black Lip Pastor isn’t lying about having shows booked either; he recently released the dates for his These Days… tour, that starts in mid September.

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Rest in peace, Lil Beezy, Lil Wayne – D'usse

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Lil Beezy is one of Wayne’s homies who passed away. He mentions him in other tracks such as Cry Out where he refers to him with bars like:

Beezy rolled a L, Beezy ain’t here
Where’s Beezy at? Beezy got killed
And that was my nigga,
I go way back with my nigga …

And also in this line on Waka’s track Stay Hood.

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18,936

9 years

Rest in peace Lil Beezy, my nigga
― “Get Over” by Lil Wayne

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Tha block is hot Birdman & Lil Wayne – Like Father, Like Son

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Referencing Lil Wayne’s debut album that went Platinum, and was the beginning to Wayne’s fame.

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Shout out Lil Tyga Tyga (Birdman, yeah) Lil Wayne – IDK (Run The World)

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Wayne’s shouting out label-mate Tyga and co-founder of Cash Money, Birdman.

Birdman, Tyga and Wayne did the song “Loyalty” together.

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Shout out to Nicki Minaj (Yeah)
Shout out to my nigga Lil Drizzy (Uh-huh) Lil Wayne – IDK (Run The World)

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Here Wayne’s shouting out the superstars of Young Money, Nicki Minaj and Drake.

The three of the artists have never shared a track with just the three of them, but they’ve worked together on songs like BedRock. Even though they haven’t all worked on songs together, Nicki has worked with Wayne on songs like Highschool and Knockout, and Drake has worked with Wayne on songs like Miss Me and HYFR.

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