"Mona Lisa" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on September 28, 2018, as the eighth track off of Wayne's album Tha Carter V.
Background
Infamous, the producer of the track, began work on it in 2014.[1] He considered leaking the track after a few years, but refrained from the action when he heard Tha Carter V was being released.[2] Former Pharma-CEO and convicted felon Martin Shkreli shared part of the song in 2017 on streaming app Periscope.[3]
Composition
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The track has the longest duration out of any track on the album, with a length of 5:24.[4] At 0:20 of the track, a sample of Wayne's 2008 hit, "Lollipop," is used.
Lyrics
Lil Wayne's song "Mona Lisa," featuring rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar, narrates the story of their interactions with a seductive stranger, "Mona Lisa," otherwise referred to as "Liz."
Kendrick is the first to appear in the song intro to let the listener know a story is about to be told. Wayne's verse followed, and he started sharing his side as a tough gangster and co-conspirator, lured by Liz, a captivating seductress. Wayne's verse depicts what transpires when one becomes allured by a stranger, telling a tale of passion, exploitation, and danger. Kendrick's feature in Verse 3 responds to Wayne's perspective, giving the view of Liz's boyfriend and enumerating his actions to show that he loves and cares about her.
Reception
The track received critical acclaim. Kevin Goddard of HotNewHipHop called the track a "lyrical onslaught", and said that Wayne and Kendrick had "slick flows & witty metaphors".[5] Israel Daramola of Spin called the track a "fascinating story of deceit and lust".[6]