Tha Fix Before Tha VI

Tha Fix Before Tha VI is the seventeenth mixtape by American rapper Lil Wayne, which serves as a prelude to his upcoming studio album Tha Carter VI. The mixtape was released by Young Money Records and Republic Records on September 29, 2023. It consists of 10 tracks, including the single "Kat Food", and features guest appearances from Jon Batiste, Euro, and Fousheé.

Promotion and release
The album's first and only single "Kat Food" was released on September 1, 2023. It charted at number 4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. On September 20, 2023, he posted a link to pre-save the album on his Instagram and Twitter pages, as well as revealing the cover of the album. The cover is reminiscent of his 2011 mixtape Sorry 4 the Wait. He then revealed the album's track list on September 27, in which he also announced that the album was going to release on September 29, 2023.

Critical reception
Tha Fix Before Tha VI received negative reviews from critics.

AllMusic stated that his discography "includes some of the most incredible music to ever grace the rap genre, but if Tha Fix Before Tha VI is any indication of where he's going next, it might usher in the sad realization that the days when Wayne could confidently proclaim himself the "best rapper alive" are behind him."

Robin Murray of Clash said that the album "contains numerous experiments, collaborations, and drafts, indicating his willingness to continually step outside convention – yet it doesn’t always land."

HipHopDX's Alec Siegel said, "It’s impressive that Wayne’s storied recording schedule has evidently remained consistent three decades into his career." But he then called the album "a potent reminder that some music is best kept stashed in the vault"

HotNewHipHop said "Wayne is clearly a gifted rapper, but his songwriting is still inconsistent and the project is tainted by lazy choruses and poor production selection. Let’s hope that Lil Wayne is saving his best material for Tha Carter VI."

Commercial performance
"Tha Fix Before Tha VI" debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200 chart, moving 19,000 units.