Sound Check

At least for the time being, the U.S. has an unfortunate ratio of accomplished musicians to BP executives behind bars, recently released or facing time. But there is hope.

First, the ratio now seems to be slowly reversing itself. Second, not even prison — not even getting busted with headphones, or “music contraband” — will stop the currently incarcerated Lil Wayne from taking major steps toward his next release, “Tha Carter IV.”

How difficult is it to make music sans freedom? It obviously depends on one’s external resources, record label situation, etc. — but evidently, it’s not too tough.

Just ask Gucci Mane, the master of juggling jail and jams. In the eight months of freedom he had between sentences in 2009, he cranked out six mixtapes and an album. Then, while locked up again in March, he came out with his latest album, “Burrrprint 2,” part of which he recorded over the phone from jail.

T.I. also has a comeback album due this August, aptly titled “King Uncaged.” He finished recording more than 100 songs for it just days before serving nearly a year and predicts it to be “the most significant return from incarceration that the game has had since (Tupac Shakur’s ‘All Eyez on Me’).” Yeah, you could say there’s a pattern emerging.

Still, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I read this week that a certain legendary rock personality-turned-murderer is back on the horse as well. Phil Spector was convicted last year for the second-degree murder of actress Lana Clarkson and was sentenced to 19 years. In a few days, he will release his wife Rachelle’s debut album, which he somehow produced during downtime between his trials.

It makes perfect sense that sitting in a cell for extended periods of time, or even thinking about sitting in a cell, might motivate someone to produce more at
every opportunity. But what about a quality product? Will the torment of the pen bring out the best in our beloved heroes and villains?

I give Weezy the slight upper hand for the bigger comeback. Yes, the album title suggests a return to “TC3” form, where he loudly and firmly planted himself at the top of the rap hierarchy before flubbing pretty hard with “Rebirth.” It never hurts to be at a low point when trying to make a comeback.

But Wayne is a man who prefers to let his game do the talking, and given that no one else’s is better, “TC4” already has an irresistible element of mystique and will likely say more about life in prison than Gucci or T.I. ever have or will.

“I’d rather be pushing flowers than be in the pen sharing showers,” Wayne reasoned on “A Milli.” Tough luck right there, but then again, the man has a knack for spinning tough luck into platinum and gold.

As for Mr. and Mrs. Spector, hopefully they can provide the best prison comeback of 2029.