Wale’s first full-length album, Attention Deficit, flaunts wit, waxes verbal malleability, and flashes sustained, unyielding rhyming. A throwback to old school rap, this album mixes the best of the old styles with the freshest of the current trends.The guest list here also exhibits Wale’s up-and-coming status in the industry, with K’NAAN and Lady Gaga making some auspicious appearances. Since his hit single Dig Dug (Shake It), Wale has made the rounds in the hip-hop world, accruing deep respect from producers and artists alike. His style isn’t so different nor is his sound so distinctive. Instead, he earns appreciation through his pointed humor, irony, and articulation. He’s not racy or angry like some hip-hop artists; his style is more like commentary expressed as suavely and tactfully as possible. Mirrors, featuring Bun B, is exemplary of this album’s tone and attitude where we get some deft rhyming backed by solid funk. Other tracks are bigger and bolder, flashy even. Pretty Girls is only meant for the inflated atmosphere of the club. On the other hand, the gargantuan single Chillin (with Lady Gaga) is the only downer on this otherwise diligent arrangement of style; it shoots for gold and comes out a distant cousin to bronze. Wale is better when he relies on his own rapping and tempo, while something gets lost when he’s awkwardly melded to the cash register mind of some producer. At the end of the day, Wale is still proving himself to be a tough new contender.
David Rozon
Key Tracks: Chillin, 90210, Mirrors, Let it Loose
Moods: Fun, Celebratory, Confident, Street-Smart, Exuberant, Good-Natured
Buy: Attention Deficit
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