Wale is a name that comes with serious levels of ambivalence.  Since making the transition from a mixtape artist to a mainstream artist, it seems as if public opinion on him has oscillated between acclaim and vitriol with not much of anything else in between.  Part of this unstable reception can be attributed to Wale himself.

With his first two albums, debut LP Attention Deficit (Interscope) and sophomore LP Ambition (Maybach Music/Warner Brothers), listeners were introduced to two very different Wales. On his debut LP, Wale seemed a little timid and reserved. The album’s content featured his thoughts on skin tones, eating disorders and other idiosyncratic topics.  After signing with Maybach Music to release his sophomore album, Wale‘s songs began to sound like the lost tracks from Rick Ross’ Deeper Than Rap.  The rhymes were more narcissistic and boastful and the production was noticeably more club friendly.  And unlike his first album which was somewhat of a flop, Ambition, went Gold. Given these differing personas, it makes sense that Wale inspires such ambivalence.

With this third album, The Gifted, listeners are once again seeing another face of Wale. This time, however, it seems like he has somewhat found his lane. Somewhat.  The album comes complete with big production from Just Blaze, Lee Majors, Stokley Williams of Mint Condition and more, and features Wale being self-reflective, boastful, a little flirty and even unabashedly weird.

The album opens with “The Case of The Gifted,” which includes brief commentary and a graffiti spray can.  Rapping over a combination of dramatic keys and guitar strings, Wale use the track to explain the good and the bad that come with being “gifted.”  For “LoveHate Thing” Wale essentially continues with the same idea as the intro. Over a Marvin Gaye sample Wale raps, “Love you then they hate you/ then they love you again/ hate you then they love you/ then they hate you again.” Wale is clearly aware of his public reception.

On “Heaven’s Afternoon,” Wale recruits his Maybach Music comrade Meek Mill for a track that tells a rags-to- riches story. Interestingly, they shout out Pro Era frontman Joey Bada$$ and his now deceased friend Capital Steez.  The hook which says, “We ain’t supposed to never have nothing/ we ain’t supposed to never have shit,” shows some more self-awareness. Both Meek and Wale’s memberships in MMG truly made their careers.

For “Clappers,” Wale samples perhaps one of the greatest family reunion/parties tracks of all time (E.U.- “Da Butt”).  For the track, Wale hooks up with Nicki Minaj and Juicy J, the reigning rap royalty of twerk songs. Surprisingly, the song isn’t very compelling. It’s kind of boring, actually.  “Tired of Dreaming,” which features Rick Ross and Ne-Yo, is a pretty interesting effort. In the song he details his ideal woman, from her teeth to her feet.   It’s easy to group “Tired of Dreaming” along with “Lotus Flower Bomb” and “Ambition” and declare that these are “songs for the ladies,” but Wale actually has a talent for discussing romance without sounding unnatural. This talent is also showcased on radio single “Bad” which is featured two times on the album, one version with Rihanna and the original with Tiara Thomas. In other words, rather than “songs for the ladies,” Wale makes song for casual listeners. If casual listeners to rap just so happen to often be ladies, so be it. Not every rap song requires shouting and anger.

In the end, the album is a decent effort, but there’s still a feeling that Wale is in flux.  Even sonically, the overall sound of the album fluctuates quite a bit. Wale’s lyrics gets overshadowed by the production on tracks like “88” and “Bricks” while his lyrics are notably amped up on other songs.  Additionally, the length of the album also is a downfall. Since every track on the album is not necessarily a good or memorable effort, 16-tracks feels a little excessive and unnecessary.  If Wale made an album with perhaps  ten of the  tracks( including the bonus track “Hella”), the project would have been significantly better. Hopefully his next album, Album About Nothing, with Jerry Seinfeld, will show us a Wale who has somewhat crystallized into a solid artist.

That being said, having a stable image isn’t necessary for making good art. Rihanna changes every album. But then again, perhaps her stable trait is her ability to change. Whoa. Good luck, Wale.

The post Album Review: Wale – The Gifted appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

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Roscoe Dash has a bone to pick Kanye West. And Wale. And the music industry as a whole.

The Atlanta rapper is best known for his “All the Way Turnt Up” single, but he feels he should be known for a few other things he’s penned. He took to Twitter to express his frustration about not being included in the Cruel Summer album credits. He says he was a part of the “To the World” record and that his ad-libs can still be heard on the song.

He also tweeted that he wrote the chorus to “Lotus Flower Bomb” for Wale and received no credit for that either. Miguel told Complex that Roscoe’s claims are false and the writing process was behind himself, Wale and “an alternative artist.” Kanye’s camp have yet to comment.

You can read the tweets below. Everyone knows the music industry is a cutthroat place, especially if you don’t have all your business in order. Does Roscoe have a valid argument here or should he have been more on top of things?

Everybody go get the G.O.O.D album and listen to #1 then watch @kanyewest interview worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.p… & tell me y I’m not on the credits

— Roscoe Dash 2.0(@Roscoedash) September 20, 2012

Can’t do favors for niggas bcuz no matter how humble and generous u r to ppl niggas will take everything u have … Even niggas u look up to

— Roscoe Dash 2.0(@Roscoedash) September 20, 2012

Same shyt with @wale lotus flower bomb I wrote that for him b4 he even signed to Ross & it went #1

— Roscoe Dash 2.0(@Roscoedash) September 20, 2012

After getting off the phone with @wale I feel like I need to clarify I WROTE THE HOOK for “lotus flowerbomb” not his verses

— Roscoe Dash 2.0(@Roscoedash) September 20, 2012

However the record went #1 & I wasnt credited

— Roscoe Dash 2.0(@Roscoedash) September 20, 2012

& as far as @kanyewest “To The World” if u listen close my adlibs are STILL in the song

— Roscoe Dash 2.0(@Roscoedash) September 20, 2012

UPDATE: Roscoe caught wind of Miguel’s comments and had some more words to say to him. Miguel responded, claiming he was misquoted and Meek Mill decided to add his two cents as well.

@miguelunlimited u wanna go to the blogs and get in some shyt u have nttn to do with and say udk anything abt Roscoe Dash??? ur a cornball

— Roscoe Dash 2.0(@Roscoedash) September 20, 2012

@miguelunlimited stay out of grown ppls business with ur 206k followers …. twitter that

— Roscoe Dash 2.0(@Roscoedash) September 20, 2012

Yo @roscoedash u must not b getting no money b! Lol

— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) September 21, 2012

The post disRESPECT.: Roscoe Dash Feels Left Out appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Wale gives us the inside look from the set of his upcoming video for Lotus Flower Bomb. He has teamed up with Miguel for shoot in Atlanta and it the flick will feature America’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 contestant Bre Scullrk. Look out for her as the shop owner on Wale’s delivery route.

Look for the video dropping in the next couple of weeks.

The post BTS Photos: <em> Lotus Flower Bomb </em> Video appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.