#WALE THE ALBUM ABOUT NOTHING SOUNDCLOUD PRO#

Based on the initial lyrics, speculation surfaced that the first verse was about Kanye West, with some shots at Drake. However, the former seemed to be about someone, or several people, specifically. Then, music heard in the docРІР‚в„ў released on its own, in the form of two critical video singles, РІР‚СљFalse Prophets (Be Like This)РІР‚Сњ and РІР‚СљEverybody Gotta Die.РІР‚Сњ Both records called out Rap industry things that bothered the Roc Nation star. Cole not only announced an album, he released a documentary leading up to 4 Your Eyez Only. He hadnРІР‚в„ўt met them in several years, but before this, he was still trying.In the last 48 hours, J. Listening to Shine, you canРІР‚в„ўt help but think that Wale has finally dropped his rigorous standards for himself.

#WALE THE ALBUM ABOUT NOTHING SOUNDCLOUD PRO#

A decade later, both rappers sound like theyРІР‚в„ўre working solely for the paycheck, their pro forma raps clanging out emptily as a fantastic little sing-song DJ Spinz beat does the heavy lifting. On WaleРІР‚в„ўs first Wayne feature, you could hear him striving to compete. And for those who were listening to his mixtapes a decade ago, РІР‚СљRunning BackРІР‚Сњ a Lil Wayne feature and one of the best songs on Shine, doubles as a yardstick for whatРІР‚в„ўs happened since. Even РІР‚СљSmile,РІР‚Сњ the type of conscious song that animated Mixtape About Nothing, feels dispassionate and obligatory. But it feels like an exercise in avoidance as if Wale took the advice to ease up too far. A strange hook on РІР‚СљThank GodРІР‚Сњ is preoccupied with his enemies, despite the fact that heРІР‚в„ўs never had a longstanding public beef with any relevant rapper. His flow remains flexible but heРІР‚в„ўs fixated on the subjects that have long obsessed him: success, wealth, and the haters who are blocking his path to success and wealth. Still, there are hints-beyond that РІР‚Сљdoth protest too muchРІР‚Сњ acronym-that Wale canРІР‚в„ўt help but relive the past. РІР‚СљScarface, Rozay Gotti,РІР‚Сњ a surprisingly tender tribute to some of WaleРІР‚в„ўs rap heroes, induces a smile as the rapper sings drunkenly, then launches into deft, empty raps about courtside seats at a Wizards game. Occasionally, on tracks where heРІР‚в„ўs more present, the mood lures the listener in, as on РІР‚СљThank God,РІР‚Сњ an opener meant to sell the idea that Wale is through with pettiness he uses the orchestral Cool & Dre beat to coo at his daughter, announcing РІР‚Сљthat feminist side come out when Zyla thereРІР‚Сњ and turning the hook over to the R&B singer Rotimi. On these songs, and many others, Wale is there but not there, his lyrics contractually obligated, though every so often he finds time to drop a regrettable line, like РІР‚Сљshe penetrating my mind, I penetrate that physique,РІР‚Сњ on the single РІР‚СљPYT.РІР‚Сњ But РІР‚СљFine GirlРІР‚Сњ stumbles around blindly, wasting features from the Nigerian artists Olamide and Davido. The former, which features Major Lazer, Dua Lipa and Wizkid and on which Wale doesnРІР‚в„ўt rap until nearly two minutes in, is pleasant enough to wiggle into a spot on a backyard party playlist.

РІР‚СљMy LoveРІР‚Сњ and РІР‚СљFine GirlРІР‚Сњ chase the Caribbean muse that Drake has exploited so successfully. neighborhood and features the reggaeton superstar J Balvin, whose presence livens up a meandering track. The Don Cannon-produced РІР‚СљColombia Heights (Te Llamo)РІР‚Сњ refers to the largely-Hispanic D.C. The album hopscotches its way through a varied set of production styles, with Wale performing his usual acrobatic routine through hoops positioned by marketers and focus groups.

ThereРІР‚в„ўs not a song here that feels grounded in much more than the desire to enjoy the moment or at least feign doing so well enough to make radio playlists. РІР‚СљAnd IРІР‚в„ўm just like, РІР‚ВWale, man, just be happier.РІР‚в„ўРІР‚СњР”Р„ccordingly, Shine is a more buoyant album than his back-to-basics 2015 offering, The Album About Nothing. РІР‚СљI put myself through a lot of doom and gloom,РІР‚Сњ he said. (The albumРІР‚в„ўs title is an acronym: РІР‚Сљ Still here ignoring negative energy.РІР‚Сњ) In an interview with Complex, he said he wanted to put less pressure on himself. Wale has promoted the new project as a record overflowing with contentment, thanks in part to a newborn daughter, Zyla. Five studio albums, and one mid-career reinvention later, we arrive at Shine, the rapperРІР‚в„ўs fourth full-length with MMG.

Wale the album about nothing soundcloud