![]() ![]() He nods at go-go with “Clappers,” a strip-club anthem buoyed by Nicki Minaj, Juicy J, and a “Da Butt” sample. Rather than desperately chase trends, his producers have crafted a velvet tuxedo of ’70s soul in the cut of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Wale’s absorbed his nimble flow and knack for integrating sumptuous orchestral arrangements. The influence of Rick Ross looms far longer than just Maybach Music guest spots and fragrance advice. While Wale lacks their vocal authority and effortlessness, he’s gained a polish and understanding of how to make a complete album. His formulaic spray of esoteric sports and pop-culture references has been largely replaced by direct and tighter songwriting in the vein of Jay-Z and Rick Ross. It might be the best we can hope for from Wale in 2013. The Gifted is an attempt to recapture his one-time greatness without sacrificing his commercial gains. Then he made a series of awful decisions, got traded, and became a multi-millionaire punch line surrounded by guys named Meek(s). From 2006 to about 2009, Wale’s combination of potential and results led fans to believe he might become an all-time great. He became something like a Rap Game Dwight Howard. But his financial success came at the expense of whatever shred of credibility he had left. Tom Ford couldn’t have designed a better template. ![]() Then his sophomore album Ambitiondoubled the sales of his debut and Wale became a legitimate star fueled by lotus flower power. Where he once mocked clueless A&Rs from “Cliché Records,” he now took rides on boats and wrote paeans to the snug joys of white linen.Īlso Read Video: Vampire Weekend – “Sunflower” Think a new-age Talib Kweli, if he was more interested in strip clubs than conscious manifestos. This Wale was lab-tested to inspire ambition and attraction amongst Bossip readers. Gone was the Nike-booted, blog-courting rapper who equally worshipped Camp Lo and Seinfeld‘s “The Contest.” No longer did he bait Bedford Avenue with TV on the Radio collaborations. He got it when Ross grunted an offer to become the eHarmony heartthrob of Maybach Music.Įnter Wale 3.0. Even Kid Cudi had taunted him by saying “no one fucked with him musically.” His comeback guest appearance on Waka Flocka’s “No Hands” found him simping for a second chance. The Internet collectively regarded him as the poster boy for poorly conceived pop crossovers and wasted talent. Until Rick Ross conscripted him to be his salon dreadlocked disciple, Wale had been left for dead. This quote captures the last four maddening years of Wale’s career: the schizophrenic identity shifts, awkward slang usage, shameless pandering to female fans, and Cosmo corniness that lets him describe something as “the smell of beauty.” It also explains why he still has a career. That’s the smell of beauty that stays on you…and girls love Tom Ford.” “But after Ross put me up on Black Orchid, that joint stayed. “I used to switch up my cologne every two to three months, get a new wave,” the Washington D.C. It’s been his perma-scent since Rick Ross shared aroma secrets during an ostensibly all-night bender of rosé and beauty tips. Wale can’t live without his Tom Ford Black Orchid cologne.
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