Album Review: Wale - The Gifted

Washington rapper Wale's move from backpack/mixtape champ to underling in wannabe-drug baron Rick Ross's MMG conglomerate still remains one of the most perplexing in hip hop history, yet one that possibly saved his career. Ross paired Wale with both accomplished producers and the ballin' lifestyle, giving him the sound and material that would move him more in line with the mainstream, yet despite this, his first album for MMG, Ambition, parachuted into a no-man's land between semi-conscious MCing and the lavish playa lifestyle. As such it would be interesting to see if The Gifted, Wale's follow-up, would be further carried by the current or try to swim against it.

In actuality it does both. Ross gives him the wiggle room to explore some wonderfully soulful sounds. LoveHate Thing, Sunshine and 88 all feature lush, live backdrops while the unmistakable sounds of the Dap Kings and Cee-Lo Green provide the power behind the thoughtful Gullible, arguably the album's brightest moment.

Yet, while on one hand Wale seems at home speaking on serious topics such as life options, or lack of, for black kids (Black Heroes) and maintaining one's integrity on the close-to-the-bone religious thematics of Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece), the good work is undone by dumbed-down fodder such as the super-slutty, bed-spring-backed Bad featuring an ass-up Rihanna, the banally insincere Neo and Ross-featured Tired Of Dreaming, and forced Wiz Khalifa weed rap, Rotation. And a clubby remake of Tears For Fears' Mad World? A waste of Kid Cudi's time and everybody else involved.

By choice or by coercion Wale continues to try balancing both sides of the rap ledger and as such will find plenty of fans, though few who will enjoy The Gifted in its entirety.