Album Review: Wale- Attention Deficit
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Views: 1246
With the new wave of MC’s all fighting for a position nowadays, the only way to solidify a spot is to show and prove; and that’s just what Washington DC native Olubowale “Wale” Folarin has been doing.
Paying his dues on the mixtape circuit, much like his peers, and after a couple of pushbacks, Wale finally releases his Attention Deficit album.
Assistance comes from top-notch artists and producers such as Bun B, Lady Gaga, The Neptunes, (and Pharrell), 9th Wonder, Gucci Mane, Rihanna, Chrisette Michele, Cool & Dre, and The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League.
Wale then makes you ‘pay attention’ on songs like ‘Triumph,’ ‘Mama Told Me,’ and ‘Mirrors’ (feat. Bun B).
Gucci Mane makes his appearance on ‘Pretty Girls,’ and actually sounds surprising well on the track, as Wale keeps the pace going with the up tempo atmosphere of his travel tales on ‘World Tour’ (feat. Jazmine Sullivan).
He then tries his hand at narrating on ‘90201,’ as he tells the story of a female trying to make it big in Hollywood, but ends up getting swallowed by the life she wants so much. Chrisette Michele helps Wale get his point across on ‘Shades,’ as the DC lyricist reflects back to how he used to be self-conscious about his dark complexion.
Other songs that make you stay focused are solid contributions like ‘Prescription,’ ‘Contemplate,’ (feat. Rihanna), and ‘Diary’ (feat. Marsha Ambrosius).
Wale’s Attention Deficit record is actually a contrast, because the material presented on it does make you wonder what’s coming up next, instead of veering your concentration elsewhere. Filled with well-placed guest spots that don’t drown out the star of the show, along with conceptual content makes this deficit one that won’t hurt your pockets.
Rating: 3.5
