ALBUM REVIEW: Wale -- Ambition

Ever since listening to More About Nothing this past Spring, Wale has been a rapper I look to for dope tracks. It even escalated to the point where a reader described me as “biased fan” for my review of Self Made Vol. 1. Was I? To me, no. Wale simply is an impressive rapper. If one does not agree after listening to More About Nothing and his contributions to Self Made Vol. 1, in all probability, one will after listening to the well-crafted record Ambition.

As Ambition’s executive producers, venturing out to experiment with unfamiliar producers did not appear to be one of the D.C. native’s or Rick Ross’s objectives when it came to putting this album together. Tone P, Mark Henry, the laudable producer Toomp and Roc Nation’s Deputy all previously produced for Wale. Be that as it may, that is not a bad thing, for they worked well together on the album.

Still, diversity is very much present in Wale’s sophomore album. He outstripped any naked eye thoughts that persist when it comes to his inclusion in MMG (Maybach Music Group) by killing the song “Legendary,” which has a beat ideal for Ross.

“It’s something to be great. It’s nothing to be famous,” and “Say yes one time, they use you. Say no one time, they plotting,” are just a few bars of Wale’s exceptional lyricism in “Legendary.”

Over and above that, Wale also showed versatility spitting on an alternative beat by Kore on “Focused” featuring Kid Cudi and the foot-tapping “Slight Work” produced by Diplo, which Big Sean adds a nice verse to.

T-Minus provided the platform, with his production, for Wale to get on a rugged record, something he does not often do, but that did not hinder the song’s flair.

Besides tackling a new array of beats, the Roc Nation-managed artist touched upon some R&B records, such as current single “Lotus Flower Bomb” featuring Miguel and the lone, detestable track of the album “Sabotage” featuring Lloyd that ironically is the longest record on the disc. On the other hand, “Illest B----” is the preeminent R&B track on Ambition and consists of that enjoyable, poetic bits Wale has all but trademarked.

“Miss mother nature, I pray that our daughters carry and favor your genes. And, when you take off your jeans, you get all the me that you need,” voiced Wale on “Illest B----.”

Too, on “Double M Genius,” one can envision Wale squinching his eyebrows while grabbing a microphone attached to a shock mount, thanks to the sporadic intensity of his delivery on the record. To boot, “DC or Nothing” is the reverse, in a way, as it seems to spark emotions within Wale as he speaks on fallen friends, violence in DC and even politics.

More About Nothing remains my preferred recording by Wale, and that is not to say Ambition failed in any way. It, more or less, has all one can ask for in an album. Don’t believe me or think I’m biased, check it out for yourself. The outcome I expect if one does listen is not holding his/her applause after the conclusion of listening, which is sure to arrest one’s attention and cause the permanent incarceration of any remaining skepticism of Wale’s artistry as Ambition preludes unassailable appreciation.