Wale, Ambition
Nearly two years since his debut album, Wale returns with his anticipated Ambition, an album full of lively beats and loaded lyrics…
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Backed by welcoming keystrokes and light female vocals, Wale opens Ambition with “Don’t Hold Your Applause,” putting forth the task at hand: “Tired of makin’ money/I’m on to makin’ history.” Now liberated by the artistic and financial mobility achieved by uniting with Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group, Wale is focused on lasting impact, not sales or major-label-manufactured hits.
At his core, he is still the same artist that became a leader of the early run of Internet baby boomers late last decade—standing on slick and nimble wordplay complemented by honesty, conscience and perspective. But now Wale seems freer, both musically and mentally. Early on, “Miami Nights” is a jazzy, colorful celebration of Ross’s hometown. That upbeat spirit persists over the subtle synths of the female-friendly “Lotus Flower Bomb,” featuring Miguel, and “Focused,” an up-tempo, overdue reunion with friend turned foe turned friend Kid Cudi.
The rowdy drums and heavy bass of Rozay’s own offerings and the MMG compilation Self Made, Vol. 1 aren’t here, but it feels like The Bawse’s sense of proper beat selection looms over the musicality of the album, rife with live-sounding instrumentation.
Wale does diverge from the pep on the harder “Chain Music” and “Ambition,” a smooth, rolling opus featuring Ross and Meek Mill. On the dark, determined “Legendary,” he promises his “only fear is mediocrity,” and proves throughout that such middling will never be an issue lyrically. The part-time ESPN analyst proves he’s still the captain of sports references, kicking, “I’ma let the chips fall/Niggas is Kemba Walker, tryna see me pitfall,” on “Double M Genius,” a crafty reference to when Walker, a recent college basketball star, caused a Pittsburgh player to hit the hardwood with a quick deke.
Always a thinker, the former XXL Freshman still forms endearing and uplifting unpackings of Black femininity (“Illest Bitch Alive”), but he does so with a revamped approach. Similarly, he’s still deeply rooted in the nation’s capital, and on “DC or Nothin,” he questions the dichotomy of his home city (“Politicians fuckin’ hookers/Why you mad at my ganja?”) in a fresh way. Yet even with more hunger and cohesion than on his debut, there’s less vulnerability here. The project misses some of the trickier, more internally and socially exploratory concepts of which he’s proven capable time and again.
But then this is indicative of the different space within which Wale now finds himself. The sonic mood of Ambition reflects its title and author and proves, on the whole, far warmer than his debut. On the title track, he raps, “They gon’ love me for my ambition/Easy to dream a dream, though it’s harder to live it.” Wale seems to be living his on this sophomore album. —Adam Fleischer
Dope album Wale came correct this time around. It’s been on repeat since last weekend. Ambition and Legendary stand out 2 me it will be intresting to see how much he sells cos i’m thinking 150k first week.
Amazing album. Could maybe take over J. Cole for my favorite album of the year. Wale is definitely in my top 5 and the beat selection was on par, top-notch lyrics, but my favorite aspect was the nasty Wale flow that always impresses me. I hope this, Take Care, Cole World, and Live From the Underground (next year) can all please me for some time to come. I know I’m already anticipating Wale’s next project. Great review, I thought lyrics could possibly get an “XXL” not because he’s a story teller or the next Tupac but his style and lyricism works for him, and keeps the song interesting without having to go too deep emotionally in every single song or tell a story with every lyric.
dope album indeed!! going through it now and its sounding ”g”……got a nice feel to it. hopefuly it sells decently cause he deserves it for putting out something as quality as this…..this coming from a guy who couldn’t stand wale when his debut dropped.
On point review, good job. sounds like Wale came into his own on this album, nice to see him find a home with MMG.
Honestly, the album was sub-par average…It was another J cole album, a couple good songs, and the rest are just garbage or average.
Im a fan of his shit, but real talk, too many rappers are coming out with half assed albums, and it makes me sick.
Still, Pick it up if your a fan.
Thank you, dude. I thought I was taking crazy pills.
This album is damn smooth,well done Wale,i hope its as succesful as J.Cole’s..these are two of my favourite in the game right now,Cole has some interesting concepts in almost each and every song he has done and he always does justice to them,Wale is cut from the same cloth too,what a relief from all that Lil Wayne garbage.
finally a solid thorough review,dnt no bout a xxl overall but less has got more,lyrically & delivery 1 of da top n da game rite now but doesn’t radio quality hitz so far & wnt do j cole #’s or 150,maybe 75 if he lucky & please listen 2 a super lyrical memphis mc wen u get a chance & dnt complain about hip hop being dead if u ain’t gon support da new rappers dats actually good….http://www.youtube.com/user/Darealkingrichard?feature=mhee
& please listen 2 a super lyrical memphis mc wen u get a chance & dnt complain about hip hop being dead if u ain’t gon support da new rappers dats actually good….http://www.youtube.com/user/Darealkingrichard?feature=mhee
This album is a smash hit. If your not a Wale fan then its kinda hard to judge his music. He has this gritty, hungry, tryna get to the top type of flow. Go back and do your homework @DollaXO…and yes this is a headshot
wow, xxl! you continue to leave me dumbfounded with your reviews and no evidence of any discernible rating system or scale whatsoever. long story short, this album is a clusterfuck. for an album that’s supposed to center around being “focused”, it sure was all-over-the-fucking-place. the lyrics on the album are definitely at the forefront here, but that’s still not saying a whole lot. and how has no one mentioned that the song “ambition” has almost the same exact beat as wayne/drake’s “she will”? someone isn’t paying attention.
Nigga you talking without any evidence. You say the album is clusterfuck but don’t give any examples. Tighten up MOE!
I heard the same thing when I first heard Ambition. It does have a very similar beat, but I think that Ambition’s beat is better, and the song is most definitely better.