Top Albums of 2011 (30-21)
30. Smoke DZA-Rolling Stoned
29. Sir Michael Rocks-The Rocks Report*
28. The Airplane Boys-Where’ve You Been?*
27. Co$$-Before I Awoke
26. Freddie Gibbs-A Cold Day in Hell*
25. Fly.Union-The Greater Than Club*
24. Young Jeezy-Thug Motivation 103
22. Wale-Ambition
21. Killer Mike-Pl3dge
Wale-Ambition [review]
Let’s forget about Wale’s debut Attention Deficit. While I think it was one of the best kept secrets of 2009, you could hear the label’s influence and overuse of ideas/concepts which coincidentally caused attention deficit. The average listener complained that the album hopped from one place to another leaving them confused. Also, there’s that horrible first single “Chillin”, but enough of that. Now we’re here, with a new deal and hopefully more creative control.
So a changing record labels in pursuit of artistic freedom would only be a plus right? Well maybe not if that change is to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group Imprint.
Was this a good move? I say yes. And no. Let’s focus on the yes though.
Ambition sounds like a debut, but in a good way. The album opens with “Don’t Hold Your Applause” which sounds like the go-go material that you usually expect from previous Wale releases. This go-go sound is continued through the tracks “Double M Genius”, “Miami Nights”, and “Legendary”. THEN comes the abrupt switch.
This album sounds like two seperate albums, Wale before MMG and Wale after MMG. This is the “bad” part of the Maybach Music move. Not even saying that the latter portion of the album is bad, but I can see him not wanting to lose his newfound fanbase. The first song in the change of pace is “Lotus Flower Bomb” featuring Miguel. While this second half of the album has tracks that you could really care less for (i.e. “Chain Music” and the club track “Slight Work”) the best track of the album is in this here. “Ambition” featuring Rick Ross and Meek Mill is produced by T-Minus who coincidentally produced another hit single you may have heard this year (and they sound just alike).
The album closes strong with “No Days Off”, “DC or nothing” or “That Way” which is recycled off the Self Made, Vol. 1 album.
As a whole, this album is a very enjoyable listen. The only problem I have is continuity. At times, this album sounds like a collection of songs. With Attention Deficit, nearly every song had a particular theme whereas this album sacrifices themes and concepts for an overall improved listening experience. Both production wise and lyrically this album is notch above his debut. If you’re a fan of Wale, new or old, there should be something on this album to keep you interested. It may be incentive to check out his previous projects also, which may have been his intentions.
All in all, this makes for a pretty solid album and one of the best releases this year.
Final Grade: 3.75-5
Maybach Music Group-Self Made Vol. 1
No not the download link, think i’m trying to get my blog shut down? But this is an album stream hosted through Complex Magazine. This is the official album of the summer.
