#Wale - the album about nothing

I don’t know why you would use this title for an album.

 

I will admit, Wale and I only have this in common. We love Seinfeld. That is my absolute favorite sitcom. Wale cleverly puts "The" in front of each title track, just like how each episode title of Seinfeld was structured. So, the first song, is titled "The Intro About Nothing". And at the start of every track on here, Jerry Seinfeld is featured talking about something related to the song. Ultimately, Wale made songs about things he and Seinfeld were discussing. This song does feature some pretty interesting production, it's a bit uplifting and soulful, and during the hook it does pick up - loud percussion and the vocal harmonizing in the background adds a lot. I like it. This is an intro that reminds me of something like J. Cole's and Logic's intro to their albums.

Music:

He explains the overall concept behind this Album About Nothing on the bridge, saying:

I figure they don’t care nothing about albums

So why not give them an album about nothing

"The Helium Balloon" - Wale is the Helium Balloon. When the listener listens to and absorbs his music they are “lifted” just as a helium balloon elevates in air. Again, with some pretty cool production. Produced By DJ Dahi & Sonny Digital.

[Verse 1]

I used to put my faith in the yarn, and now communication is gone

I agree we've gone distant, my new location the charts

Naw, mm, can't count the days, but let's just say five

Years, coming of age, it make you blow by your day job

So cry for me, wild for me

It's a horror story, eyes 20/20s that I-M-E your normal C

And I'd be different gettin' diplomas in peace

But gettin' applause and across, I'm hittin' Diplo for a beat

Slight work to Dahi, it's a purpose y'all see

In a world of dopplegangers, niggas ain't worth the copy

You capiche? You got me cold

Niggas'll fly you up this high, won't let you fly to the moon

Goin' up!

And right after this, the beat flips. It's cool, it sounds atmospheric with some trap elements.

 

I suppose the next track "The White Shoes" is taking a critical look at consumer culture.

[Verse 1]

Gucci S. Dots, whole hood had 'em

Ice cream 'fore the hypebeasts that's into fashion

Being forreal, yo try being Pharrell

When your black ass in a back class, the fronting was real

No Lauren London, we was on a budget

You know, sharin' Old Navy so the army could be fresh in public

But this nigga really needs to stop singing the hooks, because he cannot sing. Other than that, it's nice to see Wale talking about something and actually have some clever wordplay and whatnot.

 

I wasn't able to get into "The Pessimist", a song featuring J. Cole - at first. But while reading the lyrics, it made`it easier for me to enjoy. He touches on “black” reality shows, family unity and social disruptions leading to incarceration. And it's clear at this point that, like a lot of rappers, Wale knows how to pick dope beats, so you like that about his projects, but his public persona/personality is not so likeable. He's not a terrible lyricist either, he's putting out content with substance here. J. Cole is only on the hook, and I wound up feeling indifferent towards him.

 

"The Middle Finger" is probably the most promising song on here, with the intro and first verse. Dope ass beat (DJ Dahi), and Wale employs a great flow. Until he fucks it up with the hook. He. Cannot. Sing. Something else I noticed, he seems to only have two verses on each song instead of the usual three. This song is about Wale’s problems and how everybody is trying to tell him what to do. You know Wale ain't no stranger to feeling butthurt.

 

Sampling New Edition’s classic song “If It Isn’t Love,” Wale tells us about "The One Time in Houston", a city known for having beautiful, thick women / strippers that make men fall in love, though they are only focused on getting their money. Production is going for a more seductive, slow tempo. However, that keeps me from holding a strong interest in the song. And it was at this point in the album where I started to feel more and more bored with each song. Perhaps this is the whole theme of the album, not working in the albums favor. Wale's voice begins to lose any charisma that it once had earlier in the project, it becomes more consistently monotone. The production on "The Bloom" is noteworthy, its soulful. During "The Matrimony", Wale does mention the unfortunate experience his family had with the miscarriage, the song also deals with marriage in general, Usher singing on the hook. It's a nice effort, didn't really hit me emotionally. Last song ends the whole project on a meh note.

 

Definitely an album about nothing.

Related articles across the webWale "White Shoes" VideoWale's new album, 'The Album About Nothing,' inspired by 'Seinfeld'Wale Reveals 'The Album About Nothing' Tracklist, Cover And Release DateReview: Wale Puts Out His Most Personal Project to Date With 'The Album About Nothing'Stream Wale's 'The Album About Nothing'Wale Says He Was Depressed While Making 'The Album About Nothing' smj12.com/?p=1388

Done