Top 3 Songs From Each Wale Album
As Wale proceeds to give you what you need!
If you remember my KiD Cudi post then you know I've been a Wale fan for awhile. He hasn't got the best track record with studio albums. However, if one thing is a constant, it's that Mr. Forlarin HAS BARS! As Wale transitions from Atlantic to the unknown, it seemed like as good a time as any to go through his discography!
Album:
Attention Deficit (2009)/AKA The 4th Best Wale Album
Top 3 Songs:
1) "Diary" (ft. Marsha Ambrosius)
2) "Mirrors" (ft. Bun B)
3) "Let it Loose" (ft. Pharrell Williams)
This album was very underwhelming when I first heard it. I was still getting used to the fact that when a rapper is in Mixtape mode, they're able to do a lot of things they can't on a studio album and so I should adjust expectations accordingly. Luckily these songs have aged well, all things considering. "Diary" is great for showcasing Wale's ability to RAP while still getting conceptual. This time from the point of view as a woman. "Mirrors" has a nice enough beat but the way Wale works in tandem with the 4th best southern rapper is what makes the song special. "Let it Loose" just rounds out this three song list.
Album:
Ambition (2011)/AKA the 2nd Best Wale Album
Top 3 Songs:
1) "Slight Work" (ft. Big Sean)
2) "Legendary"
3) "Focused" (ft. KiD CuDi)
"Slight Work" is great because Big Sean really shows up and goes in securing him his spot on the top 10 Mid Western Rappers list. Wale does a great job on this beat but this is the Big Sean verse to beat as far as I'm concerned. Let's just agree that every song on this list has BARS because that's what Wale does. That leaves the beat and I love this beat. It's uncharacteristically dark for Wale. The horns sound menacing and I love the addition of the strings. Yet and still it has a hint of that Go-Go sound that Wale introduced me to on his Mixtapes. "Focused" features Wale and KiD CuDi... I can't ignore the fact that these two should be working together more often.
Album:
The Gifted (2013)/AKA The 5th Best Wale Album
Top 3 Songs:
1) "Clappers" (ft. Juicy J & Nicki Minaj)
2) "Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece)"
3) "Sunshine"
There might be better songs on this album but the only one I ever want to return to with any kind of consistency is "Clappers" featuring the newly resurrected Nicki Minaj! Sometimes I just want to hear something ignorant with a good beat. "Golden Salvation" is Wale back to being conceptual as a Jesus Piece chain. It's a good song, but I don't run back to it very often. "Sunshine" just has a nice bop. Again... I don't have much love for this album as a whole.
Album:
The Album About Nothing (2015)/AKA THE BEST WALE ALBUM
Top 3 Songs:
1) "The Middle Finger"
2) "The White Shoes"
3) "The Girls on Drugs"
I wish I could pick more songs from this album. It is the album I always wanted from Wale. Which is weird because of how I feel about Jerry Seinfeld. The good news for me, though, is Jerry and Wale's friendship clearly yields great results in terms of Wale being able to deliver on the promise his Mixtapes make. "The Middle Finger" was just the first song I loved right away. Please believe it's a hook I sing along to when I need to. "The White Shoes" played at a very appropriate time in my life and meant it was forever in my heart. "The Girls on Drugs" has a great Janet sample and so it gets the number 3 spot.
Album:
Shine (2017)/AKA The 3rd Best Wale Album
Top 3 Songs:
1) "My Love" (ft. Dua Lipa/WizKid/Major Lazer)
2) "Fashion Week" (ft. G-Eazy)
3) "Colombia Heights (Te Llamo)" (ft. J. Balvin)
To be clear. Third best is faint praise. I guess I just want to like this album more than I do and that's where it's placement in Wale's discography comes from. "My Love" has a great international vibe that I bet Drake would have killed for. "Fashion Week" is another lowkey bop due to the dope drums. "Colombia Heights" feels like a different kind of track for Wale and I think it works for him. He doesn't barrel over the beat with his flow. He's measured and it causes me to lean in. Still it's number 3 on the 3rd best album so...
-YG