One might say that Wale doesn't have a style all his own: he wraps his cleverness into no-pause flows that are difficult to digest. Although an exaggeration, this minor critique becomes magnified on Attention Deficit, which lacks the creative production inherent to his mixtapes 100 Miles and Runnin' (the Justice-sampling "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.") and The Mixtape About Nothing (getting his Jay-Z on with "The Freestyle (Roc Boys)").
Wale has few detractors, but it's hard to make a stink about a consistent and unspectacular album like Attention Deficit. We saw the reaction to the one album wonder Rhymefest, although Blue Collar at least felt a little risky. Wale's straightforward production (make a beat without tablas, please) is matched by casual verses that don't take enough chances.
The exceptions are twofold. The first are the songs with bite, namely the twinkly darkness of "90210" and the non-stop punchlines of opener "Trimuph." The second are the ones that nail the formula, primarily the back-to-back hits "Pretty Girls (ft. Gucci Mane)" and "World Tour." The latter half of the album could've used either/or.
Or a trim. Or some edge.
But hell, I'll take Wale over 90% of you rappers out there any day.
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