Harsh Article On Wale By The Washington City Paper (Talks About Attitude + Music)

[S2J]

@HRap

eXACTLY. I mean, don'T like to use cliche terms

But its hard to call whats goin on here anyhting but CRABS IN A BARRELL.

I mean sumtimes, bein a 'crab' is warranted...i.e.- If u told me Lil B is on the path to bein the face of rap, i MIGHT just take that ngga out...i'll b a crab.

But Wale is just a regular ass ngga. Thik about that! lol He just a regular ass ngga

He aint gang affiliated, he dont rock skinnies, he dont have feminine ways that make u cringe even if the music is good, he dont wear jeggins...etc

He just raps!

But NGGAS find a way...'Aw man he changed'

 

[H-Rap 180]

Naw...He been doin that...Rappers been doin that...Real life niggas everywhere been doin that...You can't name me an artist who's catalogue has not at some poin contradicted itself...If so, that person isn't a artist, they workin by a formula...People have different moods and views at different moments...It's one thing to completely turn on an image or ideal that you presented originally...But what y'all are pointing out is just him capturing different moments...Sometimes you wanna talk about and praise the woman you love, and sometimes you tired of dealin wit fuck ass bitches that you fuck cause you thought wit yo dick...And it bothers me that people can't see that the word "bitch" is being used symbolically in "Illest Bitch Alive"...I know how it sounds but listen to the song, and think about the context of the genre in which it's made...

[video=youtube;ZOg8EvAMfbY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOg8EvAMfbY[/video]

[video=youtube;qI1SRVnksxI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI1SRVnksxI&feature=related[/video]

My Bro Miles High stay dropping harsh truth on y'all.

 

[S2J]

I leave you silly ass nggas wit 2 quotes lol:

"Real story, like I was

I was playin this, this record

For a friend of mine, we was just chillin

I was just playin her the album and like

She was like, "Yo I love the record, record is incredible

But y'know something's different

somethin it just ain't the same"

I said nigga that's the point~!"-Phonte

"Everybody look at you strange and say you changed

Like you worked that hard to stay the same"-Jay Z

Nothing more to say from me.

 

[JDSTAYWITIT]

Don't try to pull that shit with me. I expect the straw manning from Hrap, but you know damn well what I mean. The intent of Illest Bitch alive was supposed to be uplifting from EVERY word even in the title outside of the word between Illest and Alive.

But look at it here, you try to make a rougher around the edges independent woman song (which he's made 1000 fuckin times) by calling her a bitch. Coming from the same mouth that made Shades? The same mouth that got his save on on 90210?

That don't seem contradictory to you? Yes, they're both "uplifting songs" but the manner in which he does it is almost polarizing. You wanna make an uplifting song as a simp (too many to name) then one as a nigga ( Illest bitch alive). It's like if on Krit's next tape he come out sounding like B.o.B. Is he being versatile or is he just trying to be some hip hop amobea trying to grab every demographic and sacrificing idenity in the process.

And it wasn't just there, all through Ambition nigga was calling women bitches and had some lines lowkey shitting on them. He dancing on that same line J.Cole was but Wale is even more wildly inconsistant. I guess thats where "Wale vs MMG Wale" comes into play.

And your biggest verse of your career just happens to be a stripper anthem. I mean c'mon.

nigga ....wtf you talkin about ...i didnt even respond to you ...just hrap..lol

but to your post ....if you took out the word BITCH from the title ...you wouldnt have an arguement what so ever ...becasue the message in that song dose not contradict a track like shades your dealing with surface level shit ... those songs are the same..... if one is "simp" and the other is "niggerized" whatever the hell that means its superficial and dosent deal with the content of each record ....and even if they did contradict eachother ...i really wouldnt give a shit at the end of the day ...people are human ...contradictions will happen .... depending on the degree,sevarity, and reasoning behind those contradictions they really mey not hold my attention ...

 

[Meet The Sniper]

Naw...He been doin that...Rappers been doin that...Real life niggas everywhere been doin that...You can't name me an artist who's catalogue has not at some poin contradicted itself...If so, that person isn't a artist, they workin by a formula...People have different moods and views at different moments...It's one thing to completely turn on an image or ideal that you presented originally...But what y'all are pointing out is just him capturing different moments...Sometimes you wanna talk about and praise the woman you love, and sometimes you tired of dealin wit fuck ass bitches that you fuck cause you thought wit yo dick...And it bothers me that people can't see that the word "bitch" is being used symbolically in "Illest Bitch Alive"...I know how it sounds but listen to the song, and think about the context of the genre in which it's made...

Do you do that color shit so niggas can't multiquote your posts cuh?

But I'll concede, you do have a point here. And I also understand the irony Illest Bitch Alive was made in. So you have me there, I guess the examples I used had me going about this the wrong way.

But let's try this, go ahead and show me 3 tracks from ambition that shows the definitive Wale. 3 songs that capture the personality and idenity of Wale. Since I used Big Sean earlier I can provide 3 examples here: Get It, Live This Life, and High.

Cause Ambition (the album) seems to be more of a theme for the albums songs even stretching to tracks like Illest Bitch alive. But his songs just seem like they're songs for pandering to different audiences rather than a rapper touching different subjects with his own spin on life to it. Maybe it's cause of Wale's tendecy to just fuckin ramble when he raps, I dunno.

 

[S2J]

So I guess we're just giving out passes for certain shit now then.

We can throw a shitstorm if Drake talk about catching bodies, if Wayne goes for a rock sound, and if J.Cole swag raps.

But Wale is super poetic and bows in front of hoes palms up in one room, then goes to stand next Ross and Meek in the other talking about "Yeah that bitch is the shit.....She ain't shit though"

I ain't saying you gotta make the same song, but at some point niggas gotta know who the fuck is Wale? Some people do what their best at. People say Big Sean is simple, Finally Famous: The Album was pop, he shallow and blah blah blah. But that album was focused. He was Sean every song. And still had plenty to rap about. Finally Famous for whatever you think of it defined Sean: A hornball, witty, ambitious, pothead, bullheaded, arrogant nigga.

All you can get from Wale is he's emotional and he's....ambitious. But that's more of an album theme than anything else.

If you cant tell the difference between Wale speakin on upliftin chicks, and then downing the hoes...

betweeen Drake and his imaginary bodies he's catchin...

You and i have no reason to speak, nah mean?

 

[Miles HIGH]

Do you do that color shit so niggas can't multiquote your posts cuh?

But I'll concede, you do have a point here. And I also understand the irony Illest Bitch Alive was made in. So you have me there, I guess the examples I used had me going about this the wrong way.

But let's try this, go ahead and show me 3 tracks from ambition that shows the definitive Wale. 3 songs that capture the personality and idenity of Wale. Since I used Big Sean earlier I can provide 3 examples here: Get It, Live This Life, and High.

Cause Ambition (the album) seems to be more of a theme for the albums songs even stretching to tracks like Illest Bitch alive. But his songs just seem like they're songs for pandering to different audiences rather than a rapper touching different subjects with his own spin on life to it. Maybe it's cause of Wale's tendecy to just fuckin ramble when he raps, I dunno.

Lol, naw, I was just high as fuck when I started color coordinatin my posts...But that's what people are missing...That "definitive Wale" shit is great, and in all honesty, I coulda gone for some deeper content on Ambition...But he already gave you that on Attention Deficit in large quantities and niggas act like they couldn't get wit it...Now he's at a different place in his life, and the songs on this album describe this moment...He's still sayin a bunch of personal shit, it's just a different voice...And for the 3 songs: "Legendary", "Ambition", "No Days Off", and "Don't Hold Your Applause".

 

[Meet The Sniper]

If you cant tell the difference between Wale speakin on upliftin chicks, and then downing the hoes...

betweeen Drake and his imaginary bodies he's catchin...

You and i have no reason to speak, nah mean?

"But he's being versatile! He's just reaching out to the Toronto gangsta fanbase! Niggas change everyday nahmean?"

 

[R.D.]

Do you do that color shit so niggas can't multiquote your posts cuh?

But I'll concede, you do have a point here. And I also understand the irony Illest Bitch Alive was made in. So you have me there, I guess the examples I used had me going about this the wrong way.

But let's try this, go ahead and show me 3 tracks from ambition that shows the definitive Wale. 3 songs that capture the personality and idenity of Wale. Since I used Big Sean earlier I can provide 3 examples here: Get It, Live This Life, and High.

Cause Ambition (the album) seems to be more of a theme for the albums songs even stretching to tracks like Illest Bitch alive. But his songs just seem like they're songs for pandering to different audiences rather than a rapper touching different subjects with his own spin on life to it. Maybe it's cause of Wale's tendecy to just fuckin ramble when he raps, I dunno.

If at this point you dont see who Wale is as a artist, its on you but his topics and types of records he do don't get more consistent.

Niggas talking bout Wale aint fund his niche or musical identity. You know he's taking 1 of 3 directions on every song, how the hell he aint found his self musically ?

 

[Meet The Sniper]

That definitive Wale shit is great, and in all honesty, I coulda gone for some deeper content on Ambition...But he already gave you that on Attention Deficit in large quantities and niggas act like they couldn't get wit it...

Well I ain't in a position to talk about what sells, cause personally I don't care. Me and KK was mainly arguing that Ambition doesn't have Wale with a real idenity he just making songs for a bunch of demographics. Aka sacrificing artistic integrity for sales. And call me crazy, but it looks like you agreed cuh. With that said, I expressed in the Album thread that I liked Ambition regardless.

But I liked Attenion Deficit FOR songs like TV on the radio, Shades and Beautiful Bliss.

Now he's at a different place in his life, and the songs on this album describe this moment. He's still sayin a bunch of personal shit, it's just a different voice..

Eh....I dunno about this. He basically doing that new nigga "come up" underdog rap that everyone is doing. (see J.Cole) Rapping like he got signed yesterday and shit. More About Nothing would have been a better shot of seeing where he's at in life, especially the first three tracks.

And for the 3 songs"Legendary", "Ambition", "No Days Off", and "Don't Hold Your Applause".[/QUOTE]

I'm willing to give you Legendary, actually I seen that coming off the bat. It was the one track I felt was "Wale" cause of the nature of him and his artistic integrity. I'm not too sure about Don't Hold Your Applause but I'll give you that.

The other two though is what I said earlier about ambition being more of a theme. They were "personal" verses but nothing real defining. Hell, Meek and Ross' verses on Ambition showed more identity since the intro was the closest thing for Wale and it was on the same shit Legendary was.

But at least now you know what we mean *shrugs*

 

[Meet The Sniper]

If at this point you dont see who Wale is as a artist, its on you but his topics and types of records he do don't get more consistent.

Niggas talking bout Wale aint fund his niche or musical identity. You know he's taking 1 of 3 directions on every song, how the hell he aint found his self musically ?

Define direction? You mean the topics? Because if you say money and hoes for the first two, then you just absorbed 99% of rappers.

In other words, that aint what I mean.

 

[H-Rap 180]

Well I ain't in a position to talk about what sells, cause personally I don't care. Me and KK was mainly arguing that Ambition doesn't have Wale with a real idenity he just making songs for a bunch of demographics. Aka sacrificing artistic integrity for sales. And call me crazy, but it looks like you agreed cuh. With that said, I expressed in the Album thread that I liked Ambition regardless.

But I liked Attenion Deficit FOR songs like TV on the radio, Shades and Beautiful Bliss.

Eh....I dunno about this. He basically doing that new nigga "come up" underdog rap that everyone is doing. (see J.Cole) Rapping like he got signed yesterday and shit. More About Nothing would have been a better shot of seeing where he's at in life, especially the first three tracks.

And for the 3 songs"Legendary", "Ambition", "No Days Off", and "Don't Hold Your Applause".

I'm willing to give you Legendary, actually I seen that coming off the bat. It was the one track I felt was "Wale" cause of the nature of him and his artistic integrity. I'm not too sure about Don't Hold Your Applause but I'll give you that.

The other two though is what I said earlier about ambition being more of a theme. They were "personal" verses but nothing real defining. Hell, Meek and Ross' verses on Ambition showed more identity since the intro was the closest thing for Wale and it was on the same shit Legendary was.

But at least now you know what we mean *shrugs*

Share with us the different "demographics" that Wale sacrificed his artistic integrity for sales over.

Give us a list of these demographics that you speak of.

 

[R.D.]

I hate agreeing with H Rap ut the nigga right for the most part

i will agree with whoever said AD>Ambition tho

 

[JDSTAYWITIT]

They cant hear the music which makes it more appealing to me.

One poster is talking about "Black queen shit" Vs "Illest bitch alive" without even recognizing the content in "Illest bitch alive".

...then other posters act like Wale sat down and made a conscious effort to make a song for "White bitches" when he has said over-and-over again in interviews that he didnt have any artistic control when he was on Interscope with the Europeon Mark Ronson and Jimmy Iovine.

​

Mark Ronson

(executive producer of Wale's "Attention Deficit")

​

In fairness to ronson tho .... It's not like tho dude dosent know how to fuse his production with great hiphop artist and have it work ... He's produced for a solid amount of hip hop guys and shot has came out dope .... I don't know what happened with the wale situation ..maybe it was bad timing maybe it was the fact they were trying to hard to push him as the "fusion" mc instead of just letting him do his thing .... Maybe people just really didn't like that chillin record ...idk

 

[Meet The Sniper]

Share with us the different "demographics" that Wale sacrificed his artistic integrity for sales over.

Give us a list of these demographics that you speak of.

Alright let's do it this way, cause I know how discusssions with you tend to turn themselves into a fuckin merry go round.

This is how I envisioned Ambition's development so to speak.

"Ayo Wale! How's the album goin?"

Wale: "Shit's good I got the intro and this Legendary track already laid, Me Ross and Meek killed this Ambition and I got this other smooth joint with Ross and Jeremih."

"Oh word... but what about a song for the bitches? You know you need one of them so they can back this album"

Wale: "Oh you right you right"

Out comes Lotus Flower Bomb

"But Wale, we got these producers and shit now, you gotta come with some hard soundin shit man!! For the club! You might as well throw that chain music on there!"

"Ayo you really feel like one track for the bitches is enough? They need something to relate to!!"

Wale: " You right yo!"

Enter Sabotage.

"Yo you still puttin on for the city right?! What about the DMV?"

DC or Nothing

"Alright but you ain't gettin ya swag on you know? I know you usually against that shit but you might as well call up the nigga Big Sean and swag this shit out real quick"

Slight Work

"Alright, you gotta uplift these bitches man....I mean you compliment them and shit.... but where are you gonna tell them they the queen of the nile n shit man?!"

Illest bitch alive

If you see where I'm going with this, it's like he's making songs "for them" and "for this". That's what niggas mean by pandering. Especially from a nigga like Wale who stay talking that artistic integrity shit.

Though I have a feeling you'll try and blow up the artistic integrity part, since it's what brought you outta the woodwork in the first place.

 

[Miles HIGH]

Alright let's do it this way, cause I know how discusssions with you tend to turn themselves into a fuckin merry go round.

This is how I envisioned Ambition's development so to speak.

"Ayo Wale! How's the album goin?"

Wale: "Shit's good I got the intro and this Legendary track already laid, Me Ross and Meek killed this Ambition and I got this other smooth joint with Ross and Jeremih."

"Oh word... but what about a song for the bitches? You know you need one of them so they can back this album"

Wale: "Oh you right you right"

Out comes Lotus Flower Bomb

"But Wale, we got these producers and shit now, you gotta come with some hard soundin shit man!! For the club! You might as well throw that chain music on there!"

"Ayo you really feel like one track for the bitches is enough? They need something to relate to!!"

Wale: " You right yo!"

Enter Sabotage.

"Yo you still puttin on for the city right?! What about the DMV?"

DC or Nothing

"Alright but you ain't gettin ya swag on you know? I know you usually against that shit but you might as well call up the nigga Big Sean and swag this shit out real quick"

Slight Work

"Alright, you gotta uplift these bitches man....I mean you compliment them and shit.... but where are you gonna tell them they the queen of the nile n shit man?!"

Illest bitch alive

If you see where I'm going with this, it's like he's making songs "for them" and "for this". That's what niggas mean by pandering. Especially from a nigga like Wale who stay talking that artistic integrity shit.

Though I have a feeling you'll try and blow up the artistic integrity part, since it's what brought you outta the woodwork in the first place.

But you say all this...And then try to use "Finally Famous" as a counterpoint to show an example of a focused album...Really though?

And to respond to that other post, I wasn't talmbout sales, I'm talmbout the fact that people really say Attention Deficit was a bad or messy album, just like the critic in this article...When it wasn't...And I loved it for the same reasons as you...Ambition is a different album though, so the subject matter has to be taken for what it is, and examined that way.

 

[Meet The Sniper]

But you say all this...And then try to use "Finally Famous" as a counterpoint to show an example of a focused album...Really though?

And to respond to that other post, I wasn't talmbout sales, I'm talmbout the fact that people really say Attention Deficit was a bad or messy album, just like the critic in this article...When it wasn't...And I loved it for the same reasons as you...Ambition is a different album though, so the subject matter has to be taken for what it is, and examined that way.

But think who we talking about here. Finally Famous WAS focused. That's just all there is to Sean. If you listened to his earlier tapes, ain't shit changed. Who did Big Sean cater to with his album? Not one song was out of character. Where was the smooth song for bitches? The "hard" song? Big Sean is all bragging, sex lyrics and a little hint of ambition and he delivered JUST THAT. It doesn't mean you can't have diversity (cause he still had that) but you knew what you were getting from Sean.

Hell, I could reach to the bottom of the barrell and say Waka Flocka had idenity and he still managed to come through with "Fuck This Indusry".

Wale on the other hand opened mixtapes with spoken word poetry just seemed to throw songs on there for whatever reason. Niggas do that for sales cuh.

 

[young law]

What Im arguing that wale just doesn't create, he systematically tries to please people
that totally goes against the point you're trying to make

you mean

like an ENTERTAINER???

fukkin duh

yeah

i swear

folks jus like to box people in,that is all

shit you never hear
"man,that stripper dancing to a new song,she never dance to songs like that"

"man,that actor always playing new roles. why he gotta be versatile"

but when it comes to rappers,those entertainers MUST stay in a lane

however u come out the box is how u must stay OR ELSE

 

[Miles HIGH]

But think who we talking about here. Finally Famous WAS focused. That's just all there is to Sean. If you listened to his earlier tapes, ain't shit changed. Who did Big Sean cater to with his album? Not one song was out of character. Where was the smooth song for bitches? The "hard" song? Big Sean is all bragging, sex lyrics and a little hint of ambition and he delivered JUST THAT. It doesn't mean you can't have diversity (cause he still had that) but you knew what you were getting from Sean.

Hell, I could reach to the bottom of the barrell and say Waka Flocka had idenity and he still managed to come through with "Fuck This Indusry".

Wale on the other hand opened mixtapes with spoken word poetry just seemed to throw songs on there for whatever reason. Niggas do that for sales cuh.

"Finally Famous" was a bunch of songs thrown together, and it was only barely...Like by the tiniest margin...Better than his mixtapes.

Wale has never been the type of artist to stay in one lane and only touch on a handfull of topics...If you look at all his projects they all sound different, and he takes different approaches each time...This time, he did this, and it came out good as fuck...Not classic, but good as fuck...And he does spoken word on this one too, like three times...

 

[P. Town]

Wale is just a diverse artist. Too many people trying to shit on him because they are stuck in one lane with what they listen to.