Attention Deficit holds our attention
The album is exceptional with a couple outstanding tracks.
Published Dec. 1, 2009
Washington MC Wale has not done a lot of things some of today's most popular rappers have. He has never been on Degrassi, bullied a 19-year-old country star on national television or encouraged people to "jerk" in public (am I the only one who thinks that's dirty?). If those things are what hip-hop fans are looking for, they won't find it on Wale's debut album, Attention Deficit. But if you are looking for real, genuine hip-hop, look no further.
Attention Deficit rides in on the momentum of Wale's several popular mixtapes — including 100 Miles & Running and The Mixtape About Nothing — and the new album, although occasionally flawed, confirms Wale could help save hip-hop from a generation of ringtone rap.
The first single from Attention Deficit, "Chillin," is solid, but hardly the album's best. The song features Lady GaGa doing her best with a hook screaming it was made for M.I.A. But, by getting it done without adding anything crazy or weird, it should be considered a moral victory.
The base of the beat is a sample of Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." Normally the thought of such a classic being sampled for a modern day rap song would be cringe worthy. Mercifully, producers Cool & Dre use just enough Steam to keep the beat without destroying the integrity of the original song. The verses on "Chillin" are sometimes lacking, but lines such as "I remain a giant and you Jeremy Shockey," make up for occasional lyrical lulls. Overall, this first released track is pretty good but not a great representation of the album as a whole.
Wale addresses some tough topics on Attention Deficit as well, further separating himself from radio rap. Showing his softer side over an ingeniously simple Mark Ronson beat, "90210" is the story of a woman's battle with bulimia and cocaine addiction in pursuit of fame and fortune. This is immediately followed up by "Shades," an in-depth look at Wale's own self-consciousness surrounding his skin tone. Wale's flow combined with a nice Chrisette Michelle hook makes "Shades" another solid track.
Although the majority of the album is high quality, the most impressive tracks on the album are evident.
"World Tour" featuring Jazmine Sullivan and "Beautiful Bliss" featuring J. Cole and Melanie Fiona are both exactly what a good hip-hop track should be. "World Tour," produced by Cool & Dre, showcases the wit that first drew fans to Wale, paired with a Jazmine Sullivan hook that doesn't draw too much attention away from the songs fierce verses.
Attention Deficit's other jaw-dropper, "Beautiful Bliss," is the ultimate jam. The trumpet and cymbals in the beat and the lyrical explosion by both rappers set up "Beautiful Bliss" to easily be the best track on the album save for one not-so-small detail: guest rapper J. Cole absolutely massacres Wale on his own track. With lines like, "Tell them at the top we want your spot for real/And yet we heard you got it locked but like them socks we on your heels" J. Cole stops by just long enough to have his own national coming out party and give fans another new name to look forward to.
Although far from perfect, Wale solidifies his spot as a force to be reckoned with in the game and gives true hip-hop fans something real. Something we've earned after one too many "jerks."
