Rick Ross definitely surprises, referring to his loverвЂ™s beauty as вЂњblindingвЂќ. Love continues to dominate WaleвЂ™s mind on the romantic вЂњTired of DreamingвЂќ, featuring Ne-Yo and Rick Ross. Essentially, the female role within the song can provide physical pleasure, but not the emotional facets of a committed relationship. Things are deeper on вЂњBadвЂќ, featured in both remix and original forms with Rihanna and Tiara Thomas guesting respectively. intellectualвЂ™ refrains from socioeconomic matters enthusiastically proclaiming вЂњShawty got a big olвЂ™ butt!вЂќ He matches his contrast with less thoughtful company on this club banger with Juicy J (вЂњMake that ass clap, I donвЂ™t care about celluliteвЂќ) and Nicki Minaj (вЂњShout out to that celluliteвЂќ). Wale switches things up, thinking with вЂthe love belowвЂ™ on вЂњClappersвЂќ.

Similar in sound to вЂњAmbitionвЂќ (from 2011 effort Ambition), вЂњBricksвЂќ messaging is masterfully foreshadowed by WaleвЂ™s intro: вЂњTurn a brick to a stone but you think we donвЂ™t have a soul / as a kid need to grow, the powderвЂ™s weight in gold.вЂќ The notion of an easy вЂcome upвЂ™ is criticized by Wale and Lyfe Jennings, who asserts вЂњMama told me if I made my bed then I gotta lay downвЂ¦вЂќ вЂњBricksвЂќ discusses the topic of dealing drugs. вЂњGullibleвЂќ is an accusatory tour de force where Wale asserts вЂњTV killed the radio / and then the internet slit the television throat.вЂќ Ouch! Cee-Lo Green brilliantly complements Wale on a soulful hook. вЂMillyвЂ™ bites, but Wale holds things down: вЂњWe ainвЂ™t supposed to never have nothingвЂ¦ see the grown in my rhymes / see my focus on them.вЂќ вЂњGolden SalvationвЂќ finds the MC brilliantly playing on words, specifically the ubiquitous Jesus piece: вЂњJesus piece, Jesus piece, Jesus piece / but donвЂ™t nobody want know Jesus peaceвЂ¦.вЂќ The supporting music serves as a вЂtone poemвЂ™, evoking a churchy, gospel-sensible timbre to accentuate WaleвЂ™s ode.ДЇrom Jesus pieces, Wale moves to вЂњVanityвЂќ, with the help of a Tears For FearsвЂ™ вЂњMad WorldвЂќ. While Wale may not have reached his вЂbestвЂ™ yet, вЂњHeavenвЂ™s AfternoonвЂќ is pretty great, where his Maybach Music Group compadre Meek Mill drops a verse. Optimistic about the future, Wale adapts a вЂbest is yet to comeвЂ™ attitude. On the consistent вЂњSunshineвЂќ, Wale places вЂњthe spotlight on my fansвЂќ, thanking them for their support of his music. Wale described the song via tweet as вЂњвЂ¦passive aggressive hate from those closest to u.вЂќ Anchored down by a Marvin Gaye sample, Wale delivers sharp one-liners eschewing detractors including вЂњвЂ¦my affinity grows, as the city gets cold / as you reaching your goals, you gonвЂ™ meet you some foes.вЂќ Two tracks in, Wale is on autopilot. вЂњLoveHate ThingвЂќ proceeds in similar vein. Eliminating the вЂsuckersвЂ™ filled with hate and envy, Wale keeps вЂњвЂ¦that circle small and never let no squares in thereвЂ¦вЂќ On the catchy, summative hook, Wale accepts the truism that вЂhaters gonna hateвЂ™, but asserts they will respect his вЂњhustleвЂќ. A consistent trend throughout the album, opener вЂњThe Curse of the GiftedвЂќ matches Wale with his ideal backdrop. Wale works best with lush, soulful production work.

The Gifted is incredibly consistent and exemplarily executed like previous albums, never compromising quality.

Wale always conveys an artistic, intellectualist mindset that is equally accessible. Flowing with utmost agility and moxie, he never settles for meaningless lyrics. Perhaps itвЂ™s WaleвЂ™s вЂtrillвЂ™ approach to his rhymes that establishes him as one of the present dayвЂ™s most gifted rappers. The lyric plays cleverly within his third album, The Gifted, as well as wisely within real life. вЂњThey gonвЂ™ love you a little different when you at the top,вЂќ Wale prudently asserts on вЂњLoveHate ThingвЂќ.

Wale the gifted dopefile