Wale Been in the Game for Almost a Decade without a Definitive Sound/Style

[ThiefyPoo]

l

So... you said all of that before these 2 lines to essentially say something that we both agree on

lately !!!!!! As in recently !!!

 

[FlyRy]

My fav wale song but he's the worst part of the song

 

[Zee Scribe]

This nikka shouldn't be featuring G-Eazy tho, I'm still irked about that shyt.

Came back because i just pressed play on that shyt. Yeah he gotta chill. That aint the one.

 

[tru_m.a.c]

What makes his delivery terrible? Is their a way he can improve it?

No, there is absolutely nothing he can do about it because that's how he speaks at this point. Listen to the song below posted by @FlyRy. It took me years to pinpoint what it was about Wale and it finally hit me like 6mths ago:
1. His voice is annoying as fukk.
2. He raps like he never closes his mouth.
3. Every punchline is accentuated like you don't get the shyt.

And I'm saying all of this as someone who actually has no real qualm listening to Wale, as all my favorite rappers feature with him all the time. But let's just post some of the features side by side so you guys actually understand what it is about his vocals that possibly turn people off.

My fav wale song but he's the worst part of the song

These are just some cherry picked examples that came to mind at 2am. Y'all really don't see why people don't like listening to Wale?

 

[Rozay Oro]

I watched this TedX video a few months back where this guy was kicking knowledge about marketing and the strategy behind selling pretty much anything.

The dude was using Apple as an example... he was like why does Apple have such a loyal fanbase... when all their competitors offer similar products, for a cheaper price in a lot of cases. And the main reason that is... is because they've mastered the art of selling their consumers the "why" behind their products/brand.

J. Cole has mastered selling the "why" behind his music, he's got his fans to buy in to HIM. His stans feel like they know his story, they relate to it (the whole college struggle, student loan/Sallie Mae, underdog comeup)... so the people feel like they know WHY he's doing what he's doing. So they can get behind it.

When you think about the "why" for Wale... what do most think? When he goes on a tangent on Complex on the phone that millions hear? shytting on his peers, and guys that he's worked with (Juicy J )... when he goes on interviews and he acknowledges that he wants the accolades... he wants the recognition, he wants the respect. It's clear to see that people can think that he's going hard for the wrong reasons.

J. Cole I'm sure is as arrogant as any other rapper, it's just not a part of his image because of how he's controlled his own narrative since Born Sinner pretty much... and he's built on that since then.

Damn you broke it down nicely. link to complex phone rant please

 

[GoldenGlove]

Damn you broke it down nicely. link to complex phone rant please

 

[Zee Scribe]

No, there is absolutely nothing he can do about it because that's how he speaks at this point. Listen to the song below posted by @FlyRy. It took me years to pinpoint what it was about Wale and it finally hit me like 6mths ago:
1. His voice is annoying as fukk.
2. He raps like he never closes his mouth.
3. Every punchline is accentuated like you don't get the shyt.

And I'm saying all of this as someone who actually has no real qualm listening to Wale, as all my favorite rappers feature with him all the time. But let's just post some of the features side by side so you guys actually understand what it is about his vocals that possibly turn people off.











These are just some cherry picked examples that came to mind at 2am. Y'all really don't see why people don't like listening to Wale?

Those aren't good examples. He ripped slight work and beautiful bliss. The shyt you're talking about is only one of his flows. He didn't do that on most songs on either of his last albums. @GoldenGlove logged onto the why. Wale let Kendrick make the album he should've made and has more credibility to make in tpab. He's clearly the more well read of the two and is more intelligent when you hear them speak. Moreover, he is Nigerian and can speak to the Afrocentric theme from a unique place. I never listened to Folarin but maybe he did that on there. But in this "woke" era he would have something. Instead he's on Twitter begging demi Lovato for features.

 

[luckyse7enz]

His biggest song was definitely lotus flower bomb.

I would've assumed that it was "Bad".

 

[Versa]

You can't pull one post or line in this thread where I say Wale isn't a good rapper. I agree, his projects haven't been terrible. Some have been underwhelming, but nothing has been completely trash. I'm fully aware of his discography... but when you look at his status in hiphop and where he feels he's at... he's not even happy with it.

I agree that he's versatile. He has and can make a wide range of songs well. I think we all can agree that he makes the introspective relationship/woman appreciation song best... he makes great soulful music when he chooses to. It's not about pigeonholing him, I'm making an observation and saying... his versatility just might be a part of why he hasn't leveled up in the game like his peers have.

In your opinion, why has J. Cole and Big Sean surpassed him status/acclaim/sales wise in the game right now?

Big Sean doesn't have more sales than Wale in their careers. Wale has been more consistent.

Wale

Ambition = Debuted #2, went Gold
Gifted = Debuted #1, went Gold
TAAN = Debuted #1, but most likely Gold


Big Sean

Finally Famous = Debuted #3, not sure of status
Hall of Fame = Debuted #3, not sure of status, but it came out in 2013 and has sold 155k ad of 2015, so probably not gold
Dark Sky Paradise = Debuted #1, Gold
I Decided = Debuted #1, Gold

Very few rap artists are even going gold in this day and age, so both being able to move those units shows a dedicated fan base.

As for acclaim, Big Sean's albums DEFINITELY aren't more acclaimed than Wale's. They both have an average metacritic score of 70 (not that anyone should give a shyt about this). It's a wash if anything. Wale is very obviously a more skilled emcee with more versatile content, but whatever.


I'm extremely happy for J.Cole. He's a good dude with a good message and a pretty good rapper too. Wale not being on Cole's level isn't anything to critique. Cole, Kendrick and Drake are the only tier 1 rappers of their generation. Nobody else compares, but great careers exist in that second tier - which is where both Wale and Big Sean are. Wale should learn to be okay with that at this point in his career. He's 4 albums deep and a 10 year veteran. At that point, you are what you are.

We are both fans of a rapper who we (or at least I) feel is the best rapper on the planet. None of these dudes are fukking with his discography or his talent, but he's what at this point? A tier 4 rapper at best? While it sucks Lupe doesn't get that recognition, sometimes the stars just don't align (personality that is too polarizing, label issues, not having a marketable image/gimmick) for an artist to be a SUPERSTAR. To be one takes into account so much more than just the music and artistry.

I honestly feel Wale's lack of success (only compared to the tier 1 guys) has absolutely nothing to do with his content. His image and personality just isn't as marketable, but he has a solidified lane with women and has carved out a great career for himself. I would be THRILLED if Lupe had the same level of sales and recognizability right now as Wale does.

Lastly, as a Wale fan, I greatly appreciate his versatility. I doubt the answer to his lack of comparative success is "narrow your lane", but even if it was, I wouldn't want him to do that, and I doubt he would too. In fact, when he tried to narrow his lane with Ambition, his core fan base didn't fukk with it at all.



PS: I just heard Fashion Week and think the song is dope besides the G-Eazy verse.

 

[feelosofer]

The problem is that Wale just won't commit to being a conscious rapper. That is his proper lane. I mean he's versatile enough where he can do more traditional hip-hop and commercial songs but they were never really his strength despite the fact he has seen commercial success doing it. I mean his first few mixtapes were brilliant and he actually managed to get that perfect balance between commercial and indie with the Gifted. But he's really a backpack rapper at heart even if he has spent the better part of a decade trying to dodge it.

 

[Canada Goose]

My fav wale song but he's the worst part of the song

Never heard this song before but the song is dope

 

[GoldenGlove]

Big Sean doesn't have more sales than Wale in their careers. Wale has been more consistent.

Wale

Ambition = Debuted #2, went Gold
Gifted = Debuted #1, went Gold
TAAN = Debuted #1, but most likely Gold


Big Sean

Finally Famous = Debuted #3, not sure of status
Hall of Fame = Debuted #3, not sure of status, but it came out in 2013 and has sold 155k ad of 2015, so probably not gold
Dark Sky Paradise = Debuted #1, Gold
I Decided = Debuted #1, Gold

Very few rap artists are even going gold in this day and age, so both being able to move those units shows a dedicated fan base.

As for acclaim, Big Sean's albums DEFINITELY aren't more acclaimed than Wale's. They both have an average metacritic score of 70 (not that anyone should give a shyt about this). It's a wash if anything. Wale is very obviously a more skilled emcee with more versatile content, but whatever.


I'm extremely happy for J.Cole. He's a good dude with a good message and a pretty good rapper too. Wale not being on Cole's level isn't anything to critique. Cole, Kendrick and Drake are the only tier 1 rappers of their generation. Nobody else compares, but great careers exist in that second tier - which is where both Wale and Big Sean are. Wale should learn to be okay with that at this point in his career. He's 4 albums deep and a 10 year veteran. At that point, you are what you are.

We are both fans of a rapper who we (or at least I) feel is the best rapper on the planet. None of these dudes are fukking with his discography or his talent, but he's what at this point? A tier 4 rapper at best? While it sucks Lupe doesn't get that recognition, sometimes the stars just don't align (personality that is too polarizing, label issues, not having a marketable image/gimmick) for an artist to be a SUPERSTAR. To be one takes into account so much more than just the music and artistry.

I honestly feel Wale's lack of success (only compared to the tier 1 guys) has absolutely nothing to do with his content. His image and personality just isn't as marketable, but he has a solidified lane with women and has carved out a great career for himself. I would be THRILLED if Lupe had the same level of sales and recognizability right now as Wale does.

Lastly, as a Wale fan, I greatly appreciate his versatility. I doubt the answer to his lack of comparative success is "narrow your lane", but even if it was, I wouldn't want him to do that, and I doubt he would too. In fact, when he tried to narrow his lane with Ambition, his core fan base didn't fukk with it at all.



PS: I just heard Fashion Week and think the song is dope besides the G-Eazy verse.

Big Sean has surpassed Wale in terms of relevance and popularity. Big Sean has gotten better over time. I can't say the same for Wale...The Gifted dropped in 2013... Dark Sky Paradise is better than TAAN, he's also put out TWENTY88 with Jhene, and I Decided is also a damn good album. And he's done this by finding his lane, AND making hit records and still serving his core fanbase. Am I lying?

Sean was a slow starter, but he's still younger than all the dudes he broke in the game with. But he's definitely figured out what's working for him, and when he makes a hit, it's not like he's reaching for one like I'm seeing from Wale now.

 

[The G.O.D II]

The thing about Wale is everything he does at least 3 other rappers in each category does better

 

[Versa]

Big Sean has surpassed Wale in terms of relevance and popularity. Big Sean has gotten better over time. I can't say the same for Wale...The Gifted dropped in 2013... Dark Sky Paradise is better than TAAN, he's also put out TWENTY88 with Jhene, and I Decided is also a damn good album. And he's done this by finding his lane, AND making hit records and still serving his core fanbase. Am I lying?

Sean was a slow starter, but he's still younger than all the dudes he broke in the game with. But he's definitely figured out what's working for him, and when he makes a hit, it's not like he's reaching for one like I'm seeing from Wale now.

Big Sean has gotten better over time but he still isn't a better rapper than Wale. I would expect Big Sean to be more relevant and popular right now seeing as how he's dropped 2 studio projects since the last time Wale dropped his. Big Sean's content and abilities are limited compared to Wale, so his lane is easier for to pinpoint and quantify.

You're stuck on this whole lane thing and it's weird. As I've said, Wale's lane has always been the vulnerable dude not afraid to express his ups and downs while droppings songs that have a wide range. Having a wider range than most rappers does not mean he is "aimless". I don't agree with the premise that versatility is ever a bad thing as long as the artist can do all those things well, which Wale can.

Should Wale happen to narrow his lane to become just straight conscious and lyrical like a Lupe, or a simp-savant like a Drake, I doubt that's going to make him any more popular. His fans like his versatility, and folks like you are gonna critique him like he's some kind of defective toy regardless lol.

The thing about Wale is everything he does at least 3 other rappers in each category does better

Nah, that isn't his problem at all. What does Big Sean or J.Cole do better than their peers? It has nothing to do with content and all about his image - the perception of it and how he maintains it.

 

[tuckgod]

it appears like he's obsessed with making commercial records for success/fame and appeal.

You answered your own question in the OP