Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Arts & Society

Media Credit: Donald Vincent The album's structure reflects the unpredictability of emotions. Wale's song topics range from women who do anything for fame, to prescribing hope to hip-hop.

In 2006, rapper Nas declared the state of hip-hop no longer alive. However, hip-hop is not just a fad or genre of music-it is a culture. With the release of Wale's first studio released album, hip-hop has seen preservation.

"Attention Deficit" by Wale is 14 tracks worth of sheer hip-hop at its peak. Hip-hop heads don't like and listen to what they don't know; and if that's the case, they need to get familiar with Wale.

At a first run through the CD for the first time, one sees that this album does not possess the features of a classic; for example, the structure isn't solid. Why did each song get a particular spot on the album? The simple answer to that is from the perspective of the D.C. native rapper is that this album is pushed by emotions. We can never predict our emotions because they are constantly changing.

So why name the album "Attention Deficit?" According to Wale (pronounced Wah-lay) in multiple different interviews, the consumer is stingy with the type of music they listen to; for example, the hip-hop radio stations play one type of music. Wale's album is somewhat ADHD to the industry pushed music we are force-fed to the public.

The album cover shows a young kid in front of a glass window with many different televisions turned on. The kid represents the average consumer because while this kid is focused on the television in a somewhat trance-like state, he has earphones on which shows that he isn't really paying attention to what is truly going on whether it be the televisions or the music that is being played.

With that said, Wale's album is a gem. Although the quality of this gem may not be recognized or understood this day in hip-hop, ten years later, hip-hop enthusiasts will speak of Wale as resurrecting the game of hip-hop or at least a stepping stool to elevating the genre to what it was at its peak in the 90s.
In the opening song, "Triumph," the blaring horns grab our attention as Wale tries to earn the listener's respect. This song is an ode to hip-hop fans everywhere.

"Me against you/the movie of the year/'Cuz you slum, dog/And I'm the millionaire." Wale's punch-lines range from average to clever as he realizes that help from hip-hop's already established artists won't help the newcomers by any means.

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