Wale
The Album About Nothing
(Atlantic Records)

Washington, D.C. native Wale is known for his careening and witty lyrical delivery saturated sometimes with an impressive, multi-purpose grasp of pop culture, love, loss, fame and identity in the midst of authenticating a true artistry, one of which he’s happiest with. Usually his contemplative and soul-bearing tracks musically alternate largely between hip hop and R&B with still a musical foundation that blends in other genres. His new release, The Album About Nothing, includes Usher on the apologetic, yet willing “The Matrimony,” Jeremiah on “The Body,” which moves in the same air as R. Kelly’s “You Remind Me of Something,” the breezy “The Need to Know” with SZA and J. Cole on “The Pessimist,” while the other interesting chunk of the album is comedian/actor Jerry Seinfeld who laces through as a wise sage of sorts. “The Helium Balloon” is borderline hyphy while the raw brashness of lyrics ring out like a theme song. “The Middle Finger” moves with an echoing, ambient wizardry and a cutting mental frustration along with a desire to distance his world from those who tell him to trust everyone else besides himself.