Score: 3.5/5
Inspired by his love of “Seinfeld” and the friendship he and Jerry Seinfeld share, comes Wale’s fourth studio album, “The Album About Nothing.” For years, Wale has created meaningful hip-hop with Washington, D.C. flair and this album is no exception.
The album is star-studded with features from Jerry Seinfeld, J. Cole, SZA, Usher and Jeremih. “The Album About Nothing” has great production that stays true to Wale’s D.C. roots. Combined with the production, Wale’s lyrical content gives depth to this thoughtful studio effort.
One of the songs with the most depth is “The Girls On Drugs.” The foundation of the song is a pitched sample of Janet Jackson’s “Go Deep” with heavy bass. Wale raps about girls on drugs still needing love, and provides a reflective look at the women in his life. “It’s hard to feel alive when you’re feeling dead inside, besides that the limelight be so real,” he raps on the track. The Janet Jackson sample works effortlessly and helps make “The Girls On Drugs” one of the best and most meaningful songs the album has to offer.
Album opener, “The Intro About Nothing” is an intriguing and notable track. It begins with a short clip of Wale and Seinfeld talking, then goes into its gospel-inspired instrumentals, which reach full crescendo with choir backing vocals during the chorus. The song provides an introspective look at Wale, with him reflecting on his journey as an artist so far.
While a few songs fall flat, most hit their mark, especially the SZA collaboration, “The Need To Know,” which samples Musiq Soulchild’s “Just Friends.” SZA gives the track great lift with her soulful vocals on the chorus, which is the same chorus of “Just Friends.” It’s one of many to open with a “Seinfeld” clip, and features Wale rapping about his love life.
“The Intro About Nothing,” “The Girls On Drugs” and “The Need To Know” showcase both the album’s exceptional production and some of Wale’s deeper lyrics. The rapper lives up to his potential with “The Album About Nothing,” which is by far his best album with label MMG. He and Jerry Seinfeld share one of the most interesting and unexpected friendships in entertainment, and Seinfeld’s influence on this album is strong and only adds to Wale’s mystique. “The Album About Nothing” is really about everything, and for the most part, it delivers.