ARTIST: Wale
ALBUM: The Album About Nothing
LABEL: Maybach Music
RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2015
Nuff Said
Written by Jeremy Weeden
Wale returns with his fourth studio album, the Jerry Seinfeld-assisted The Album About Nothing. This album follows in the footsteps of the Mixtape About Nothingand More About Nothing but instead of featuring just clips from Seinfeld, it also features exclusive commentary from the man himself.
The album starts things off with “The Intro About Nothing,” which has Jerry and Wale in the studio talking as they start to record the album. Wale explains his concept behind the album on the hook rapping “Lord, my all what you think of it/Been on this long road accumulating luggage/As time proceeds, preoccupied with everything/I think it’s ‘bout time I sing of nothing” and states at the end of the song “I figure they don’t care about albums, why not give them an album about nothing.”
“The Pessimist” features J. Cole on the hook as Wale raps about some of the negative situations he sees in the black community. He raps about the everyday violence that happens in black communities and his beliefs that people should be as upset about that as they are over violence perpetrated against black people from non-blacks. He also raps about the reality shows that portray black people in a negative light with the lyrics “Celebrity celebrating disgusts me/The cerebellum invaded with all these fresh things/All watchin ‘Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta’ as we speak/Nigga we hopeless/Okay the Steebie show is on/And so my broad rollin weed now she’s mad at me/Cause she seen a scene with Rasheeda baby father/Said you niggas all hopeless.”
Jerry Seinfeld starts off “The Middle Finger” telling Wale not to worry about what people are saying and to just let them talk. Wale explains why you don’t see him hanging out with a lot of other rappers with the lyrics “Hate to be the bearer of bad news/But I can’t move with too many rap dudes/I respect dudes from my double M crew/But I’m just not that dude hanging on to who’s who’s and such/Cash rule for some, got room for none/Can’t fool with niggas who put the rumors up/Wanted to quit, rap music sucks/But couldn’t run a 4.2 so with you I’m stuck.” This song with its catchy repeated chorus of “Fuck you leave me alone” is sure to be a fan favorite and possible future single.
“The Girls on Drugs” is another standout track on The Album About Nothing. This song samples “Go Deep” by Janet Jackson over the hook and intertwined into the beat. Wale raps about the girls he has been dealing with and why he finds it hard to get into a serious relationship with a woman.
“The Need to Know” features clips from “The Deal” episode of Seinfeld where Jerry and Elaine decided to be friends with benefits. The song also has SZA singing Musiq’s hook from “Just Friends.”
“The Matrimony” starts with Jerry Seinfeld and Wale discussing marriage and the idea that, despite the best laid plans, you are never truly ready to take the plunge so you just do it. Usher sings the song’s memorable hook “If there’s a question of my heart, you’ve got it/It don’t belong to anyone but you/If there’s a question of my love, you’ve got it/Baby don’t worry, I’ve got plans for you/Baby I been making plans for you.”
In some ways Wale has come full circle, going from a fledgling rapper with Seinfeld skits to being friends with Jerry Seinfeld and making an album with him. The Album about Nothing is a good, solid album with a mix of radio friendly songs and quite a few songs about “something” which makes for a well-rounded fourth effort from Wale.