When Wale signed to the house that Rozay built earlier this year, fans were unsure of what to expect from an emcee who’s better known for street fashion and sports talk than flaunting his new Mercedes Benz. With The Eleven One Eleven Theory, it’s evident the D.C. rapper hasn’t forgotten his roots, and likewise is still focused on his goals that unfortunately soured during his tenure with Interscope Records.
Right from the beginning, signature go-go drums courtesy of Best Kept Secret’s Tone P set a familiar tone on “Fuck You” with Wale laying one of his more memorable verses of late. Showing his appreciation for Rick Ross’ support, he wittingly quips, “Wale you so arrogant / Rozay told me break a leg / no wonder why I care again.” Other notable tracks like “Bait”
and “Pick.. Six” carry this same D.C. vibe with flying colors. In the process, it’s fair to say that Wale’s versatility with production has become an underappreciated quality. Very few established rappers arguably could rip a street-anthem cut like “By Any Means” and then approach “Lace Frontin” with the same intensity and flare.
As an artist who’s effectively tackled the issue of race on tracks like “The Kramer” and “Shades,” Wale incorporates its significance within the realm of sports on “Varsity Blues.” Chronicling the cautionary tale of college-turned-pro athletes unprepared for the burdensome transition, Wale raps, “Thank God for what I did with blocking against this shaky defense / They don’t think you a nigga as long as you fill up their bleachers / Yeah they always defend you, look how they say your name / But if you rupture a tendon I bet them feelings change.”
On the flip side, one area that Wale still has yet to master is female-oriented records. “Let’s Chill” and “That Way” work mostly because of infectious hooks by Lloyd and Jeremih respectively, while “Ambitious Girl Pt. 2” lacks the sensual affection the first version had. “Mother Nature (Slow Jammin)” is the lone track that provides the right balance of personal charm and lyrical prowess from Wale, though it’s likely too slow to feature something similar on his sophomore release Ambition.
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The Eleven One Eleven Theory is far from Wale’s best mixtape, however it shows strong signs of growth and comfort since his debut album Attention Deficit. With the declarative proclamation “I’m not cocky I’m just proud of me / So why these niggas acting like I ain’t allowed to be?” Wale’s ambitions as an emcee look promising as he takes more control of his career without having to deal with label setbacks. For the record though, his Charlotte Hornets reference is severely premature.
DX Consensus: “EP-worthy”
