By the time the album closes with the sensual acoustic-glided closer “Bad”, which features the soulful vocals of Tiara Thomas, we are reminded exactly why Wale’s previous album, Ambition, charted at #1 on the Billboard hip-hop charts in late 2011. The bookends of The Gifted are particularly impressive, and starting with “The Curse of The Gifted” that becomes clear. Opener “The Curse of The Gifted” implements stark piano trickles, psychedelic guitar scratches, and a climatic sci-fi ambience to guide Wale’s personable flow his voice is hardly a distinctive presence tonally, but the delivery is melodic and nonchalant enough to engross listeners, somewhere between the stoned nonchalance of Snoop and the youthful brashness of J Cole. While this can make for a scattered approach in some respects, The Gifted succeeds in most fronts as a step forward for the talented D.C.-based rapper, whose success should continue to grow this year with this eclectic release. One track can resemble a summer breeze in its R&B-studded smoothness, while the next can resemble a cavernous experiment in atmospheric dub. Regardless, Wale shows a bold approach on The Gifted, which features a number of moments with shocking stylistic risk. It’s his most stylistically virtuous yet, even if it becomes sporadically over-dependent on superfluous cameos from everyone ranging from Nicki Minaj to Jerry Seinfeld. As is the case with many rappers who ascend in reputation, Wale takes a giant step toward maturity on The Gifted, his third album.
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