Wale dropped his new album Folarin II last night and it has everybody talking. The rapper/R&B star had not released any music since 2019, with his album Wow… That’s Crazy. The album was his fourth solo full-length album and entered the top ten of the Billboard 200.
His new release features artists such as J. Cole, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Jaime Foxx, and more. The 15-track album captures Wale’s usual hip-hop and R&B style, with songs about his success in his career and his overall life and relationships.
Folarin II by Wale
The first track on the album, “New Balances,” starts with a melodic piano loop. The song captures Wale’s success and how he has gotten to where he is now. His authentic lyrics and flow give us exactly what we have been missing from the hip-hop star.
The next song “Poke It Out” features J. Cole and Cool & Dre. It is a faster-paced song that highlights all three of the rapper’s styles and influences. “Caramel” is a slower, R&B melodic jam like some of Wale’s older songs. The hook is a sample from Faith Evans’ hit “Caramel Kisses” and is a gospel female vocal loop. “Angles” has Chris Brown singing on the chorus, while Wale spits on the verses and has a good beat and melody.
The album feels as though Wale is speaking to us from his heart, saying his authentic feelings about his career and his life in the spotlight so far. He analyzes his past, present, and future in his 15-track album, showing us how he has maintained and dealt with his success. The album is a good welcome back from his 2019 album and has captured the attention of many.
About Wale
Wale is the self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Rap for the Capital,” and shines his confidence through his music and his lyrics in his newest release. His hits have been present through the tail-end of the 2000s and into the late 2010s. “Lotus Flower Bomb” and “Bad,” two of his biggest hits, were featured on albums that regularly landed near or at the top of the Billboard 200.
He has collaborated with artists such as Waka Flocka Flame on “No Hands,” one of the biggest songs in 2010, and other artists such as Rick Ross, Lady Gaga, Gucci Mane, and more. After a bidding war with labels such as Epic, Def Jam, and Atlantic, he chose to sign to Interscope in early 2008. His first major-label singles included a hook from Lady Gaga and Gucci Mane.
