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[rating:75/100]
Wale (rhymes with Lupe, I’m sick of people calling him whale) has finally dropped the first single off his debut album, Attention: Deficit which will see its release this summer. The DCist brings his absolute A-game in this what will be the biggest electro-rap single since Kanye’s very own “Stronger.” I can call this with little doubt because of Lady GaGa’s involvement in the track. It seems that she can do no wrong on the radio nowadays.
If you have been following Wale’s latest couple of mixtapes, you’d know that Wale isn’t covering new ground on “Chillin’,” but instead, he is repaving the road he’s built up so far. If this is your first taste of Wale, then you’re lucky enough to have “Chillin’” as your head squire in your quest to find Wale.
The funny thing is that, on “Chillin’,” Lady GaGa gets her M.I.A. on. As I write this, I can just imagine your eyes rolling. Just listen to GaGa’s hook, “lookin’ at, lookin’ at, lookin’ at me…,” can you honestly tell me she doesn’t sound just like M.I.A. right there? Will this be a trend in new Lady GaGa music? Is this the 2009 equivalent of Gwen Stefani going reggae or Harajuku?
I know you hate comparing artists as much as I do, but in this case, I am having the hardest time distinguishing a difference between what Kid Cudi and Wale are doing to the game right now. The only difference may be that Wale’s lead single is loads more interesting than “Day N Nite” or “Sky Might Fall.”
by on March 23, 2009 ‡ 0 reactions
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m sorry but Wale does not rhyme with Lupe. I know what you mean – but it’s not a rhyme.
Haha, you’re totally right. Should have said “sounds like Lupe,” I suppose. But what did you think of the song?
you probably know but there is a version without gaga on it.
This is the version with Lady GaGa Rogo… lol
I am LOVING the track.
defintely agree, lady gaga sounds like a poor man’s m.i.a. on this track…
the steam sample makes it.
& i know what you’re saying about it being more interesting than ‘sky might fall’ – cause that song could put you to sleep in a hurry – but day n night? really? i mean i know it’s overplayed but…………
i know what you’re saying about it being more interesting than ’sky might fall’ – cause that song could put you to sleep in a hurry – but day n night? really? i mean i know it’s overplayed but…………
i really really believe so.
I am loving this song. I’m incredibly excited for Wale’s album to drop. But, could you make it downloadable?
Wale’s comin to my school (UVM) in a week, dont know if I wanna go.
This is a decent Wale song… I think his best stuff is on his “Mixtape about Nothing”. Which btw you can download free on a ton of websites.
@Mog: peeps the comma right after ‘case’ in the last paragraph, you’ll never look at a comma the same way on pma.
& @Luis…well then i guess we’ll have to agree to disagree
I started playing this before I even read the review, and I immediately thought M.I.A. Although I have to say that I find this song more radio-ready than most M.I.A. songs.
@pb:
Yeah, Wale’s most insightful and prolific stuff comes from his Mixtape About Nothing, but if you remember “The Perfect Plan,” he’s aware of the market and aware that he needs a hit single to sell records.
This is it.
Lady Gaga’s may sound like M.I.A. in some parts, but only gaga could have pulled off this hook. Her voice is undeniably poweful on the chorus. The ‘electro’ under Wale’s bars are excellent; it makes up for the lack in lyricism, which is the initial quality that made me a fan of Wale. I’m not sure who produced this track, probably Ronson, but it’s a banger.
-Anyone new to Wale, should start with “100 Miles and Running”, complete with “w.a.l.e.d.a.n.c.e.’ and other goodies. And of course the masterful “mixtape about nothing”
-As a single, “Chillin” trumps DnN and SMF. I would argue that Kid Cudi has some other great tracks on his mixtape that are better than this, and that Crookers played a large part in DnN even becoming an “official” single.
-Sorry for the lengthy comment, but also many people have criticized Wale for bad PR moves (or no PR moves), but with this single, his Tweets, and everything else, it looks as though all he wants to do is put the DMV on the map. Its rare but pretty cool to see a rapper these days represent and support his hometown. Kid Cudi is NOT doing that.
btw its produced by Cool and Dre
I been followin Wale for a loong time and agree with everyone else – listen to his mixtapes. That’s where he’s at his best. Can’t wait for the album.
I’m from DC so I follow Wale closely, but how did you get such a high-quality version of that song? Even on his blog, it’s just a radio rip. Nonetheless, it’s a hot song and I have high expectations for the album. I also agree that his lyricism isn’t as great as some other mixtape songs (W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E), but I love how he represents and is proud of where he’s from. This isn’t as Go-Go as a lot of his other stuff though, I wonder if the album will be.
Update:
http://www.kanyelive.com/talk/index.php?PHPSESSID=s9jk9cqpf8gn17n2840j21il10&topic=57441.0
According to the link that has Wale’s tracklisting (albeit it’s a little old) it looks like TV On the Radio, John Mayer, Chrisette Michelle, Jazmine Sullivan, Bun B, and more are gonna be on the album
Oh, I completely agree that “Chillin’” is nowhere near as great as some of the mixtape tracks. It’s meant to be more commercial — it’s his debut single, and we can all forgive him for that. Either way, it’s a fantastic song.
and omfg, TV ON THE RADIO & WALE?! i GOT to listen to that.
Right now, I’m seeing it as Wale > Kid Cudi and Wale > Mickey Factz. Kid Cudi >/< Mickey Factz? I dunno..
is it just me, or is the download link no longer there?
How to dl this song? Arghh don’t tell me there’s a hidden link again
I found one:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/57365868f9f75a8d/
Please take it down if it isn’t allowed
When you see an IMEEM player, it’s my way of telling you I won’t openly let you download the song. I put up a hidden link for a few hours because it’s fun to see that a few people catch it, and it keeps everything level on Elbo.ws and Hypem.com
But for the most part, just know that I can’t just give you music. At least not from major label acts.
Well thanks Luis that explains everything. I am just very curious about the whole hidden link thingy, its definitely not fun when you click a comma for N times and nothing pops up LOL
Thanks Tyler! N I`ll admit that wale`s mixtape stuff is far, far better than KiD CuDi`s mixtape stuff (The Mixtape About Nothing!!! :-.D) but as far as commercial stuff goes, Day n Night is alot more memorable than Chillin’ for me.
Day N Nite is more memorable because of the sing-song quality the chorus and most of the song has. But I think the Lady GaGa hook on Chillin’ is a lot more fun then hearing about what lonely stoners do day n nite.
But yeah, the first verse of Day N Nite is fantastic, the rest of it sort of… *snore*
Did anyone else catch the reference to M.I.A. in the middle of the song, and the brief sample of paper planes? Kinda makes this seem like they were intentionally playing off of M.I.A.’s style.
Here is a link to download the new version of this song.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/58213580da385f8e/
Kid Cudi > Wale, hands down
After listening to this song on the radio and really liking it, i decided to come home and search for it. I typed in “MIA NEW 2009″ obviously with no success. I especially love how lady gaga’s pronunciation sounds like MIA’s, especially with the word “international.”
All in all, not a smart move on Gaga’s part: now I’m wondering what her REAL voice sounds like?
Big Wale fan ever since I heard “100 miles and running” but not feelin Lady Gaga on this track. I see what he is trying to do, mix and mash generes and even classes of music cuz lets face it, Lady Gaga is just the new pop princess on the block who will only last a couple of years and then onto the next one, it’s inevitable and she’s not that interesting nor is her music for that matter. M.I.A. should have been on this hook or Santigold (Santogold, Santi White) if that’s the type of pressense that Wale wanted which it clearly was cuz Lady Gaga tried to trace their style. Funny how Jared said even though she sounds like M.I.A. only Lady Gaga could have pulled off this hook……um…..what about bypassing the imitator and going straight to the source…..such as M.I.A. or Santigold? I think they could have pulled off their OWN style much better. As for Lady Gaga, she is the new Snow. Maybe she’s gonna cover “Informer” next. lol….Gaga is super lame.
Just my opinion….but my opinion is truth, can’t argue against it. ha ha.
Big ups to Wale though and don’t get Gaga for another hook man. It’s not stepping outside the box to get a pop princess on a hook, it’s been done.
yaaaaaa when i first listened to this track…i’m like is MIA in it…?
but ya when i found out it was lady gaga…quite shocked actually.
Big fan of LaDy GaGa ever since I heard pokerface on the radio wen I was 10 years old(young I kno) I think she and Wale did a great job on this cd. It was a great mixture of pop and rap!but I think she does best with spacecowboy. But she did sound a lot like M.I.A. I nvr really noticed until now xD!!! <3 <3 <3 gaga luv
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