Mr. Folarin recently released his follow up to Mixtape About Nothing, the 2008 mixtape inspired by Wale’s love of Seinfeld. More about Nothing has a personal, controlled rawness to it that just keeps you wanting more of Wale’s obscure sports references, hysterical Seinfeld samples, his repping the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia for all you herbs), and illustrates why he is one of the best new artists in hip hop. This mixtape is what Wale-fans have been waiting for, a long-coming release that sheds his major-label debut’s guest appearances and big name production, and strips Wale down as an artist, a conscious and intelligent rapper, with ridiculous flow and rhymes. The production was handled largely by duo DJ Omega and Kosmik, who use soulful samples and track after track of that tight and focused Go-Go sound that Wale is so fond of, and admittedly, we’ve grown to love.
Despite memorable guest verses from Wiz Khalifa, Fat Trel, and Roscoe Dash, More About Nothing is largely a solo effort with low budget production, in true mixtape fashion. This is a stark contrast from Wale’s 2009 major-label debut Attention Deficit (Allido/Interscope), which featured major production from of Cool & Dre, The Neptunes, Mark Ronson, and Dave Sitek, with guest appearances from K’naan, J. Cole, Bun B, and Gucci Mane among other big names. More About Nothing is the release that I think a lot of his fans have been waiting for, as it shows a more raw and personal side of Wale. It’s nice to see that while Wale has certainly progressed musically and commercially as an artist, thankfully he was the Interscope rapper that avoided the Charles Hamilton path and hasn’t forget his underground roots. On “The Soup “ Wale displays his vigorously dynamic flow:
I got no time to be a hater / Just trying to be your favorite / They trying to be the greatest / Their whole signing was a favor /It’s not about the paper / It’s not about the fame / And I don’t know no Triple H / But this is all about the game / The competition I ain’t winning / But admit it, I’m still in it though / Should of been an All Star / I’m Crawford for Interscope
With this rap shit you know I do the fucking most / I’m all over the beat like a motherfucking stethoscope
Check out these two tracks from More About Nothing.
MP3: Wale: The MC
MP3: Wale: The Posse Cut (Who Don’t) feat. Fat Trel and Black Cobain
(Mixtape Download and track list after the jump)
