Wale
Back to the Feature (mixtape)
Wale has been stuck in next-to-blow status for a few years now. So, how to keep the flame flickering? On his latest mixtape, Back to the Feature, he enlists producer 9th Wonder and flashes a fat address book with a who’s who of MCs. And despite some slipshod production, Wale is working hard to stay bright.
Before kicking off the mixtape Wale explains the reason for the long delay since his critically acclaimed Mixtape About Nothing included performing in Turkey to preserve hip hop. But aside from participation by K’Naan (“Um Ricka”) and Mark Ronson (“Pot of Gold”), Wale kept his guest list inside the 50 states. I-95 neighbors from Philly, Young Chris, Freeway and Beanie Sigel drop in on “Cypher” while Peedi Peedi, Black Thought, Tu Face and Young Chris contribute to the combustible “Hot Shyt.” Detroit’s Big Sean appears on “Wonder Why” and North Carolina’s J. Cole rocks on the raunchy “Rather Be With You (Vagina is For Lovers).” There’s no regionalism here, just friends collaborating.
While Wale’s rap Rolodex is impressive, standing out over 22 feature-filled cuts can be tough. To his credit, Wale rises to the occasion. On the Warren G-produced “Rhyme N Reason” he acknowledges, even overemphasizes, his obsessions, rapping, “A lil’ more Talib, less Jay-Z, a lil’ less Nasir, more AZ / A lil’ more Consequence than Kanye, the underdog from the underground Wale.” The DC spitter backs up his words on the tail end of the mixtape—mixed and well-paced by DJ Nick Catchdubs—which offers more solo opportunities for him.
Whether purposefully or inadvertently, Back to the Feature’s crowd of contributors succeeds in building anticipation for Wale’s solo debut Attention Deficit, due later this year. It’s no secret that artists Wale was once ahead of in the buzz race have leapfrogged him lately. On the album’s kicker, “New Soul,” he says, “I’m the fucking best, never mind if you iffy, so while the world goes Drake crazy, I’m Danny Granger, I’m just working with a different Pacer…slow and steady wins this race, fuck leading.” Don’t count out D.C.’s hip hop delegate just yet.
Cover art for Wale's "Back To The Feature" mixtape
Track listing for Back to the Feature
1. “Wordplay” feat. Curren$y & Tre
2. “Cypha” feat. Young Chris, Freeway & Beanie Sigel
3. “Chillin’” [Catch vs. 9th] feat. Lady Gaga
4. “Tito Santana” feat. Joe Budden
5. “5 Minutes” feat. Skyzoo
6. “Lifes A B***H” feat. Talib Kweli & Joell Ortiz
7. “Night Life” feat. Young Chris & Tre
8. “Sweatin Out Weaves” feat. UCB
9. “Hot Shyt” feat. Peedi Peedi, Black Thought, Tu Phace & Young Chris
10. “Wonder Why” feat. Big Sean, Ken Starr & Mike Posner
11. “Pot Of Gold” feat. Daniel Merriweather
12. “Sharp” feat. Torae & Kingpin Slim
13. “Warwick Avenue” feat. Duffy
14. “The Sun” feat. Memphis Bleek
15. “Rather Be” feat. J Cole & Curren$y
16. “Goodbye” feat. Jean Grae
17. “Say It Again” feat. Royce Da 5'9
18. “Talkin Shyt” feat. Bun B & Dre
19. “Nothing To Worry About” feat. Peter, Bjorn & John
20. “Rhyme N Reason” feat. Tre
21. “Um Ricka” feat. K’Naan
22. “New Soul” feat. Yael Naim
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