Everything Is A Lot.

On his eighth studio album everything is a lot., Washington, D.C. rapper/singer Wale cooks up a set of personally investigative material without ever disrupting the rich sonic atmosphere he cultivates throughout the album. Unfiltered lyrics about relationship struggles, self-destructive behavior, and the ruthless nature of the music industry glide in on smooth instrumentals that float effortlessly between different styles and production approaches. "Blanco" is a deep groover with a late-night funk smokiness to it, with Wale addressing his unhealthy relationship with alcohol over the songs relaxed mellowness. "Belly" flips a Soul II Soul sample for deep bass catchiness while "Big Head" invites Nigerian rapper ODUMODUBLVCK to join in on the tunes Afrobeat pulse, and "Lonely" leans more toward twangy Americana and country-rap undertones, complete with a verse from Shaboozey. everything is a lot. moves between Wales introspective moments and genre diversification without ever jarring the listener. Like much of the rappers work before it, the album is held together by his charisma and talent, this time around with an extra emphasis on sharing some of his personal battles. ~ TiVo Staff