Mixxyville

After a three-year break since his last release, More About Nothing (2021), Wale returns with one of his most emotionally layered and musically intentional projects to date. The D.C. poet-rapper has always worn his heart on his sleeve, but this time, every track feels like he’s unpacking real life in real time — relationships, growth, vulnerability, and the weight of fame. He does it while reminding us why he’s one of hip-hop’s best at blending lyricism with soul.

The album opens with “Survive,” a track that somehow manages to be emotionally heavy and sonically addictive at the same time. The beat hits hard enough to keep you vibing, but the lyrics pull you into something deeper, almost unexpectedly. It’s classic Wale: vibing while borderline tearing up. On “Survive,” he snaps with a sharpness and hunger that feels like a reintroduction.

Sampling plays a major role on this project, and Wale treats it like an art form. “Conundrum,” which flips Kut Klose’s “Get Up On It,” turns a 90s R&B groove into something intimate and confessional. Wale sounds personal, almost vulnerable in a way that feels honest and relatable. “Where to Start,” built around SWV’s “I’m So Into You,” is one of the album’s standout moments. The sample expresses pure infatuation — “you’re so fine, you blow my mind” — while Wale’s lyrics respond with the complicated truth of how he really feels. It becomes a conversation between the sample’s emotions and his own reality.

“Watching Us” featuring Leon Thomas will definitely be a fan favorite. The song is so smooth and the two artists are paired well together.

Throughout the album, he sprinkles in other influences: a Back to Reality sample, Belly-inspired production moments, an Afrobeats pulse woven in, even touches that echo En Vogue. It’s clear Wale knows his musical history, and he uses it intentionally to elevate the storytelling.

“Blanco,” a track fans heard months ago, hits even harder in the context of the album. It’s raw, open, and emotionally revealing. It sets the tone for what Wale is trying to say: he’s giving us his real self without filters. It’s a different vibe from him — softer in some ways, sharper in others — and it works.

“Fly Away,” sampling Maxwell’s “Pretty Wings,” feels like late-night reflection. Smooth, thoughtful, beautifully layered. “Like I,” featuring Andra Day, blends her stunning vocals with Wale’s poetic pen effortlessly. Andra Day truly shines here, adding soul and depth to the track.

Wale has always been poetic, but on this project, he’s even more transparent. Every emotion he’s been carrying since 2022 shows up — pain, joy, frustration, longing, healing, clarity, confusion, love. You can hear the growth, the honesty, and the willingness to share pieces of himself that artists often hide.

This album feels like a journal. It’s personal, nostalgic, emotional, and rich with sound. Wale takes listeners through a full emotional range, offering tracks to dance to, cry to, and reflect with. Through all of it, he stays unapologetically himself — something fans have appreciated since the beginning.

Wale is back, and he brought every emotion with him.