Ambition - Wale
Ambition Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

  • Summary: The second album for the Washington, DC, rapper features guest appearances by Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Jeremih, Lloyd, Miguel, Meek Mill, and Rick Ross.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Nov 1, 2011
    80
    The sonic mood of Ambition reflects its title and author and proves, on the whole, far warmer than his debut.
  2. Nov 17, 2011
    80
    With a tight-knit collection of features and palpable confidence exuded in his lyrics, Ambition is Wale's most cohesive and likewise enthralling project thus far in his brisk career.
  3. Oct 31, 2011
    80
    As far as why it all hangs together so well, credit goes to Wale's talent and his strong personality, which here has grown into an interesting combination of Lil Wayne and Plies, with a little 50 Cent smirk and bit of Drake's phrasing thrown in for good measure.
  4. Nov 8, 2011
    60
    He takes advantage of the do-over, lacing expensive-sounding beats from the likes of Diplo and Lex Luger with dialed-in flows. He's too quick to reach for sexist cliches; cheap shots at groupies and gold diggers undercut moments of real emotion.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. If this is your first time listening to Wale, you'll think that this is a generally cohesive album in theme and the sounds he's aiming for. But for everybody who knows that he's capable of ('More About Nothing' might be his best ever, even Grammy worthy), there will be a lot of missing depth replaced by his constant declarations of ambition along with some vanity. A close listen to "Chain Music" tells us exactly how he got here, and while it's an enjoyable song like a lot on the album, you might be left shaking your head too. My full review here: http://tinyurl.com/7kbnhhy Expand
  2. A few tracks are great, but most are standard hip hop. Wale has talent though, and this WAS a good album. but just not the amazing one it could have been. Expand
  3. Well this album was suppose to be a classic let Wale tell it. He also said it would be better than "Reasonable Doubt" which is also false. This album was ok at best. I expected so much more out of Wale. His mixtapes "More about nothing" & "the 11.1.11 theory" were both amazing. His lyrics for the album dumbed way down, his word play just isnt there and he went away from why many people liked him. The album is too up tempo and I as a fan and critic knows Wale sounds much better with softer beats so he can be very poetic. Expand
  4. Ambition is a very forgettable album. The production on it is great but Wale needs to better his lyrics and change up his flow every once in a while because he sounds the same on just about every song. It's worth the listen if you're a Wale fan I suppose but other than that I would say skip it. Expand

See all 6 User Reviews