mixtape maestro (2.0)

In a recent interview with MTV News, Dre, one-half of production duo Cool & Dre, touched on something in reference to the rock/ rap / Auto-tune soul experimentations found on Lil’ Wayne’s Rebirth that hit us like the biggest of epiphanies: “It’s something Rick James would bug out on”.

After letting that lone line marinate in our brains for a few seconds, we realized that, on one level, Dre was right…there is an element of Rick James’ before-it’s-time combination of sex, rock, R&B and over-exaggerated funk vocals that can be heard in some of the Rebirth material we’ve heard so far. Now, don’t get us wrong, our semi-agreement with Dre’s statement is not necessarily saying we suddenly think this whole curioso release is going to be the genius, genre boundary-breaking affair Wayne seems to think it’ll be, but absorbing Rebirth in a Rick James-ian light definitely kind of redeems it’s questionable ambition in a way that we aren’t simply waiting for it to hurry up and be released so that Wayne can steer his sole attention back towards turning out “real” hip hop anymore.

Newest single (?) “On Fire” is upgraded a couple of notches from another instant eye-roller to…um, something slightly better than that, under this new train of thought. Built on a layer of electric guitar squawkings (apparently handled by Wayne himself) and a surprisingly hot sample of the very ’80′s-sounding Scarface soundtrack cut “She’s On Fire”, “Fire” may ride a thin lyrical sketch of how bad-ass a woman is (“She hot as hell/ Let’s call her Hell-en…”), but try thinking of a modern-day Rick being the inspiration behind it’s flavor, and suddenly, the song doesn’t seem so bad.

“On Fire”:

That other recent Rebirth leak “Da Da Da” though…let’s just say, it’s not as easy to defend, no matter whose sound the people behind it were looking to emulate. Hands down, it’s the oddest cut to emerge from the album so far, it’s decent moments (a snazzy bassline, a rapid drum loop and an appreciably clear rap verse) not enough to justify Wayne’s drunken wordless meanderings and overdose on vocal modulation.

“Da Da Da”:

Rebirth arrives December 21st.

DL: “Da Da Da” (alt)

In it’s original context, Wale‘s Tribe Called Quest “Award Tour”-referencing “World Tour” manages to be a better-than-average banger, with producers Cool & Dre spinning a triumphant, modern blaxploitation beat that’s every bit as energetic as Wale’s excited rhymes about the ups and downs of being an on-the-come-up rap star. A perfect choice for a single, everything about it bristles with a “you WILL like me” infectious hunger similar to Kanye West’s early output, and having Jazmine Sullivan around doing the soul-diva hook-chick thing makes for a nice cherry on top (even if she is a bit under-utilized here).

But we would be lying if we didn’t admit to digging this slickly polished Urban Noize remix a little more. Their decision to once again thaw out The Whispers’ “And The Best Goes On” as a backing sample choice is a brilliant move, the song’s feel-good ’80′s R&B-funk a nice compliment to the globe-trotting lifestyle Wale is going on about (And don’t worry, you’re not alone if you’re moved to dorkily chant “Welcome To Miami” at least once when listening to it).

Pick up the MP3 below, as well as Urban Noize’s remix to the R. Kelly/ Keri Hilson duet, “Number One”.

Wale’s debut Attention: Deficit is now set for a November 3rd release.

DL: “World Tour (Urban Noize Remix)” (alt)

DL: “Number One (Urban Noize Remix)” (alt)