Pretty Girls f. Gucci Mane

Is Wale the greatest new rapper since Shawn Carter? We’ll know in September. That’s when Wale’s eagerly awaited debut LP, Attention Deficit, is scheduled to arrive. The album includes his collaboration with Lady GaGa, “Chillin’, and a recently leaked summer jawn titled “Pretty Girls.”

Wale (pronounced “wa-LAY”) was born Olubowale Akintimehin, the son of Nigerian immigrants who raised him in Washington and exposed him to everything from Fela Kuti to Phil CollinsI understand why everyone is high on Wale right now. He’s arguably the No.1 draft pick of 2009. However, it’s laughable to crown as him “the greatest rapper since Jay-Z.” Though Wale hasn’t had a chance to fully prove his mettle, he’s shown flashes of brilliance on his mixtapes and guest verses. 2008’s A Mixtape About Nothing was more compelling than most people’s albums, and he almost stole the show from veteran Black Thought on “Rising Up.” Still, I’m not drunk enough on the Wale buzz to crown him the “next great” anything. I’m withholding my judgment until we see how much of his mixtape skills and guest features translate to an album worth shelling out 15 bucks in these hard times for.