The sequel to
Wale's 2012 mixtape is an album, the rapper's seventh and first since 2019's
Wow...That's Crazy. While it often has the feel of a tape,
Folarin II also sounds deliberately crafted. The rapper tends to be most at ease on the tracks that integrate the more obvious samples, such as "Poke It Out" with
J. Cole, "Down South" with
Yella Beezy and
Maxo Kream, and "Caramel," a plush slow jam, giving the set a sense of comfort listening.
Wale's still riveting when he has to get something off his chest -- like when he rails against white silence in the face of racism -- or making it known that he has a chip on his shoulder regarding respect due to him. ~ Andy Kellman