Ambition (Deluxe Version)

Part of this album’s positive glow comes from the involvement of A-list collaborators—DJ Toomp cranks up the party quotient on “Legendary”, and Big Sean dives into the mix on “Slight Work.” For his part, Wale believably asserts himself as a man on the rise, shrugging off past triumphs while daring all comers to take him on. “Don’t Hold Your Applause” and the title track combine gangsta cool with a seething inner desperation.