The Ascent

Wiley - The Ascent
Critic Score
Based on 10 reviews
2013 Ratings: #1089 / 1115
User Score
Based on 13 ratings
April 1, 2013 / Release Date
LP / Format
Warner Bros. / Label
Grime, Hip Hop / Genre
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CRITIC REVIEWS

70
musicOMH

The Ascent is an album that highlights Wiley’s all-round ability as pop star, grime rapper, producer and, increasingly, songwriter.

62
Pitchfork

It seems boring and a bit lazy to say that Wiley sounds best when he’s still offering up recognisable grime tunes, but it’s undeniable that on The Ascent the strongest of such efforts capture the rapper in his best light

50
NME

If it’s not the beats being too polished to be affecting (‘Skillzone’), it’s the cringey pop hooks (‘Reload’) that dishonour the timelessness Wiley achieved effortlessly with his ‘Ice Rink’-era instrumentals in the early 2000s.

40
Drowned in Sound

So readily do these sounds step away from what made their creator such a peerless proposition, they risk tarnishing his reputation at the grassroots.

40
The 405

There is nothing wrong at all with trying to cross over, and in fairness these unabashed tactics seem to be serving Wiley well thus far; but attempts this bare-faced should be treated with nuance and adherence to quality control


 

FinalLifeline
69

Mildly enjoyable outing by UK grime artist Wiley, with a few very good highlights, and a few head-scratching moments of EDM buggery, attempts at pop stardom, and a multitude of guest appearances, some good, some bad. It's not bad, but not that great either. There are certainly better pop-rap albums out there, and far worse as well.

arsen b
70

Well it's understood that everybody need money man and this album sounds better than Dizzee's "tong and cheek" in my opinion. RIP Grime.

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Contributions By
thisisabtlgrnd, philthy, erik


Added on: March 28, 2013