On "Wiseman", Ocean presents his thoughts on the deep emotional effects of slavery, commenting on its relationship to family and personal strength and reflecting upon the struggle of slaves throughout American history.
In a November 2012 interview with GQ, Ocean mentioned that he had many projects in development, including a song written for the film Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, which was set for release later that year.
[6] The opening track "Virginia Beach" from Canadian rapper Drake's 2023 album For All the Dogs features a prominent vocal sample of "Wiseman", whose integration was praised by critics.
[8] Natalie Maher of Billboard wrote that the song contains themes of "family, reincarnation and strength", with lyrics depicting the lasting psychological effects of slavery.
[9] Chris Martins from Spin praised the track's "shimmering electric guitar" and "contemplative lyrics", comparing it to Ocean's previous mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra.