Wale | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wale performing atFedExField in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Ralph Folarin[1] |
| Born | Olubowale Victor Akintimehin (1984-09-21)September 21, 1984 (age 41) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Genres | Hip-hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Works | Wale discography |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels |
|
| Formerly of | All City Chess Club |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | walemusic |
| Signature | |
 | |
Olubowale Victor Akintimehin (born September 21, 1984), known professionally asWale (/ˈwɔːleɪ/WAH-lay), is an American rapper. He first became known for his 2006 song "Dig Dug (Shake It)", which became popular in his hometown ofGermantown, Maryland and led Wale to gain further local recognition as he amassed a number of follow-up releases. He signed a recording contract with English DJ-producerMark Ronson'sAllido Records in 2007, which, after a three-label bidding war, entered a joint venture withInterscope Records for US$1.3 million the following year. During this time, Wale's mixtapes and singles saw national attention as he appeared onMTV and various Black America-focused magazines.
Wale's debut studio album,Attention Deficit (2009) was under-shipped and thus underperformed commercially, but saw positive critical reception and spawned his firstBillboard Hot 100 entry with itslead single, "Chillin" (featuringLady Gaga). He continued gaining mainstream recognition with hisguest appearance alongsideRoscoe Dash onWaka Flocka Flame's 2010 single "No Hands", which peaked at number 13 on the chart and receiveddiamond certification by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He then signed with Florida-based rapperRick Ross'Maybach Music Group, an imprint ofWarner Records the following year to release his second album,Ambition (2011). Supported by theGrammy Award-nominated top 40 single "Lotus Flower Bomb" (featuringMiguel), the album saw further critical and commercial success, and peaked at number two on theBillboard 200. His third and fourth albums,The Gifted (2013) andThe Album About Nothing (2015), both debuted atop the chart; the former was led by the single "Bad" (featuringTiara Thomas), which peaked at number 21 on theBillboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting entry as a lead artist.
Wale shifted for a lighter, commercially-oriented approach with his next three albums:Shine (2017),Wow... That's Crazy (2019), andFolarin II (2021). They spawned theBillboard Hot 100-charting singles "My PYT", "On Chill" (featuringJeremih), and "Poke It Out" (featuringJ. Cole), respectively.[3][4][5][6]Folarin II marked his final album with Maybach Music Group, and he signed withDef Jam Recordings in the following year of its release.[7][8]
Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born on September 21, 1984, inNorthwest, Washington, D.C.[9] His parents were both from theYoruba ethnic group of southwesternNigeria and came fromAustria[citation needed]to the United States in 1979. Wale's family first lived in theBrightwood neighborhood of Northwest, Washington, D.C., and then moved toMontgomery County, Maryland, when Wale was 10.[10][11] In 2002, he graduated from theQuince Orchard High School inGaithersburg and moved toLargo[12] inPrince George's County. Wale attendedRobert Morris University andVirginia State University on football scholarships, then transferred toBowie State University. However, he dropped out due to academic reasons.[13][9] Wale's love of the game of football and the team then known asWashington Redskins has led to a longstanding rumor that Wale had a tattoo of tight endChris Cooley.[14] He is the cousin of actorGbenga Akinnagbe, who is best known for playingChris Partlow onHBO'sThe Wire. Wale's first recorded track, called "Rhyme of the Century", became his first song to be played on the local radio. In 2006, he was featured in the "Unsigned Hype" column ofThe Source magazine and later signed to a local label, Studio 43. The track "Dig Dug (Shake It)" became popular in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia and was a tribute to Ronald "Dig Dug" Dixon, who was a percussion player for thego-go bandNortheast Groovers.[13] The song became the most requested song by a local artist in Washington, D.C. radio history and Wale was the first local artist to get someBDS spins sinceDJ Kool in the early 1990s. The song was included in Wale's first mixtape,Paint a Picture.
In July 2006, Wale found representation in Daniel Weisman, a former clubDJ and promoter who had no previous experience in management.[15] Weisman had been tipped off about the rapper by a friend in Washington, D.C. and connected with him through Myspace.[15] In September 2006, after dropping another go-go influenced single, called "Breakdown" (sampled fromHuck-A-Bucks "Sexy Girl") has been getting a mention onThe Washington Post,[16] Wale released his first non-go-go original single, called "Uptown Roamers". On September 14, 2006, "Uptown Roamers" debuted onXM Radio Channel 66, where it was played twice in one day. Both "Breakdown" and "Uptown Roamers" were on Wale's second mixtape,Hate Is the New Love. The song "Breakdown" was featured on the video gameMadden NFL 09.Wale won the award for "D. C. Metro Breakthrough Artist of the Year" atWKYS's Go-Go Awards in November 2006.[17] On December 15,The Fader magazine associate editorNick "Catchdubs" Barat visited Wale for an interview and photo shoot, which appeared in the March 2007 issue ofThe Fader.[18] Manager Weisman toldHitQuarters that the Fader feature, given the magazine's music/culture/fashion orientation, laid an important foundation for Wale to position himself as a "cool, smart, up-and-coming hip-hop artist who might be Drake".[15]
In January 2007, Wale released a new single to radio called "Good Girls" produced by Gerard Thomas and Demario Bridges for TeamMusicGroup (LeTroy Davis). Wale later appeared onMark Ronson's remix ofLily Allen's "Smile"[19] and was a headliner on Ronson's UK tour that year promoting Ronson's second albumVersion.[20][21] In June 2007, Wale signed to a production deal with Ronson'sAllido Records.[13] Wale released his thirdmixtape,100 Miles & Running, on July 11, as a free download on hisMyspace page. This mixtape includes features from Mark Ronson,Daniel Merriweather,Amy Winehouse, andLily Allen. It was released on the same day as his performance at theHighline Ballroom, in Manhattan. The Highline show was to promote the US release of Mark Ronson's album and included performances by Mark Ronson, Wale,Saigon, and Daniel Merriweather. Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Maroon 5, Clive Davis, Eve and Danny Masterson were all in attendance. There, Wale was interviewed byMTV News correspondent J. D. Tuminski for his first national TV feature on August 16.[22] With Ronson, Wale performed "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.", a remix ofJustice's "D.A.N.C.E." from Wale's100 Miles mixtape, at the2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.The Washington Post profiled Wale on the front page of the Sunday Style section in the October 21, 2007, edition.[9] He was also featured on the cover of the 150th issue ofURB along with French electro group Justice.
In March 2008, Wale signed a joint venture deal with Mark Ronson'sAllido Records andInterscope, joiningRhymefest and Daniel Merriweather as Allido artists.[23]Epic Records,Atlantic Records, andDef Jam all competed to sign Wale.[13] On May 30, Wale released his fourth mixtapeThe Mixtape About Nothing, heavily produced byBest Kept Secret.[24] Wale said that the television showSeinfeld inspiredThe Mixtape About Nothing: "the TV show's 'honest dialogue' mirrors his lyrical style, which frequently references pop culture and politics while avoiding gangster-rap bluster".[25]After signing with Interscope, Wale began recording tracks for his major label debut; in a 2008 interview withExpress, a newspaper published by the Washington Post Company, Wale announced that he was recording a song withChrisette Michele called "Shades", which discusses inter-black racism.[26] Wale and rapperYoung Chris of the rap duoYoung Gunz also began plans for a collaboration mixtape.[27] In September 2008, Wale was featured on a remix ofSolange's "Fuck the Industry".[28] He also appeared alongsideLupe Fiasco andKardinal Offishall on Interscope label mate DJ Greg Street's single "Dope Boys" which samples "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)".[29]
On June 19, 2009, Wale released his fifth mixtape,Back to the Feature, on which eleven of the tracks were produced by9th Wonder, with contributions also coming fromMark Ronson and others.[30] The album's title, a play off the name of the movieBack to the Future, referred to the fact that a lengthy list of rappers joined Wale on the songs, includingK'naan, Tamere Guess,Talib Kweli,Joell Ortiz,Beanie Sigel,Currensy,J. Cole, andBun B.[31] The mixtape received positive reviews fromVibe magazine[31] and websitePitchfork Media,[32] but Colin McGowan ofCokemachineglow commented that it represented neither "a step forward or back [for the artist] so much as shouting-in-place."[33]Wale did a guest performance on "Change", a song by the Australian singer-songwriterDaniel Merriweather. It was written by Merriweather andAndrew Wyatt and produced by Mark Ronson. It was released on January 30, 2009, in the United States and Canada, and February 2, 2009, in the UK (where the song peaked at no.8). The song is included on Merriweather's albumLove & War.On September 13, Wale and the DC-based musicians of UCB (Uncalled 4 Band) served as the official house band for the2009 MTV Video Music Awards.[34]
Released on November 10, 2009, Wale's debut album,Attention Deficit, had primarily positive reception.Metacritic, which assigns a standardized score out of 100, rated the album 77 based on 21 reviews.[35] It debuted at the number 21 spot on theBillboard 200 and sold 28,000 copies in its first week. Interscope claimed that the LP was undershipped and that was the reason for the low sales numbers. Daniel Weisman, Wale's manager, claimed that Interscope didn't ship enough copies of the album.[36] The first single offAttention Deficit was "Chillin" (featuringLady Gaga), followed by "Pretty Girls" featuringGucci Mane and Weensey and "World Tour" (featuringJazmine Sullivan). Other guest artists on the album includedPharrell Williams,Bun B,Chrisette Michele,K'Naan,Marsha Ambrosius,J. Cole, andMelanie Fiona.[37] In March 2010, Wale announced he andK'Naan would kick off a short co-headlining tour across the east coast of the US, beginning at the end of March in New York City.[38] During this time, Wale was also in the studio withGucci Mane,Waka Flocka Flame,Roscoe Dash,Sean Garrett, andDrumma Boy.
In May 2010, Wale abruptly canceled a scheduled performance atDC Black Pride, an annual black gay pride event. In an email to the event's organizer, Wale's manager claimed he was unaware it was a gay event when he agreed to perform. On May 28, however, it was announced he would perform alongside the headliner for free.[39]
On August 3, 2010, Wale released his sixth mixtape,More About Nothing, a follow-up to his critically acclaimedThe Mixtape About Nothing, under The Board Administration[40] – an independent label co-founded with Marketing Executive Le'Greg O. Harrison. Hosted by DJ Omega,More About Nothing had 100,000+ downloads in 90 minutes.[41]More About Nothing integrates sitcom material with rhyme and wordplay to present Wale's frustrations on his plight to reach mainstream acceptance and success. Features includeWiz Khalifa,Waka Flocka,Daniel Merriweather, UCB, and Board Administration ArtistsTiara Thomas,Black Cobain, and Fat Trel, as well as NBA Player and DC NativeKevin Durant.In the last half of 2010, inspired byKanye West'sGOOD Fridays project, Wale re-released a track from one of his previous mixtapes for free-download on his own website every Thursday, calling this enterprise "Throwback Thursday". Guests on those tracks includedBun B,Pusha T,John Mayer,Lil Wayne, andK'Naan.
On February 5, 2011, duringSuper Bowl XLV festivities, Wale announced his signing to artistRick Ross' Maybach Music Group.[42] He stated that he would still continue to be able to put out the music that he believes in, with the support of Rick Ross. In 2009, Wale signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation for management, along with other artists such asJ. Cole,Mark Ronson,Melanie Fiona, andRihanna. On May 6, 2011, Wale shared plans withMTV Networks regarding the potential release of two albums in 2011. Later the same month, he confirmed pre-production efforts forAmbition, his second album, slated for a fall 2011 release under Maybach and Warner Music Groups. Production forAmbition took place at ZAC Recording in Atlanta, Georgia with The Board Administration Producer Tone P. Anticipation forAmbition was incited through the release and heavy viral promotion of mixtape,The Eleven One Eleven Theory done under Wale's label, The Board Administration.The Eleven One Eleven Theory debuted August 17, 2011, onLife and Times in honor of Wale's Twitter milestone of reaching one million followers and was purposefully made with the intent to build widespread anticipation for the November 1 scheduled release date ofAmbition.[43] This marketing strategy was thebrainchild of The Board Administration CEO Le'Greg O. Harrison and was executed through savvy social media integration, resulting in the first shut down of renowned file sharing site Hulkshare in the first 4 seconds of posting the link.[44] Wale is the first mainstream artist to officially crash Hulkshare.[45]
On September 7, 2011, Wale announced plans for a 32-city domestic tour titled TheAmbition Tour, which began October 2, 2011, in Minneapolis Minnesota and continued through December 2011.[46]The Board Administration ArtistBlack Cobain performed as the official opening act for each date and was followed by a rotation of various artists in select markets which included: Rick Ross, J. Cole,Meek Mill,Pusha T,Big Sean,Miguel, and more.[46] The tour was booked byNUE Agency.[47]On September 28, 2011, Wale revealed thatAmbition was complete and released the single "Lotus Flower Bomb", featuring Miguel on Twitter. On September 29, 2011, Funk Master Flex debuted Wale's song "Tats on my Arms", featuring Rick Ross.[48] The next day, Wale released the album cover forAmbition.[49] On October 14, Wale released the single "Focused", featuringKid Cudi.[50] The officialAmbition track listing includes 15 songs.[51] The Board Administration launched a robust social media campaign integrating never-seen-before social media strategy and savvy to virally promoteAmbition. The promotional campaign included a five-part "making of" documentary, a Twitter campaign centered on a hashtag blitz–aptly named #Ambition, daily new music and video releases from Wale, and promotional materials for purchase throughWarner Music Group andMaybach Music Group such asAmbition wristbands and graphic tees.[52] These efforts were also supported by televised "making of" episodes through networks such as MTV that hostedSucker Free Road to Release.[53] The never-seen-before element of Wale'sAmbition promo blitz included a partnership formed between the current most popular file sharing site Hulkshare and The Board Administration.[52] Greater than 3 million people frequent Hulkshare daily, and through this collaboration could view banner ads on practically every Hulkshare download page flanked with Wale's profile and a clock counting down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the album released.[52]
On October 27, 2011, Wale unveiled anAmbition snippet sampler on YouTube for people to preview the album.[54] Later the same day, a privateAmbition media listening event, held at the Gansevoort Hotel of Chelsea New York, was attended by music executives, bloggers, various artists, and hip hop heads.[54]On November 2, 2011, Myspace andHot 97 presented a complimentary Wale and friends midnightAmbition release show at The Highline Ballroom in New York City. The event was hosted byMiss Info and featured special guest DJFunkmaster Flex.[55]The album debuted number two on theBillboard 200, selling 162,600 copies in its first week.[56] The album initially received mixed reviews, including a negative one in Wale's localWashington City Paper.[57] However, the album currently holds a 69/100 score on Metacritic, signifying "generally favorable reviews".[58]
On November 25, 2011, shortly after the release ofAmbition, Wale announced on Twitter that he had already begun working on his third album.[59] In an interview with UpVenue in January 2012, Wale confirmed the third album and said the focus would be about his growth as a person.[60] In June, he was featured on Maybach Music Group's second studio albumSelf Made Vol. 2. He released a trailer for his mixtapeFolarin on December 6.Folarin, hosted byDJ Clark Kent, was released on December 24.[61][62] The mixtape featuredRick Ross,2 Chainz,Scarface,Nipsey Hussle,French Montana,Tiara Thomas, Lightshow, andTrinidad James, with production byHit-Boy,Jake One,Cardo,Diplo,Beat Billionaire, andRico Love, among others.[62] Around this time, Wale also started working on his third studio album, which he stated would be released in 2013.
When speaking of his third studio album Wale would say, "It's going to have one sound, very, very soulful", and said that the first single, "Bad", "is a pretty good indication of the direction I'm going for this project." The album was set for release on June 25, 2013, with his fourth album coming a couple months after that.[63] Wale announced he was collaborating withJerry Seinfeld on his fourth studio album, which would be titledThe Album About Nothing.[64] He later said he was also set to collaborate with producerNo I.D. on the album, and would also release a collaboration mixtape with Meek Mill sometime during 2013.[65]
In December 2012, Wale had announced plans to release aGo-go album: "I wanna do the album for me. This is the second time I'm announcing it, but I'm doing a Go-Go album after my album. And when I say Go-Go I don't mean like cheesy Go-Go. It's gonna be sequenced. It's gonna be me probably rapping only 40-percent on the album, but getting the sound out."[66]
To build hype forThe Gifted, Wale released "Sight of the Sun", a remix of theFun. song of the same name.[67] This was similar to the songs "Bittersweet" and "Fly Away", which he released prior toAttention: Deficit. On September 9, 2014, Wale released "The Body", featuring American singerJeremih, as the first single from his albumThe Album About Nothing.[68] On November 17, 2014, Wale announced a 31-date US tour, titled the Simply Nothing Tour, in support of his upcoming 2015 album The Album About Nothing.[69] On December 24, 2014, Wale released the mixtapeFestivus, which is heavily themed by theSeinfeldholiday. Features includedChance The Rapper,A$AP Ferg, andPusha T, among others.
On March 31, 2015, Wale released his fourth studio albumThe Album About Nothing, which featured Jerry Seinfeld,J. Cole,Usher, andSZA.[70] It became his second No. 1 album in the United States.[71] The following month, it was revealed that Wale would next serve as the Executive Producer forMaybach Music Group's next collaborative albumSelf Made 4.[72] He also recorded the original music theme for the popularESPN sports talk showFirst Take, which features journalists/panelistsStephen A. Smith,Max Kellerman and moderator/hostMolly Qerim. The two-hour show, which airs twice daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on ESPN, features Wale's theme at the beginning of the show.
On April 28, 2017, Wale's fifth studio album,Shine was released, selling 28,000 units in its first week.
After parting ways withAtlantic Records in February,[73] Wale released a surprise four-track EP titledIt's Complicated on March 13, 2018.[74][75] Two months later, he released a second EP titledSelf Promotion on May 8, 2018.[76][77] The four-track EP had a single guest feature in R&B singer,Jacquees. On May 16, it was announced that Wale had been signed toWarner Records.[78] On September 14, he released a third EP titledFree Lunch, with guest appearances from singerEric Bellinger and long time friend and collaborator, J. Cole.[79][80] In December 2018, Wale released two tracks, "Winter Wars" and "Poledancer".[81] His sixth album,Wow... That's Crazy was released on October 11, 2019. It included the single, "On Chill". On June 19, 2020, Wale released an EP,The Imperfect Storm.[82]
On October 22, 2021, Wale releasedFolarin II, an album follow-up to his 2012 mixtapeFolarin.[6][83]
On October 20, 2023, it was announced that Wale had left Maybach Music Group after falling out with label boss Rick Ross and signed withDef Jam Recordings.[84][85][86] That same day, Wale released his first single for the label, "Max Julien".[87][88] A music video for the song premiered three days later.[89]
In an interview withFlavorwire, Wale said that he incorporates elements ofgo-go in his music.[90] Cyril Cordor ofAllMusic described go-go as "a more raw, percussion-driven offshoot of disco" that originated in the Washington, D.C. area. Wale's early singles that were played primarily in his local metropolitan area heavily sampled 1990s go-go records.[13] ReviewingAttention Deficit, David Jeffries of allmusic remarked that Wale had a "post-Kanye, post-Lil Wayne, alternative-meets-hardcore style" and commented that Wale's single "Chillin'", which featured Lady Gaga, "crafts an instant floor-filler out of a sample from the 1969 hit 'Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye'".[91]
.jpg)
Wale is a fan of theWashington Wizards andWashington Commanders.[92][93] Also an avid professional wrestling fan, he has made several wrestling references on his songs.[94] He hosts the annual WaleMania duringWrestleMania weekend and has made several appearances onWWE television, where he hosted a rap battle betweenThe New Day andThe Usos on the July 4 episode ofSmackdown Live in 2017, and was the guest commentator duringNoam Dar andTJP's match on205 Live in 2018.[95][96] On October 2, 2019, Wale escorted formerNXT Tag Team championsThe Street Profits to the ring for their title shot versus championsBobby Fish andKyle O'Reilly. At WrestleMania 37, he escorted former Intercontinental Champion Big E to the ring versus champion Apollo Crews. Wale also performsBig E's new theme song as a singles competitor.[97]
Studio albums
Wale teamed up with Philadelphia retailer Ruvilla, andASICS for a product called "Bottle Rocket" Asics Gel Lyte III in 2015.[98] In 2016, he teamed with ASICS again with a product that features gold and shades of black and blue.[98]
Wale portraysChango in season 3 ofAmerican Gods.[99]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Wale | Best Male Diaspora[100] | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Lotus Flower Bomb" | Viewer's Choice | Nominated[101] |
| Best Collaboration | Won[101] | ||
| 2014 | "LoveHate Thing" | Centric Award | Nominated[102] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Wale | Best New Artist | Nominated[103] |
| 2011 | "No Hands" | Best Collaboration | Nominated |
| Best Club Banger | Won[104] | ||
| 2012 | "Lotus Flower Bomb" | Best Hip-Hop Video | Nominated[105] |
| Perfect Combo | Nominated[106] | ||
| 2013 | Wale | Album Of The Year | Nominated[107] |
| Lyricist Of The Year | Nominated[108] | ||
| 2015 | The Album About Nothing | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Lotus Flower Bomb" | Best Rap Song | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "The White Shoes" | Best Video with a Social Message | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Himself | Best International Artist | Won[109] |
| 2014 | Diaspora Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Wale | Best New Artist | Nominated |
| 2012 | "Lotus Flower Bomb" | Best Hip-Hop Song | Nominated |
| 2012 | "Lotus Flower Bomb" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2013 | Bad (feat.Tiara Thomas) | Best Hip Hop Song of the Year | Won |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |