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Wale
Wale
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The self-proclaimed "Ambassador of Rap for the Capital," Washington, D.C.-based rapper Wale (pronounced "wah-lay") was able to transcend his local sensation status and become a national rap contender using go-go-inspired hip-hop as the vehicle for his lyricism and clever wordplay. Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born in D.C. in 1984 to Nigerian immigrants who first arrived to America five years prior. Moving to Maryland at age ten, however, Wale was mostly raised in suburban D.C. He attended both Robert Morris College and Virginia State University on football scholarships, but then transferred a third time to Bowie State. The music bug already had bit him hard, and soon he quit Bowie State to turn towards a recording career.

Wale got his first airplay circa 2003-2004 with "Rhyme of the Century," thanks to the help of a local radio DJ who believed in his potential. This landed him in the "Unsigned Hype" column in Source magazine the following year. In 2006, Wale signed to local start-up imprint Studio 43, owned by a former VP of Roc-a-Fella Records, and enjoyed a string of hits in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area that year. Many of those records sampled from '80s go-go, a more raw, percussion-driven offshoot of disco originating in D.C., like the popular "Dig Dug," a tribute to Ronald "Dig Dug" Dixon of go-go band the Northeast Groovers. The use of the Internet and MySpace were big factors for his success, which is how British über-producer and DJ Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Christina Aguilera, Rhymefest) caught wind of the go-go MC in 2007. Wale then struck a production deal with Ronson's Allido imprint and released the 100 Miles and Running mixtape that summer. Despite not being signed to any major label yet, tons of press, ranging from XXL magazine to The New York Times, started to cover the D.C. sensation in 2007 and 2008. After a bidding war that included Epic, Atlantic, and Def Jam, Interscope finally grabbed Wale for its roster in early 2008. ~ Cyril Cordor, All Music GuideMore

Official Profile

Wale
The self-proclaimed "Ambassador of Rap for the Capital," Washington, D.C.-based rapper Wale (pronoun...
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Most Popular Music Videos (2)

Chillin
(Duration: 3:30)
Jun 11th, 9:08am
Nike Boots
(Duration: 4:17)
Mar 26th, 7:25am
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Fan Comments

Nov 10th, 1:23pm
dont hate and disrespect cudi and put his name next to drake lol...but yeah wale is dope. J cole is wats next too thank god
Nov 2nd, 11:42pm
Wale and J. Cole are my 2 new favorite rappers

J. Cole The Warm Up Mixtape Trailer
http://vimeo.com/3922902

J. Cole "Simba" video
http://vimeo.com/4938308
Oct 20th, 6:11am
does anyone have that contemplate on here i need it for one of my playlist?
Oct 6th, 2:02pm
wale is next. wale is way better than kid cudi or drake becuase wale can make a good song. wale your music is great. can't wait til ATTENTION DEFECIT comes out on NOVEMBER 3rd
Sep 10th, 6:46pm
WALE YO IM YOUR BIGGEST FAN.... I GOT ALL YOUR MIXTAPES.... WALE WILL SHIT ON DRAKE ON CUDI ANYDAY... WALE GOT DAT SHIT WIT HIM.... IF WALE READS DIS GET AT ME....
Aug 20th, 7:50pm
Wale is the dopest!
Jul 6th, 9:21pm
Wale putting the DMV on the map, keep bringing the fire. Loving the song 'Nothing to Worry About' Ft. Peter Bjorn & John!!!!!!

http://www.rcrdlbl.com/artists/Wale/track/Nothing_To_Worry_About_f_Peter_Bjorn__John
Jul 2nd, 12:48pm
Yo Wale you are the man. Really like your new song "Nothing To Worry About" Ft. Peter Bjorn & John

http://www.rcrdlbl.com/artists/Wale/track/Nothing_To_Worry_About_f_Peter_Bjorn__John
Jun 3rd, 8:10pm
HipHoPolitico presents 202 Beat Drops: Wah-lay's Inevitable Arrival- http://www.hiphopolitico.com/2009/06/202-beat-drops-wah-lays-inevitable.html

HiphoPolitico - noun a. Where hip hop, community and politics share one mic b. a clutter free outlet for sharing music, events and thoughts c. an ambitious work in progress d. DC roots branching out to the world