Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Folarin (born September 21, 1984 in Washington… Read Full Bio ↴Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Folarin (born September 21, 1984 in Washington, D.C.), better known by his stage name Wale, is an American rapper and producer. Fusing DC's homegrown go-go genre with a streetwise Northern hip-hop sensibility, he takes samples from all genres and blends them together with lyrical dexterity. In 2005 he released his debut mixtape, Paint a Picture, and has since released four more. His debut album, released by Interscope, Attention Deficit, was released November 10, 2009. He has since then released three more albums, with Rick Ross's MMG label, Ambition (2011), The Gifted (2013), and The Album About Nothing (2015), based on his 2008 mixtape, The Mixtape About Nothing.

Wale was born to Nigerian immigrant parents in Washington, DC. He grew up on Peabody Street in Northwest DC and moved to Largo, Maryland as a teenager. He attended seven different high schools in Washington, D.C. and Maryland, finally graduating from Quince Orchard High School in 2001. He went to Robert Morris College and Virginia State University on football scholarships, and then Bowie State University but dropped out in 2004 to pursue music full-time. Before music started paying the bills, Wale worked day jobs at Sprint, Up Against The Wall and Downtown Locker Room.

Wale emerged onto the local DC hip hop scene with the help of WKYS-FM's DJ Alizay. Wale began getting radio play in 2004 with a single called "Rhyme of the Century" which got Wale in the June 2005 "Unsigned Hype" section of Source magazine and his buzz started growing.

In November 2006, a feature ran on AllHipHop.com's Breeding Ground about Wale. The day before Thanksgiving, Wale took the stage between Lil Wayne and T.I. during the Southern Invasion tour at the Verizon Center.

In early December 2006, Wale won the award for "D.C. Metro Breakthrough Artist of the Year" at WKYS' Go-Go Awards. On December 15, The Fader magazine associate editor Nick "Catchdubs" Barat visited Wale for an interview and photo shoot which appeared in the March 2007 issue of The Fader.

Wale has an upcoming promotional campaign with Remy Martin and XXL Magazine. He has also been linked to boutique streetwear brands The Hundreds, 10 Deep and Good Bully, as well as lifestyle brands Stussy and LRG.

In January 2007, Wale released a new single to radio called "Good Girls." Daniel Weisman gave the song to Mark Ronson and on February 23, 2007, Ronson began playing the song on his East Village Radio show. A week later, at Ronson's studio, Wale recorded a freestyle for Ronson and in exchange, Ronson put Wale on an unreleased remix of Lily Allen's "Smile" which appeared on a number of music blogs around the world on March 13th, 2007. In April of 2007, Ronson asked Wale to join him on a UK tour to promote the release of his newest album. In June of 2007, Wale signed to a production deal with Ronson's Allido Records.

On June 24, 2007, Wale's "Ice Cream Girl" with TCB, was featured on the show Entourage, on HBO.

Wale performed "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.", from his 100 Miles mixtape, at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas, NV.

Wale was also featured in the October 2007 issues of XXL and Rolling Stone. The Washington Post profiled Wale on the front page of the Sunday Style section in the October 21st, 2007 edition. Wale is featured on the cover of URB Magazine's 150th issue along with French electro group, Justice.

iTunes released "Nike Boots" as a free download on November 13th, 2007 as its "Single of the Week." On Christmas Day 2007, Wale debuted the "Nike Boots Remix" featuring Lil Wayne and Green Lantern on his myspace page. Wale and Lil Wayne played a Nike Boots event called DC Stand Up at Ibiza Nightclub in DC on January 15, 2008 which was sponsored by Nike and Footaction.

In the November 30th, 2007 issue of Entertainment Weekly, Wale is featured as one of 8 people to watch in 2008 along with actors Simon Pegg and Rachel McAdams.

On March 12, 2008, Wale announced on 93.9 WKYS that he had signed with Interscope.

On April 29, 2008, the new Roots album entitled Rising Down was released, featuring Wale on the final track. Wale's relationship with the Roots began when Black Thought heard a song recorded as a tribute to himself on Wale's 2007 mixtape 100 Miles & Running and contacted Wale.

In the June issue of the German Hip-Hop magazine JUICE Wale announced that his upcoming debut-album will feature production credits from Mark Ronson, Kanye West, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder and the French electronic music duo Justice.

http://www.myspace.com/wale202

Caramel
Wale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Caramel kisses (yeah, yeah), you send my way
(God bless your life, thug life, send my way)
I won't complain (we love you), just don't go away
(Maestro, why you listen to the bass drop) (Church)
Caramel kisses, you send my way
I won't complain (what's sweet, right?), just don't go away (what's sweet?)
Caramel kisses (whoa, whoa), you send my way
I won't complain (yeah, look, mm), just don't go away (uh-huh)

Look
The sweetest thing I ever known (ever known)
Cupid caught me with no Kevlar, my shit exposed
My heart is bleedin' on my sleeve but it ain't broke
It's just that everybody see what I ain't mean to show
And if I'm fallin', you ain't gotta be my pick me up
The path you're walkin' probably hard enough, that's really love
I'm really goin' through some problems, I won't share with her
I let her walk and pray that God will send her when I'm good, go
Don't be geekin', no never (caramel kisses), spend a week all alone (you send my way)
I've been chasin' these goals, I've been unreachable, don't I?
It's facetious to think that she made squeeze in this void (I won't complain just, don't go)
You don't really know people 'til y'all be speakin' to lawyers
Is your job your passion? (Caramel kisses) Is your passion your love?
Is your love your world? (You send my way)
Is your world not enough?
If you chasin' then chase it (I won't complain just, don't go)
Will it be bad or be good?
Until you carry 'em both, nothing is caramel though, what's sweet?

Caramel kisses, you send my way (whoa)
I won't complain, just don't go away
Caramel kisses, you send my way (whoa)
I won't complain just (I got you too), don't go away (I'm on)

Look, bag chasin' (bag chasin', caramel kisses)
Activated (activated, you send my way)
Lackin' focus (lackin' focus)
I be at this paper (get this money)
She like my vibe (like my vibe, I won't complain just)
Hate my grind (hate my grind, don't go away)
When I'm on my time (one more time)
I be lackin' patience, look-look-look
Bag chasin' (bag chasin', caramel kisses)
Activated (activated, you send my way)
Lackin' focus (lackin' focus)
I be at this paper (get this money)
Shorty like my vibe (like my vibe, I won't complain just)
Shorty, hate my grind (one more time, don't go away)
When I'm on my time (one more time)
I be lackin' patience (woo)

I know she like attention (caramel kisses)
Initially I ditched it, but now I'm on this mission (you send my way)
I guess that's insufficient
And bitches ain't your competition
(I won't complain just), you viral, they wishin' (don't go away)
It's just my admiration for you rival my ambition
My talent is super special (caramel kisses)
Pursuin' you, super selfish (you send my way)
My Superwoman super but me, I'm too superficial
Money ain't everything (I won't complain just), but it's everything we envision
That caramel I've been huggin' (don't go away)
Ain't sweeter than Hershey Kisses (right, listen)

Caramel kisses (yeah, hmm, hmm, hmm), you send my way (you send my way, ha)
I won't complain just (hol' up) don't go away (like that)
Caramel kisses, you send my way (you send my way, whoa, whoa)
I won't complain just (yeah, whoa, whoa, mm), don't go away (thug life, baby)
Caramel kisses (activated), you send my way (lackin' focus, I be at this paper)
I won't complain just (she like my vibe, she hate my grind) don't go away

(But I'm on my time, thug life)
Caramel kisses, you send

Overall Meaning

"Caramel" by Wale is a song that explores love and vulnerability. The lyrics depict a deep infatuation with someone, referred to as "caramel kisses." The repetitive chorus emphasizes the desire for the person not to leave, emphasizing that their absence would be a loss. The lyrics also touch on the struggles and challenges the singer is facing in their life and how they hesitate to share them with the person they are infatuated with.

The song dives into the complexity of relationships and the different layers that make them up. The singer admits to not fully knowing or understanding the person they are infatuated with until they have conversations with lawyers, suggesting that the true nature of someone can only be revealed in difficult situations. The lyrics also question the importance of one's job, passion, and love, as well as the sufficiency of one's world. The chorus suggests that nothing is as sweet as the person they desire, and they are willing to chase after them despite the challenges and lack of patience they may face.

Overall, "Caramel" delves into the intoxicating nature of love and the uncertainties that come with it. It explores the singer's own insecurities and fears of exposing their vulnerability, while also expressing a deep longing for the person they desire.

Line by Line Meaning

Caramel kisses (yeah, yeah), you send my way
Blessings and affection from you brighten my life

I won't complain (we love you), just don't go away
I appreciate your love, just don't leave my side

Caramel kisses, you send my way
Sweet and tender expressions of love from you

I won't complain (what's sweet, right?), just don't go away (what's sweet?)
I have no complaints about your sweetness, just don't disappear

Caramel kisses (whoa, whoa), you send my way
Intensely passionate and delightful gestures of affection from you

I won't complain (yeah, look, mm), just don't go away (uh-huh)
I have no grievances, but please stay by my side

The sweetest thing I ever known (ever known)
You are the most delightful and precious experience in my life

Cupid caught me with no Kevlar, my shit exposed
Love blindsided me without any emotional protection, leaving me vulnerable

My heart is bleedin' on my sleeve but it ain't broke
My emotions are evident, but I'm still intact and whole

It's just that everybody see what I ain't mean to show
Others perceive aspects of me that I didn't intend to reveal

And if I'm fallin', you ain't gotta be my pick me up
If I'm struggling, you don't have to constantly uplift and support me

The path you're walkin' probably hard enough, that's really love
The journey you're navigating is difficult, and that's a true display of love

I'm really goin' through some problems, I won't share with her
I'm facing personal issues that I choose not to burden her with

I let her walk and pray that God will send her when I'm good, go
I let her leave, hoping that if I'm in a better state, God will bring her back to me

Don't be geekin', no never (caramel kisses), spend a week all alone (you send my way)
Don't worry or stress, never doubt my affection, even if we spend a week apart

I've been chasin' these goals, I've been unreachable, don't I?
I've been relentlessly pursuing my ambitions, sometimes appearing unattainable

It's facetious to think that she made squeeze in this void (I won't complain just, don't go)
It's misguided to believe that she can fill the emptiness inside me

You don't really know people 'til y'all be speakin' to lawyers
You truly get to know someone when you have to deal with legal matters together

Is your job your passion? (Caramel kisses) Is your passion your love?
Is your profession the thing you love? Are your passions the expression of your affection?

Is your love your world? (You sent my way) Is your world not enough?
Does your love define your entire world? Is your world not satisfying?

If you chasin' then chase it (I won't complain just, don't go)
If you're pursuing something, then go after it without complaints

Will it be bad or be good? Until you carry 'em both, nothing is caramel though, what's sweet?
Should it turn out positively or negatively? Until you experience both, you won't truly appreciate sweetness

Look, bag chasin' (bag chasin', caramel kisses)
Focused on pursuing wealth and success while also enjoying sweet gestures of affection

Activated (activated, you send my way)
Fully engaged and motivated, thanks to the love and support received

Lackin' focus (lackin' focus)
Struggling to concentrate and remain dedicated

I be at this paper (get this money)
I'm dedicated to earning money and achieving financial success

She like my vibe (like my vibe, I won't complain just)
She appreciates and enjoys my energy and personality

Hate my grind (hate my grind, don't go away)
Disapproving of my work ethic and dedication

When I'm on my time (one more time)
When I'm focused on my priorities and goals

I be lackin' patience, look-look-look
I tend to become impatient and restless

I know she like attention (caramel kisses)
I'm aware that she craves attention and affection

Initially I ditched it, but now I'm on this mission (you send my way)
At first, I rejected the idea of giving attention, but now I'm fully committed

I guess that's insufficient
I realize that my previous actions were inadequate

And bitches ain't your competition
Other women can't compare to you

(I won't complain just), you viral, they wishin' (don't go away)
You have become popular and desired, causing envy in other people

It's just my admiration for you rival my ambition
The level of respect and adoration I have for you competes with my own ambitions

My talent is super special (caramel kisses)
I possess unique and exceptional skills and abilities

Pursuin' you, super selfish (you send my way)
Chasing after your love can be seen as self-centered

My Superwoman super but me, I'm too superficial
While you are amazing, I admit that my own focus can be superficial at times

Money ain't everything (I won't complain just), but it's everything we envision
Money isn't the sole importance, but it plays a significant role in achieving our dreams

That caramel I've been huggin' (don't go away)
The affectionate love we share is comparable to sweet and comforting caramel

Ain't sweeter than Hershey Kisses (right, listen)
However, it doesn't surpass the sweetness of Hershey Kisses, a metaphorical comparison

I won't complain just (hol' up) don't go away (like that)
I won't express any grievances, please don't leave abruptly

Caramel kisses, you send my way (whoa)
Your affectionate gestures and sweet expressions of love towards me

I won't complain, just don't go away
I won't voice any dissatisfaction, as long as you stay with me

Caramel kisses, you send my way (whoa)
The tender and affectionate expressions of love that you send me

I won't complain just (I got you too), don't go away (I'm on)
I won't express any dissatisfaction, I also have your back, just stay with me

Look, bag chasin' (bag chasin', caramel kisses)
Focused on pursuing wealth and success while also enjoying sweet gestures of affection

Activated (activated, you send my way)
Fully engaged and motivated, thanks to the love and support received

Lackin' focus (lackin' focus)
Struggling to concentrate and remain dedicated

I be at this paper (get this money)
I'm dedicated to earning money and achieving financial success

Shorty like my vibe (like my vibe, I won't complain just)
The girl likes my energy and personality

Shorty, hate my grind (one more time, don't go away)
She dislikes my work ethic and dedication

When I'm on my time (one more time)
When I focus on my own priorities and goals

I be lackin' patience (woo)
I often struggle with being patient