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
Cliche
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So cliche advice right there
The time we wasted, time we lost
So we don't even try
Mama told me life's not fair
So cliche advice right there
The time we wasted, time we lost
We don't even try
What if love is nothing more than a fairy tale?
I care and all, but I'm fearing this here a carousel to me
I'm here and gone to you, hear my songs playing
We get on and off like we horizontally horse-playing
You need somebody with some patience, shorty, yeah
I need somebody that hate to party, uh
You need somebody that's less busy
I need a woman that's praying for me, but hesitate to call me
I'm hot, cold, the doctor calling that bipolar
Ha, that's undersold, she rock with me, she got five boyfriends
I can't explain, my brain think in multiple colors
Though all of 'em dull when anxiety rival my depression
Mama told me life's not fair
All these girls ain't right right here
When it's dark, I need some time alone
So she won't see me cry or lie
Mama told me life's not fair
So cliche advice right there
The time we wasted, time we lost
So we don't even try
Mama told me life's not fair
So cliche advice right there
The time we wasted, time we lost
So we don't even try (don't even try)
Yeah, yeah
Steep is the climb, you won't even leave me a line, uh
Greedy is pride, you gon' eat me alive, uh
Sweeter the pie, the more it sprinkled with lies, uh
By any means, you give me means to survive
We got shit that we should speak about
'Bout how you started fucking
Yeah, we gon bleep it out
I sit and think about just how the right path could be the wrong direction
But falling back is progress, it's all about perspective
I'm saying though, I am too selfish to leave you all that I got, uh
That shit harder than mending shit with my pops, uh
That shit harder than women giving out props
And niggas hitting at cops who bought the cap that you copped
'Cause you way different when you're solo
You seem happy in your photos
I'm way different 'round my bro-bros
I guess it's places we just won't go, won't go
Really hiding
Mama told me life's not fair
So cliche advice right there
The time we wasted, time we lost
So we don't even try
Mama told me life's not fair
So cliche advice right there
The time we wasted, time we lost
So we don't even try (don't even try)
Oh, don't even try
'Cause your momma did a number on you, babe
I don't know if I can ease it, yeah
Your momma did a number on you, babe
I know you're tired of this, hey, yeah
Oh, you're tired
In Wale's song "Cliché," the lyrics express a sense of frustration and resignation towards life and relationships, partially due to the cliché advice of Wale's mother that life is not fair. The song explores the idea that love might be no more than a fairy tale, and that relationships are often characterized by uncertainty, inconsistency, and emotional pain. Wale contrasts his desire for a woman who stays at home and prays for him with his own tendency to be hot and cold and struggle with mental health issues.
The lyrics also suggest that Wale has experienced disappointments and betrayals in his relationships, as seen in the line, "We got shit that we should speak about / 'Bout how you started fucking / Yeah, we gon bleep it out." Despite his feelings of cynicism and frustration, the song ends on a tender note, with Wale acknowledging the emotional damage that his partner may have experienced from her own mother and expressing empathy towards her exhaustion.
Overall, "Cliché" explores the turbulent and complicated nature of love and relationships, and how the emotional baggage we carry from our families and past experiences can complicate our ability to connect with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama told me life's not fair
My mother warned me that life can be harsh and unpredictable
So cliche advice right there
Although her advice is common and overused, it doesn't make it any less true
The time we wasted, time we lost
Our past mistakes and missed opportunities keep us from even trying now
What if love is nothing more than a fairy tale?
I question the existence of true love and whether or not it's just a story told to give us hope
You need somebody with some patience, shorty, yeah
You require a partner who is willing to wait for things to develop and grow, rather than rush into things
I'm hot, cold, the doctor calling that bipolar
I have a complex personality and struggle with mood swings that may require medical attention
Mama told me life's not fair
My mother reminded me again of the harsh reality that life can be
All these girls ain't right right here
None of these girls are what I am looking for, and I don't want to settle for someone that I don't truly want
When it's dark, I need some time alone
During times of struggle and sadness, I prefer to be alone with my thoughts
Yeah, yeah
An interjection to emphasize agreement
Steep is the climb, you won't even leave me a line, uh
It's a difficult journey, and you won't even give me a helping hand
Greedy is pride, you gon' eat me alive, uh
Your pride is taking over and it's becoming a detriment to our relationship
I'm saying though, I am too selfish to leave you all that I got
I am too selfish to give up all that I have for someone else, even if I truly care about them
That shit harder than mending shit with my pops, uh
Repairing a relationship with my father is challenging, but leaving you would be even more difficult
Oh, don't even try
We've been through too much already, and it's not worth trying anymore
Your momma did a number on you, babe
Your mother has had a significant impact on who you are today
I know you're tired of this, hey, yeah
I am aware that you are tired of our situation and the struggle we're facing
Oh, you're tired
An acknowledgement of your exhaustion and weariness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Norva Denton, Olubowale Victor Akintimehin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kevinkhan8368
I admire the fact Wale took J.Cole's advice and is making the music he wants, without caring who bumpin to it or not.
@yuko1227
@Kevin Khan
Exactly 😭
I keep saying Wale is an amazing artist and he's just caught up in the wrong generation.
@itsjustwan2512
He was making what he wanted before false prophets... Stop
@mgsdmagnum3309
Facts, cause he actually slept on it's crazy cause he talented
@kevinkhan8368
@@itsjustwan2512 to me at one point he was just aiming for greater recognition and he's my favourite rapper so am not dissing. He felt like he needed the praise he wasn't getting.
@itsjustwan2512
Kevin Khan I actually agree with this 2nd statement completely lol
@k04sk
"i sit and think about just how the right path can be the wrong direction , but fallin back is progress its all about perspective"
@getitallpresident5217
Wise
@Kaizen4545
💯
@MississippiGirl0103
Deep...✨