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
Don
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Overthinking is an evil that I can't escape
No one ever hits me up to ask if I'm okay
So I just toss and turn and deal with my depression
Live or die, I don't know which direction
Lost myself, no longer feel connected, for me this life's a curse and not a blessing
What did I do wrong in life and why I gotta fight this fight
And why I feel like everybody always having a good time, while I can't sleep at night
I truly wish I could travel another road
My life's long gone, ima tie this rope
Dear family, this is my final goodbye
I never meant to hurt you, but I had to end my life
So if you're reading this letter, just know I am alright
I'm in a better place now, its a beautiful sight
I couldn't take it no more, I couldn't take all the wars
Body depleted, I was weak, I couldn't stand me no more
Fighting these demons everyday, I never opened my door
Frightened and screaming, haunted dreams when I wake up, there's more
These pills wouldn't help so I just drank and drank
Drowned my body with liquor to avoid the pain
I cried out for help, but now its to late
I cried out, I yelled, but hey, its okay
I just want you to know, whatever happens, always know you're never alone
I'll be by your side, no matter where you go, its just my time to let go
And I
Can't take all the suffering
Come and give me a hand
Before I call an end to my life
Don't know if I'm sorry
For the pain that I'll cause
I'm just over it all
(Don't let go)
Take a look at those who love you and know we'll always love you
(Don't let go)
We need you more than ever, those demons should know better
Than to mess with the mind of such a powerful soul
I thought I should let you know
We're always here to hold you close
Just promise us you won't let go
(Yeah) Yo this ain't a coincidence, if you're hearing this now, just know this song is heaven sent
The power in your thoughts are clear and evident
If you look at yourself, just know the mirror is evidence
That you have a purpose, I know it ain't perfect
You can't give up based off struggles and burdens
The evil is burning, don't hop in the furnace
The power in you is a light that can be burnt in
And where do I begin, if you don't feel loved than you need new friends
Cause the real ones stay and see the hurt from within
Let the fake ones go, bodies heal in the end (yeah)
I'll hold you close at night, don't let go just fight
Only love and light, no more pain in sight, no bad dreams, alright?
You are strong and bright, don't let go tonight
I'm worried sick about you
Every single night I stay up, thinking 'bout each and everyone of your moves
You say nobody loves you, that you have no purpose in life
But see the bigger picture, know that you mean so much in mine
And I don't know what id do if I lost you
Especially if it was cause of something you caused, too
You said you'd care for friends and family, is that true?
So than why would you want you precious life to end soon
Take your time to speak your mind, it's okay, we'll be here to listen to you closely
Don't do anything stupid
Something that you just might regret
You've got so much ahead of you, now know that your time isn't over yet (no)
Can't take all the suffering
Come and give me a hand
Before I call an end to my life
Don't know if I'm sorry
For the pain that I'll cause
I'm just over it all
(Don't let go)
Take a look at those who love you and know we'll always love you
(Don't let go)
We need you more than ever, those demons should know better
Than to mess with the mind of such a powerful soul
I thought I should let you know
We're always here to hold you close
Just promise us you won't let go
Can't take all the suffering
Come and give me a hand
Before I call an end to my life
Don't know if I'm sorry
For the pain that I'll cause
I'm just over it all
The scars on my body remind me
Of every word you said to hurt me
Of every time you laughed while I cried, so I cut till I'm numb and watch my arm bleed
The scars on my body remind me
That I'm weak, at times I can't speak
That I'm weak, I'm trapped, I'm not free
The scars on my body remind me
The lyrics to Wale's song "Don" are a stark testament to the human struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. The rapper touches on the feeling of isolation that often accompanies mental health issues, as he describes staying awake at night, overthinking and feeling disconnected from others. He grapples with the difficult decision of whether to keep fighting or give up, poignantly concluding that he has come to the end of the road and must tie his rope. The chorus offers a glimmer of hope, with loved ones imploring him not to let go and promising to be by his side no matter what.
Throughout the song, Wale offers an unflinching look at the mental and emotional toll of depression, describing his reliance on drugs and alcohol to numb the pain and his feelings of worthlessness that lead to self-harm. He also touches on the pressure to seem like one is having a good time, even when struggling internally. Despite the heavy subject matter, the song ends on a hopeful note, with Wale urging listeners to reach out for help and reminding them that they are not alone.
Overall, Wale's "Don" is a powerful meditation on the intersection of mental health and human suffering. By grappling with his own demons through his music, he offers a poignant example of how art can be used to catalyze important conversations around topics that are often shrouded in secrecy.
Line by Line Meaning
Late nights, I stay awake, never sleeping, reflecting off my bad days
I spend my sleepless nights reflecting on the bad days I've had
Overthinking is an evil that I can't escape
Overthinking is a problem I can't seem to solve
No one ever hits me up to ask if I'm okay
No one ever checks in to see if I'm doing alright
So I just toss and turn and deal with my depression
I suffer from depression and have trouble sleeping or finding relief
Live or die, I don't know which direction
I don't know if I want to keep living or not
Lost myself, no longer feel connected, for me this life's a curse and not a blessing
I feel disconnected from myself and life feels like a curse rather than a blessing
What did I do wrong in life and why I gotta fight this fight
I wonder what I did wrong in life to deserve the struggles and battles I face
And why I feel like everybody always having a good time, while I can't sleep at night
Everyone seems to be happy and enjoying life, while I struggle to sleep at night
I think its time I go, I'm sorry to the people that I left back home
I have decided that it's time for me to go and I feel sorry for leaving loved ones behind
I truly wish I could travel another road
I wish I could have gone down a different path in life
My life's long gone, ima tie this rope
I have given up on life and I am going to end it by hanging myself
Dear family, this is my final goodbye
This is my last message to my family before I take my life
I never meant to hurt you, but I had to end my life
I don't want to hurt my family, but I feel like taking my own life is the only way out
So if you're reading this letter, just know I am alright
If you are reading this, it means I have already taken my life and am no longer suffering
I'm in a better place now, its a beautiful sight
I believe that the afterlife is better than life on earth, and I am at peace now
I couldn't take it no more, I couldn't take all the wars
I couldn't handle the internal battles and struggles anymore
Body depleted, I was weak, I couldn't stand me no more
I was physically and mentally exhausted, and I couldn't tolerate myself anymore
Fighting these demons everyday, I never opened my door
I battled my personal demons regularly, but I never opened up to anyone about it
Frightened and screaming, haunted dreams when I wake up, there's more
I woke up from nightmares and I'm constantly afraid and angry, there's always more to deal with
These pills wouldn't help so I just drank and drank
I turned to alcohol instead of seeking help from medication
Drowned my body with liquor to avoid the pain
I drank alcohol to numb myself from the pain
I cried out for help, but now its to late
I asked for help too late, and now it's too late to turn back from my decision
I cried out, I yelled, but hey, its okay
I spoke up about my struggles but it didn't help enough to stop me from taking my life
I just want you to know, whatever happens, always know you're never alone
No matter how you feel, you are never alone
I'll be by your side, no matter where you go, its just my time to let go
I will always be with you, but it's my time to let go of life
Can't take all the suffering
I can't deal with the pain and suffering anymore
Come and give me a hand
Help me out, I need someone to reach out to me
Before I call an end to my life
Don't wait too long before I take my own life
Don't know if I'm sorry
I'm not sure if I should be sorry for taking my own life
For the pain that I'll cause
I know that my death will cause pain to those who care about me
I'm just over it all (Don't let go)
I'm just done with everything and I need help to not let go of life
Take a look at those who love you and know we'll always love you
Look at the people who care about you and know that their love will never go away
We need you more than ever, those demons should know better
We need you to fight against your demons with us, they should know they can't win
Than to mess with the mind of such a powerful soul
They should know better than to mess with someone as strong as you
I thought I should let you know
I wanted to tell you this because I care
We're always here to hold you close
We are always here to support you and comfort you
Just promise us you won't let go
Promise us that you won't give up on life
(Yeah) Yo this ain't a coincidence, if you're hearing this now, just know this song is heaven sent
This song is not a coincidence, it is meant to help someone who needs it
The power in your thoughts are clear and evident
You have the power to control your thoughts and shape your life
If you look at yourself, just know the mirror is evidence
If you look at yourself, you will see evidence of your strength and potential
That you have a purpose, I know it ain't perfect
You have a purpose in life, even if it's not perfect
You can't give up based off struggles and burdens
Don't give up on life because of the struggles and burdens you face
The evil is burning, don't hop in the furnace
Don't let the evil thoughts consume you or lead you down a destructive path
The power in you is a light that can be burnt in
You have the power to be a shining light in the world
And where do I begin, if you don't feel loved than you need new friends
If you don't feel loved, you should find new friends who truly care about you
Cause the real ones stay and see the hurt from within
True friends will stick around even when they see the pain you're going through
Let the fake ones go, bodies heal in the end (yeah)
Let go of toxic people, your body and mind can heal with time and the right support
I'll hold you close at night, don't let go just fight
I will be there for you and support you, don't give up, just keep fighting
Only love and light, no more pain in sight, no bad dreams, alright?
We want you to only experience love and positivity, with no more pain or nightmares
You are strong and bright, don't let go tonight
You are a strong and bright person, hold on and don't give up on life
I'm worried sick about you
I am extremely concerned about you and your well-being
Every single night I stay up, thinking 'bout each and everyone of your moves
I think about you every night and worry about your every move
You say nobody loves you, that you have no purpose in life
You feel like no one loves you and you're struggling to find your purpose in life
But see the bigger picture, know that you mean so much in mine
Realize that you are important and have a special place in my heart
And I don't know what id do if I lost you
I don't know how I would survive if I lost you
Especially if it was cause of something you caused, too
Especially if you took your own life and I felt like I could have done something to prevent it
You said you'd care for friends and family, is that true?
You promised to care for your loved ones, so don't give up on them
So than why would you want you precious life to end soon
Why would you want to end your precious life if you made that promise to care for your loved ones?
Take your time to speak your mind, it's okay, we'll be here to listen to you closely
Take as much time as you need to express yourself, we are here to listen and support you
Don't do anything stupid
Don't make any rash decisions or do anything harmful
Something that you just might regret
Don't do anything that you might later regret
You've got so much ahead of you, now know that your time isn't over yet (no)
You have so much to look forward to and your life is not over yet, don't give up hope
The scars on my body remind me
The scars on my body are a painful reminder of what I've been through
Of every word you said to hurt me
The scars remind me of every cruel word that hurt me
Of every time you laughed while I cried, so I cut till I'm numb and watch my arm bleed
The scars are from when you laughed at me while I was crying, causing me to cut myself until I was numb and watch my blood flow
That I'm weak, at times I can't speak
The scars make me feel weak, and at times I'm unable to express myself
That I'm weak, I'm trapped, I'm not free
The scars make me feel trapped and not free, like my struggles are never-ending
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Alain Aguilar, Brendon Wales
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karen
This is soooo spiritual, Oluwatoyin (meaning God is worthy to be praised) rest in peace sis 🙏🏿
iii I
That was a black queen walking this Earth.
Bille
Wale is part of a rare breed. This song vibrates universal threads
colin richards
I'm still here because somebody probably prayed for me....
BigBeanDMV
@Rook Rude Police(12) are here so pray for me
Brady Bunga
Rook Rude police brutality so pray that everything gon be aight
Rook Rude
C.L.K. What is the meaning of this line?
C.L.K.
"12 here well somebody better pray for me."
Dickerson Tee
This is so ❤❤❤❤❤
Wyatt The Wise
I feel like the audio quality adds to the authenticity of why this was made and released so fast