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't Upset The Rhythm
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't upset the rhythm though
Don't upset the rhythm
The time is right
Th' sun is sleeping in the sky
Free yo' mind
You never know what you might find
You know we won't compromise
So let me show you
Some-thing super beautiful
Lets rock the boat
The magic is unstoppable!
For on the floor
It's the rhythm you've been waiting for
Pure delight
Kick, snare, hat-ride!
It's all up to you
And whatever you do
Don't cut into my action
4-3-2-1...
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm though
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm, don't you dare
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm
Skin and bone
And a baton microphone
Can't get home
But you can use my dog and bone
We'll crank that stereo
Even when the speakers blow
D-I-y
Just meet me up in paradise
Whatever it takes
To carry you away
It all comes down to actions
4-3-2-1...
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm though
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm, don't you dare
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm
(Go baby, go baby go)
(Go baby, go baby go)
This time I like it
(Go baby, go baby go)
Now don't you dare
Don't upset the rhythm
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm though
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm, don't you dare
Don't upset the rhythm
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm though
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm, don't you dare
Hey!
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm though
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Don't upset the rhythm, don't you dare
Don't upset the rhythm
In the song "Don't Upset the Rhythm" by Wale, the lyrics convey a message about embracing positivity, enjoying life, and being mindful of one's actions in order to maintain a harmonious state.
The lyrics touch on the importance of staying in sync with the rhythm, both metaphorically and literally. "Don't upset the rhythm though" is repeated as a reminder to the listener to not disrupt the flow and balance of life. It suggests that one should not let negativity or external influences disturb their peace.
The song also encourages listeners to free their minds and explore new possibilities. The line "Free yo' mind, you never know what you might find" implies that by being open to new experiences and perspectives, one can discover something beautiful and enriching.
The verse "What's your vice? You know we won't compromise" suggests that the artist values authenticity and individuality. It encourages listeners to embrace their unique preferences and not compromise their values, expressing a sense of self-empowerment.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of taking action and not holding back. "Whatever it takes to carry you away, it all comes down to actions" signifies that in order to achieve one's goals or find happiness, it is necessary to actively pursue them and not let anything deter or distract them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Don't Upset the Rhythm" encourage listeners to live their lives in harmony with the rhythm, embracing positivity, staying true to themselves, and taking intentional actions to create a fulfilling and joyful existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't upset the rhythm though
Maintain the current state of the rhythm and don't disrupt it
The time is right
The moment is perfect
Th' sun is sleeping in the sky
The sun is setting
Free yo' mind
Liberate your thoughts
You never know what you might find
Unexpected discoveries await you
What's your vice?
What indulgence do you have?
You know we won't compromise
We refuse to make concessions
So let me show you
Allow me to demonstrate
Some-thing super beautiful
Something incredibly stunning
Lets rock the boat
Let's shake things up
The magic is unstoppable!
The enchantment is relentless
For on the floor
Because on the dance floor
It's the rhythm you've been waiting for
It's the beat you've been longing to experience
Pure delight
Unadulterated joy
Kick, snare, hat-ride!
Drum beats that energize and captivate
It's all up to you
The choice is in your hands
And whatever you do
No matter what actions you take
Don't cut into my action
Don't interrupt or interfere with my momentum
4-3-2-1...
Countdown to the music
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Encouragement to be enthusiastic and lively
Don't upset the rhythm
Avoid disturbing the flow of the beat
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Keep moving and maintaining the energy
Skin and bone
Thin and frail
And a baton microphone
Using a microphone as a conductor's baton
Can't get home
Unable to return to one's residence
But you can use my dog and bone
You can borrow my cellphone
We'll crank that stereo
We will turn up the volume on the music system
Even when the speakers blow
Even if the artists malfunction or break
D-I-y
Do it yourself
Just meet me up in paradise
Simply join me in a heavenly place
Whatever it takes
No matter the effort required
To carry you away
To transport you to another state of mind
It all comes down to actions
Ultimately, it depends on what you do
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Keep moving forward with determination
Don't upset the rhythm
Avoid disrupting the flow of the beat
(Go baby, go baby go!)
Continue with energy and enthusiasm
Now don't you dare
Absolutely do not do it
(Go baby, go baby go)
Keep being lively and active
Don't upset the rhythm
Maintain the smooth progression of the beat
Don't upset the rhythm, don't you dare
Do not disrupt the flow of the beat, I insist
Hey!
An exclamation to get attention
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHINGAI ELIZABETH MARIA SHONIWA, DANIEL JOHN MONTAGU SMITH, JAMES ROSS MORRISON, GEORGE ASTASIO, JASON ANDREW PEBWORTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind