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
Expectations
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You expect me to know the answer to some shit that I'm just tryna get up out of
Where did the time, where did the time go?
I'm in the paint, tryna be Rondo
Of course you got the answers, 'cause you ain't the one that's in my position
I've been sortin' through a lot of shit that's in my head now
A lot of shit that had me scared now
I've been sortin' through a lot of shit that's in my head now
A lot of shit that had me scared now
And don't you leave me here for dead now
Look, the winter is here, depression is triplin'
Nobody give a shit, I'm gettin' bread
Industry really be killin' my niggas
Guess entertainment business yin and the yang
Wait, I'm not the same, I can't find no peace
I sacrifice my world to a world that ignore me
Black man in therapy, 'cause white terror don't sleep
I got to roll up my leaf, might stop the PTSD
Carried away, bitches break up with you if you don't break
Niggas is lame, nigga my drive ain't the same
Of course you irate, it's a Wraith
On God I got some reason to wear my head down (head down)
Pray all my odds be even 'cause it get hard
And I follow what I feel, but that's the issue (issue)
My thoughts can be deceivin' if they get a warm welcome
I've been sortin' through a lot of shit that's in my head now
A lot of shit that had me scared now
And don't you leave me here for dead now
I've been sortin' through a lot of shit that's in my head now
A lot of shit that had me scared now
And don't you leave me here for dead now
Look, and on God she got some reason to wear her head down (head down)
Pray all her odds be even 'cause it get hard
And she follow what she feel, and that's the issue (issue)
My thoughts can be deceivin', my thoughts can be deceivin'
Summer approachin', she look in the mirror, she wish it was winter
Her tummy is pokin'
Lookin' at Instagram, makin' you sick
Yeah, the figure you're fishin' for ain't in the ocean, no
Your potential is more than gold
Expectations is bogus though
Talk about what the eye don't see, this is body dysmorphia
Most of these pseudo celebrities ain't really beautiful as you could ever be
Talkin' the tannin', and bleachin'
And all the procedures that make you go think that you not a queen
And I ain't judgin', just bein' real, if the silicone help your anxiety
If I like you enough I'ma foot the bill
But you do it for you shorty, not for me
That's the cycle that she repeat
All the models she following livin' sweet
But the body she like doesn't come for cheap
She will live under knife for the infamy, see
But who am I to judge?
I got my own problems, so I am not the one
When things get dark, I be in my own mind
So even in the crowd I'll be moreso alone
It's like, yo
Just like me
Just like us
Just like her
Just like you
Just like us
I've been sortin' through a lot of shit that's in my head now
A lot of shit that had me scared now
And don't you leave me here for dead now
I've been sortin' through a lot of shit that's in my head now
A lot of shit that had me scared now
And don't you leave me here for dead now
The lyrics to Wale's song Expectations touch on themes of pressure, anxiety, and mental health. The rapper expresses feelings of being overwhelmed and not understanding why everyone expects so much from him. He talks about dealing with the weight of industry expectations, racial politics, and personal struggles with depression and PTSD. Wale speaks to the impact of social media and the pressures it can put on people's perceptions of their bodies and self-worth. The chorus echoes a plea to not be left alone and not to be forgotten.
The second part of the song brings in a female perspective, which highlights the shared nature of anxiety and pressures. The lyrics emphasize that mental health concerns don't discriminate and that we all have our struggles, which at times may appear different. However, this fact doesn't negate our shared humanity.
The song's significance lies in its honesty and frank discussion of mental health struggles. It's an important message to send as it represents Wale's efforts to destigmatize seeking therapy and mental health support. In writing about his struggles and experiences, he shows that it's okay to be vulnerable and that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness.
Line by Line Meaning
You expect me to know, a lot of shit that I'm just out here tryna figure out
You expect me to have all the answers when I'm just trying to understand things myself.
Where did the time, where did the time go?
I'm wondering where all the time has gone.
I'm in the paint, tryna be Rondo
I'm working hard to achieve success, just like basketball player Rajon Rondo.
Of course you got the answers, 'cause you ain't the one that's in my position
It's easy for someone else to have all the answers when they're not in my situation.
Look, the winter is here, depression is triplin'
Depression is getting worse as winter approaches.
I've been sortin' through a lot of shit that's in my head now
I've been dealing with a lot of internal struggles.
And don't you leave me here for dead now
I need your support and help to get through this.
Black man in therapy, 'cause white terror don't sleep
I'm in therapy because of the constant fear and racism black people face every day.
My thoughts can be deceivin' if they get a warm welcome
It's important for me to be mindful of my thoughts, as they can be misleading if I accept them too easily.
Summer approachin', she look in the mirror, she wish it was winter
The approaching summer reminds her of her insecurities and she wishes to hide her flaws with winter clothes.
Expectations is bogus though
Society's expectations are unrealistic and not worth striving for.
Your potential is more than gold
You have so much potential that's worth more than any material wealth.
Most of these pseudo celebrities ain't really beautiful as you could ever be
Don't compare yourself to false beauty standards set by celebrities who don't truly embody beauty.
But who am I to judge?
I don't have the right to judge anyone, as I have my own flaws.
It's like, yo
It's difficult to put these struggles into words.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andre Robertson, Cardell McManus, Olubowale Akintimehin, Ricardo Valentine, Unknown Writer, Yusuf El
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thabolushaba7173
Wale sacrificing checks for positive music is the best thing I could ask for.
@chisom18
Thabo Lushaba and that’s why he says in the lyrics, “I sacrificed my world, for a world that ignore me”. Making positive music, but he’s not getting the type of attention Dababy, future, and them would get.
@monicajones3781
❤❤❤❤
@thoughtafter7164
thanks for that comment
@missionbasedastrology1013
Word!!!!
@chantellemarie5593
🙏🏼
@Chelsdaniella
“Feat. 6lack” makes everything better 🔥🖤 this is bomb!!
@blsblah6474
Chelsea say it again
@codyflower420
The reason I'm here 🤘
@TeKeyaKrystal
absolutely what made me click on this video