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
Let
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I told you once but I know
You've got to let it go
I told you once baby
I told you once but I know
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
I already told you
Look, okay
Okay, my heart been cold
Okay, my watch is cold
But I know what time we on
'Cause only one of them broken
Hey love, they say all good things don't last
Hey love, how can I bang you for my past?
Situation got me thinking crazy
Maybe 'cause you've been too clingy lately
Maybe I should make my motto 'let somebody meet my flaws and teach me patience' I dunno
It's a thing I'm saying
'Cause we all got hurt, but we don't heal the same and I dunno
It's a thing I'm thinking
Would you rather heartbreak or not feel a thing
See I dunno
I told you once baby
I told you once but I know
You've got to let it go
I told you once baby
I told you once but I know
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
I already told you what I know
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
I already told you
Look shawty
Don't wait on me, or be lowkey
Girl either way I'ma be lonely
'Cause I know me
Sometimes I be
My own way when nobody love me
I got some big shows
I'm tryna figure out
I'm boutta get signed the fourth time in a row
Plus I'm heavily flawed, God designed me a little different
The ways of eyes with my mind and my heartache
And I hate to break your heart, or waste your time, for the time I'm sorry
But I think relationships should all be asked
We all get on and off in timely order
How many waves did you sail?
How many done rock your boat?
Nevermind that ain't my business
Lemme find out I'm insecure
I told you once baby
I told you once but I know
You've got to let it go
I told you once baby
I told you once but I know
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
I already told you what I know
You've got to let it go
You've got to let it go
I already told you
In this song, Wale is giving advice to his significant other to let go of the relationship that they are in. He acknowledges that he has told her this before but reiterates his point. He expresses his emotions about the situation and how he feels about love and heartbreak. Wale feels like he is in a different place in his life and has different priorities that might make it hard for him to commit to a relationship fully. He suggests that they both move on and find somebody that they are more compatible with.
Throughout the song, Wale talks about how he is "heavily flawed" and how it affects his relationships. He admits to being selfish and having his own way of doing things. He seems to have a fear of commitment and does not want to waste his significant other's time if he is not fully invested. It is evident that Wale is battling some internal struggles and is trying to make peace with his thoughts and emotions.
Overall, "Let" is a song that explores the complexities of relationships and how they can be difficult to navigate. Wale's honesty about his emotions and shortcomings makes the song relatable and authentic.
Line by Line Meaning
I told you once baby
I've already given you advice before
I told you once but I know
I understand that you may have not taken my advice before
You've got to let it go
You need to move on from whatever is bothering you
You've got to let it go
Repeating the previous advice to emphasize its importance
You've got to let it go
Continuing to emphasize the importance of moving on
I already told you what I know
Repeating that the advice has already been given
Look, okay
Transitioning to a new subject or thought
Okay, my heart been cold
Admitting that he has been emotionally distant
Okay, my watch is cold
Acknowledging that he has material wealth, but it doesn't fulfill him
But I know what time we on
He understands the current situation in his relationship
'Cause only one of them broken
Implying that his partner is the one who needs to change or fix something
Hey love, they say all good things don't last
Acknowledging that relationships can be temporary and eventually end
Hey love, how can I bang you for my past?
Asking how he can be held accountable for past mistakes in his relationship
Situation got me thinking crazy
Admitting that the current situation is causing confusion and stress
Maybe 'cause you've been too clingy lately
Speculating that his partner's behavior is contributing to the situation
Maybe I should make my motto 'let somebody meet my flaws and teach me patience' I dunno
Considering the idea that he should embrace his imperfections and learn from a partner
It's a thing I'm saying
Further exploring the idea of learning from a partner
'Cause we all got hurt, but we don't heal the same and I dunno
Reflecting on how people handle hurt differently and expressing uncertainty about his own healing process
It's a thing I'm thinking
Continuing to reflect on his thoughts about relationships and healing
Would you rather heartbreak or not feel a thing
Asking hypothetically whether it's better to endure pain or feel nothing at all
See I dunno
Concluding that he doesn't have a clear answer to the question he posed
Look shawty
Addressing his partner with a term of endearment
Don't wait on me, or be lowkey
Advising his partner to not be passive in the relationship
Girl either way I'ma be lonely
Admitting that he may be emotionally distant regardless of his partner's actions
'Cause I know me
Explaining that he is aware of his emotional tendencies
Sometimes I be
Acknowledging that he has moments of emotional unavailability
My own way when nobody love me
Admitting that he can close himself off when he feels unloved
I got some big shows
Referring to his success in the music industry
I'm tryna figure out
Expressing that he's still working on things in his life
I'm boutta get signed the fourth time in a row
Hinting at the idea that he may have commitment issues
Plus I'm heavily flawed, God designed me a little different
Acknowledging that he has personal imperfections
The ways of eyes with my mind and my heartache
Describing how his mental and emotional states are linked
And I hate to break your heart, or waste your time, for the time I'm sorry
Apologizing in advance for hurting his partner
But I think relationships should all be asked
Expressing his belief that everyone should question their relationships
We all get on and off in timely order
Implying that relationships can have a natural expiration date
How many waves did you sail?
Posing a metaphorical question about how many struggles his partner has faced
How many done rock your boat?
Continuing the metaphor and asking how many of those struggles have affected their relationship
Nevermind that ain't my business
Admitting that it's not his place to pry into his partner's past experiences
Lemme find out I'm insecure
Acknowledging that he may have his own personal issues in the relationship
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, Miles Franklin, Money
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DontPanicrs
Their flows balanced and worked so well together, glad to have hip hop like this still coming out. Rip Chinx
@wescoast2320
Chinx is dead u idiot it's not coming out
@DontPanicrs
wes coast hence why i said rip chinx...you're not the brightest
@TheShutDown321
Fatz Gives The Song That Hip Hop/New York boroughs feel. It Brings Back To Where It Came From. It Brings It Back To The True Element In Hip Hop, The Streets
@cuoy13
Rest in peace, Chinx Drugz
@CAcharlesandre
Cuoy Harmon word. it's sad...
@lashawnlias7217
Gtst
@treyrobertson1546
I still remember this from the first time I heard it a long time ago and this is still my favorite song
@Dre-Eye
RIP to Chinx Drugz. Really let the flow shine on this track
@HEYSERG
This song had a wu feel to it and their back and forth was perfect. Forever a classic