Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Folarin (born September 21, 1984 in Washington… Read Full Bio ↴Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Folarin (born September 21, 1984 in Washington, D.C.), better known by his stage name Wale, is an American rapper and producer. Fusing DC's homegrown go-go genre with a streetwise Northern hip-hop sensibility, he takes samples from all genres and blends them together with lyrical dexterity. In 2005 he released his debut mixtape, Paint a Picture, and has since released four more. His debut album, released by Interscope, Attention Deficit, was released November 10, 2009. He has since then released three more albums, with Rick Ross's MMG label, Ambition (2011), The Gifted (2013), and The Album About Nothing (2015), based on his 2008 mixtape, The Mixtape About Nothing.

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 A Nigga Know
Wale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

To be honest ain't tripping off lil change
Barely remarkable not compensative shit nigga
Bright minded outfit short but his high sight this
Hoes open to a money talking Shawn Claytus

Grain whipping staying dripping nigga show the lady
Got your main bitch with me and she ain't complaining
Shorty what your aim is young rich and famous

Never paying for the pussy niggas making payments

Bitch I'm balling on the court like a fucking plaintive
N E P Y a thrill like human nature
Ya at the bitch who cake up ya at the bitch who wait up
I rap sure anytime you catching me the baker

I'm from the blocks where the hustle's just to get the cake up
For the money I be shaking like Anita Baker
Chinx Drugz I done blew up like a mine field
These niggas better lose aye man side deal

I know my mind real I know my mind ill
Came in the lane I made paper off the Seinfeld
Enthusiastically curb know my rap is superb
You could close up the fact I make racks off a pair of liquor

A yo Ralph these niggas acting like Jack and it's thorough
Niggas jacking my flow I'm just jacking they girl
Coke boy styling on I'm in my bathroom
Like a bad handed poker but they ass fold

Don't gotta worry them horny bitches be at my show
No handouts but my arm strong like sad smoke
Rap flow with poetry over mad songs
My stats good I'm back slapping this stead chrome

Where the G's at tell me when to go
Tell me where the cheese and I'm all about the dough
Squad like the dream team all we rock is gold
If you really real son let a nigga know
Let a nigga know

Maryland or DC nigga
Let a nigga know
Don't forget the VA nigga
Let a nigga know
At the time the whole team spilling
Let a nigga know
Young king with some queens bitches
Let a nigga know

Moving on it niggas roll it like a locomotive
Perseverance be the key and niggas so devoted
Fuck them haters talking young and get your bang up
In them clubs poppin spank on the anx hood

Fuck a lame man YC my face good
Niggas then give me brain be a face buck
I don't I matter off it I don't respecter often
Cause I ain't have all these broads when I was in the office
Wale us up in college I was making sails
When they was in the world I was reading mail
Fresh up for the strip then sent to Yale
All my niggas afloat so now I flick the shell

Sell please and sure ain't sinks
You know the type of stuntin weed who can fuck up your brinks
Some niggas hate some niggas not
I make these niggas kids to shout out just to test the flock

Where the G's at tell me when to go
Tell me where the cheese and I'm all about the dough
Squad like the dream team all we rock is gold
If you really real son let a nigga know
Let a nigga know

Maryland or DC nigga
Let a nigga know
Don't forget the VA nigga
Let a nigga know
At the time the whole team spilling
Let a nigga know
Young king with some queens bitches

Where the G's at tell me when to go
Tell me where the cheese and I'm all about the dough
Squad like the dream team all we rock is gold
If you really real son let a nigga know
Let a nigga know

Maryland or DC nigga
Let a nigga know
Don't forget the VA nigga
Let a nigga know
At the time the whole team spilling

Let a nigga know
Young king with some queens bitches

Overall Meaning

Wale's "Let A Nigga Know" is a rap song that follows the theme of flaunting wealth and success. The lyrics offer a glimpse into the life of someone who has achieved significant financial success, exploring the luxuries and indulgences that come with it. In the first verse, Wale asserts that he doesn't need to be concerned with small amounts of money, as he is already wealthy beyond measure. He makes reference to the fact that he is wearing expensive clothing and that he is able to attract women with his wealth.

In the second verse, Wale takes on a more confrontational tone and seems to be addressing others who may be jealous of his wealth or attempting to imitate his style. He describes himself as "balling on the court" and "coke boy styling," suggesting that he is at the top of his game and that others are merely trying to copy his success. He also makes reference to Chinx Drugz, a fellow rapper who was murdered in 2015. The verse serves as a tribute to his friend while also demonstrating Wale's own resilience and determination.

Overall, "Let A Nigga Know" is a braggadocious but self-assured song that celebrates the success of the artist and the posse that he represents. It functions both as a personal anthem for Wale and a challenge to others who may be envious or trying to emulate his style.

Line by Line Meaning

To be honest ain't tripping off lil change
I'm not concerned with small amounts of money

Barely remarkable not compensative shit nigga
I'm not impressed with mediocre things and won't settle for less

Bright minded outfit short but his high sight this
A person with intelligence can dress well and still see beyond surface materialism

Hoes open to a money talking Shawn Claytus
Women are attracted to those who can provide material goods

Grain whipping staying dripping nigga show the lady
Flaunting wealth and luxury can attract women

Got your main bitch with me and she ain't complaining
I have someone's girlfriend with me and she's happy with the situation

Shorty what your aim is young rich and famous
What's your goal in life? To be wealthy and well-known?

Never paying for the pussy niggas making payments
I won't pay for sex, unlike some men who do

Bitch I'm balling on the court like a fucking plaintive
I'm playing basketball like it's the most important thing in the world

N E P Y a thrill like human nature
The drug NEPY is exciting in a way that's similar to human instincts

Ya at the bitch who cake up ya at the bitch who wait up
I'm with women who make money and those who wait for it

I rap sure anytime you catching me the baker
I'm always making money, like a baker selling bread

I'm from the blocks where the hustle's just to get the cake up
I grew up in an area where making money is the main goal

For the money I be shaking like Anita Baker
I'll do whatever it takes to make money

Chinx Drugz I done blew up like a mine field
I've had success like an exploding mine field

These niggas better lose aye man side deal
These guys should back off, or they'll be in trouble

I know my mind real I know my mind ill
I'm confident in my mindset, both good and bad

Came in the lane I made paper off the Seinfeld
I found success through my own unique path, unlike Seinfeld's comedy

Enthusiastically curb know my rap is superb
I'm confident in my music and know it's great

You could close up the fact I make racks off a pair of liquor
Even with just selling alcohol, I can make a lot of money

A yo Ralph these niggas acting like Jack and it's thorough
These guys are behaving like they're someone they're not

Niggas jacking my flow I'm just jacking they girl
They're stealing my style, so I'll steal their women

Coke boy styling on I'm in my bathroom
I'm using my bathroom to get my hair and clothes looking good, like a member of the Coke Boys rap group

Like a bad handed poker but they ass fold
This is like a game of poker, but my opponents are losing

Don't gotta worry them horny bitches be at my show
I don't need to worry, because there will be plenty of women at my concerts

No handouts but my arm strong like sad smoke
I've worked for my success and achieved it with my own strength and determination

Rap flow with poetry over mad songs
My music combines the genres of rap, poetry, and emotional songs

My stats good I'm back slapping this stead chrome
My numbers are impressive, and I'm proud of it

Where the G's at tell me when to go
Where are the real gangsters at? Let me know

Tell me where the cheese and I'm all about the dough
Tell me where the money is and I'll do whatever it takes to get it

Squad like the dream team all we rock is gold
My team is like the Olympic dream team, and we're all about wealth and luxury

If you really real son let a nigga know
If you're truly genuine and authentic, tell me about it

Maryland or DC nigga
I represent Maryland and Washington DC, my hometowns

Don't forget the VA nigga
Don't forget about Virginia, another state I represent

At the time the whole team spilling
Everyone on my team is sharing in the success

Young king with some queens bitches
I'm a young leader with a lot of powerful women by my side

Moving on it niggas roll it like a locomotive
People are going after the money I'm making, like a train moving forward

Perseverance be the key and niggas so devoted
Success comes from determination and dedication

Fuck them haters talking young and get your bang up
Ignore the people who doubt you and focus on making money

In them clubs poppin spank on the anx hood
I'm in the clubs, spending money and celebrating with my neighborhood

Fuck a lame man YC my face good
I'm not interested in associating with boring or uncool people, because my reputation is important to me

Niggas then give me brain be a face buck
People are willing to do whatever I want, to be associated with me

I don't I matter off it I don't respecter often
Money doesn't affect my self-worth, and I don't need to impress anyone

Cause I ain't have all these broads When I was in the office
I didn't have access to all these women when I had a regular job

Wale us up in college I was making sails
I was making a lot of money even when I was in college

When they was in the world I was reading mail
While others were living life, I was focused on my studies and career

Fresh up for the strip then sent to Yale
I prepared myself for success, and was even sent to Yale to further my education

All my niggas afloat so now I flick the shell
Everyone on my team is doing well, so now I can relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor

Sell please and sure ain't sinks
I'm always selling something, and I won't let my success sink

You know the type of stuntin weed who can fuck up your brinks
I'm the type of person who likes to show off, but I won't ruin my financial success

Some niggas hate some niggas not
Some people like me, others don't

I make these niggas kids to shout out just to test the flock
I can influence people to follow me, even kids who look up to me

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICARDO LAMARRE, OLUBOWALE AKINTEMEHIN, LIONEL PICKENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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