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.
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Running back
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She told me to hit the hole, I used to play running back
You niggas be fumbling, don't you give 'em no gun again
These bitches be flying out, yeah, 'cause money be coming in
Said the money be coming in, the money be coming in
The money be coming in, the money be coming in
See you niggas just run your mouth, yeah
My niggas, we run this shit
Look, my bitch is on Tumblr, your bitch need a tummy tuck
Since Jesus of Nazareth, the realest you've come across
I be with killers just coming home
They only hope is me and the Quran
They only wish is for a new chain
But they stuck up in the ankle bracelet
I get the money stacked, see the moon's where it's sunny at
And I move where the realest be
And the quickest, see baby, you gettin' lapped
Yeah, the DMV on the map
That's a city, two states if you can count
I'm as real as I say, I never lie
So whenever I go, know I'm runnin' back
Bitches want money stacks, I just want my percent
She told me to hit the hole, I used to play running back
You niggas be fumbling, don't you give 'em no gun again
These bitches be flying out, yeah, 'cause money be coming in
Said the money be coming in, the money be coming in
The money be coming in, the money be coming in
See you niggas just run your mouth, yeah
My niggas, we run this shit
The money be coming in, the money be coming in
These bitches want money stacks
Me? I want a hundred stacks
These bitches selling their soul
Well, I want my money back
She bounce it like jumping jacks, but she got a funny ass
Look what them booty shots done to that
That bitch need her money back, Lord
She like the finer things, she said I sent her a diamond ring
She say I buy her all kinds of things
She lie about everything
I put her on time out and everything
I cut the bitch off like a thread of string
These hoes'll say about anything
'Cause they know that y'all believe everything
That's why I get high about every day
All of this fog like the weather change
Turn the strip club to a hurricane
We got that cocaine, snow flurry gang
And we do not play games 'bout money, mane
She do something strange for money, mane
Yeah, I used to play running back
I turnt that football to a money bag, I'm gone
Bitches want money stacks, I just want my percent
She told me to hit the hole, I used to play running back
You niggas be fumbling, don't you give 'em no gun again
These bitches be flying out, yeah, 'cause money be coming in
Said the money be coming in, the money be coming in
The money be coming in, the money be coming in
See you niggas just run your mouth, yeah
My niggas, we run this shit
The money be coming in, the money be coming in
We balling, we balling
Balling (balling), hey darling (hey darling)
Sweet darling (hey darling), you know we ballin'
We balling, Wale, fuck with me
Mula baby!
Yeah, Blue Moon, yeah
We gon' ball all season, whole season and post-season
For no reason, fuck with me
The song "Running Back" by Wale talks about his focus on making money and earning his worth in the music industry. He begins by saying that women only care about making money, and he just wants his fair percentage. Wale then references his past as a football player, using the metaphor of "running back" to illustrate his determination to succeed. He dismisses other rappers, accusing them of just talking without delivering, which echoes his earlier sentiment of only caring about money. He discusses the fact that many girls will do anything for money, and he doesn't trust them.
The second verse features Wale discussing his status in the rap game, explaining that he is the realest rapper out there. He also talks about his friend's need for a new chain and a fresh start but being stuck due to an ankle bracelet. Wale continues to exalt his own achievements, describing how he's made a lot of money and earned respect in the industry. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the focus on earning money, while the bridge is a celebration of the riches achieved by their hard work.
The song is a reflection of Wale's life and career, which has been largely about making money and succeeding in the rap game. He is known for his intricate lyrics and use of metaphors, and "Running Back" is no exception. Wale's rapping is backed up by catchy beats and upbeat production, creating a song that is both catchy and insightful.
Line by Line Meaning
Bitches want money stacks, I just want my percent
Women want financial gain, whereas I am only interested in my fair share
She told me to hit the hole, I used to play running back
She instructed me to make a swift move, similar to how I would on the football field
You niggas be fumbling, don't you give 'em no gun again
You guys keep making costly mistakes, don't trust them with weapons again
These bitches be flying out, yeah, 'cause money be coming in
These women are leaving quickly because they are making plenty of money
Said the money be coming in, the money be coming in
I am getting a lot of money
See you niggas just run your mouth, yeah
You guys only talk and brag
My niggas, we run this shit
My friends and I take control and dominate
These bitches want money stacks
Me? I want a hundred stacks
Women want riches, but I am aiming for major wealth
These bitches selling their soul
Well, I want my money back
Women are sacrificing their integrity for money, I want a refund on what I invested them in instead
She bounce it like jumping jacks, but she got a funny ass
She dances in a lively manner, although her behind is not attractive
She like the finer things, she said I sent her a diamond ring
She say I buy her all kinds of things
She enjoys expensive items and claims I have already bought her diamond rings and other gifts
I put her on time out and everything
I cut the bitch off like a thread of string
I punished her and ended our arrangement abruptly
'Cause they know that y'all believe everything
That's why I get high about every day
Women believe they can manipulate men easily, which is why I smoke marijuana to dull the pain
Turn the strip club to a hurricane
We got that cocaine, snow flurry gang
We throw a wild party at the strip club with drugs and strong winds from the fans
She do something strange for money, mane
She performs odd or sexual acts in exchange for cash
And we do not play games 'bout money, mane
We are serious about our finances and won't tolerate anyone messing with them
We balling, we balling
Balling (balling), hey darling (hey darling)
We are living the high life and partying hard
Sweet darling (hey darling), you know we ballin'
Darling, we are rich and living extravagantly
We gon' ball all season, whole season and post-season
For no reason, fuck with me
We will continue to live lavishly throughout the year, for any reason or no reason at all, and you should join us
Lyrics © DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OLUBOWALE VICTOR AKINTIMEHIN, DWAYNE CARTER, GARY HILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hotspanishvlogs
This is the Lil Wayne I like 🔥 without all that auto tune is sounds way better' "well I need my money back"
@elpepe1503
Tu si sabes bro
@nickdavis5236
HotSpanish Vlogs Wayne sounds happy again
@GRAHAM282828
HotSpanish Vlogs This has autotune in it...
@rashidm7834
is definitely less auto tune tho. U hear his voice more
@gregorycantey2339
Queens are real
@ElCrackMauri
One of the most underrated songs…
@smoothoperator6769
Bro 😢
@Swagcheeks
DI’m itdzfff
@tonymiyayo
5 years later if you still listening to this joint you're king