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
The Bloom
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thank god I'm alive to greet you with the sun
She is but a flower, and I love her cause she--
And we both agree this rap shit is all me
But the seed of this beautiful world is ours
My black mind, dream big and follow through even bigger
15 years of slavery for you lady
I put in work to be your nigga
I pray each and every lyric get to you
On this third rendition
For you and your ambition both, bloom
Baby, let your hair down, let it loose
There's no need to be scared now, cause I'm with you
And there's no judgement here, love, you are free
To be as wild and crazy as you wanna be
So baby let me see you bloom for me
To whom it may concern
Let me thank your mom for the beauty you inherited
Let me call her up and be like, "excuse me mrs. um...
You don't know me, but...
Thank you for your flower, but I'm tryna be your sun"
Now wait, wait, I know what you're 'bout to say
Male entertainers entertain everything
But that ain't the case, let me put it this way:
If I'm tryna see you bloom, why would I do it with shade?
Don't play, uh, nah I won't stay long
The pollution that you use to I illuminate such
Beautiful the evolution of your bud
Remove your make-up I need that human nature
Look, me and you just ain't enough
We fruitful as youth let's accumulate some
Tell me 'bout your roots, and how you've came up
I call you my flower, cause you're my boo
K? good!
Baby, let your hair down, let it loose
There's no need to be scared now, cause I'm with you
And there's no judgement here, love, you are free
To be as wild and crazy as you wanna be
So baby let me see you bloom for me
(be my flower, I'll be your sun)
Let me see you bloom for me
Just let me hold you in a dark place
And when it's cold let me warm thee
I know we both come from hard times
Cause I'm aroused you a rose of the concrete
Thorns on fleek
Study and I go on three, I can hit quick or chill and give you energy
Fresh out of college and they sweat you, now you got degrees
Busy to follow me I'm tryna pollinate so won't you holla when it's gotta be
Honey, sweet thing, let's get into it, we can do whatever
Be it intellect or intimate, levitate your habitat
(?) who you dealin' with, this sort of photosynthesis don't show up with the filter in ya
Love, me and you just ain't enough, we fruitful as youth let's accumulate some
Tell me 'bout your roots, and how you've came up
I call you my flower, cause you my boo, K? Good!
Baby, let your hair down, let it loose
There's no need to be scared now, cause I'm with you
And there's no judgement here, love, you are free
To be as wild and crazy as you wanna be
So baby let me see you bloom for me
You don't have to worry about comfort, I'm the safest place that you wanna be
No longer do you have to wonder, just open up and spread your wings
Eh oh baby, won't you (bloom bloom)
Eh baby, won't you (bloom, bloom, bloom, bloom)
Eh baby, won't you (bloom bloom)
In Wale's "The Bloom", he expresses his love and appreciation for his significant other in a poetic and heartfelt manner. He starts by thanking God for being alive to greet his partner with the sun, comparing her to a flower that he loves. The pair both agree that the rap game is all him, but they share the seed of the beautiful world they live in. Wale talks about his perseverance and hard work to be the man for his lady, even putting in 15 years of slavery for her. His unconditional love is shown through his prayer for every lyric to get to her.
He urges his partner to let down her hair and be free with him without judgment. Wale thanks his partner's mother for the beauty that she inherited and proclaims himself as her sun. He emphasizes how he wants to see her bloom, and he understands that they both come from difficult circumstances, but he will provide the warmth and safety she needs to flourish. Wale asks her to be herself fully, and he'll be her safe place.
The overall message that Wale portrays in "The Bloom" is his love and appreciation for his partner. He understands the difficulties they've both faced but promises to support and encourage her growth in every aspect of her life. It is a touching love letter that will resonate with many who have experienced challenging times and found solace in their significant other.
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning, baby
Starting a new day with the person he loves
I thank god I'm alive to greet you with the sun
Grateful to be alive and see the beauty of the sunrise
She is but a flower, and I love her cause she--
Describing his significant other as a flower and expressing his love for her
And we both agree this rap shit is all me
Both him and his partner agree that he is the one who does the rap music
But the seed of this beautiful world is ours
Acknowledging that they both play a part in creating the beauty of the world
My black mind, dream big and follow through even bigger
Encouraging himself to dream big and accomplish even bigger things
15 years of slavery for you lady
Willing to work hard and sacrifice for his partner
I put in work to be your nigga
Working hard to be a good partner
May the sun kiss you, unconditional
Wishing the best for his significant other
I pray each and every lyric get to you
Hoping that his music reaches and touches his partner
On this third rendition
This is his third time trying to express his feelings to his partner through music
For you and your ambition both, bloom
Encouraging his partner to blossom and succeed alongside him
Baby, let your hair down, let it loose
Encouraging his partner to be herself and let go of her inhibitions
There's no need to be scared now, cause I'm with you
Assuring his partner that he will always support and protect her
And there's no judgement here, love, you are free
Creating a judgment-free and safe space for his partner
To be as wild and crazy as you wanna be
Encouraging his partner to let go and have fun
So baby let me see you bloom for me
Asking his partner to fully embrace herself and let him witness her growth
To whom it may concern
Addressing anyone who may be listening
Let me thank your mom for the beauty you inherited
Thanking his partner's mother for giving birth to his beautiful partner
Let me call her up and be like, "excuse me mrs. um...
Humorously imagining himself calling his partner's mother
You don't know me, but...
Acknowledging that he is a stranger to his partner's mother
Thank you for your flower, but I'm tryna be your sun"
Expressing his intentions to be the positive force in his partner's life
Now wait, wait, I know what you're 'bout to say
Anticipating the listener's reaction to his statement
Male entertainers entertain everything
Addressing a common stereotype about male entertainers
But that ain't the case, let me put it this way:
Clarifying that he is not like other male entertainers
If I'm tryna see you bloom, why would I do it with shade?
Posing a rhetorical question and implying that he wants to be supportive
Don't play, uh, nah I won't stay long
Admonishing the listener to take him seriously
The pollution that you use to I illuminate such
Metaphorically describing the harmful things that his partner uses to cope
Beautiful the evolution of your bud
Acknowledging the growth and progress his partner has made
Remove your make-up I need that human nature
Encouraging his partner to be authentic and vulnerable
Look, me and you just ain't enough
Acknowledging that their love is not enough, and they need to work towards something greater
We fruitful as youth let's accumulate some
Using a metaphor to say that they are young and should work towards making their future fruitful
Tell me 'bout your roots, and how you've came up
Wanting to learn more about his partner's past and upbringing
I call you my flower, cause you're my boo
Using a metaphor to describe his love for his partner
K? good!
Finishing his thought and moving on to the next one
You don't have to worry about comfort, I'm the safest place that you wanna be
Assuring his partner that he provides a safe and comfortable haven for her
No longer do you have to wonder, just open up and spread your wings
Encouraging his partner to fully embrace herself and fly
Eh oh baby, won't you (bloom bloom)
Using a metaphor to express his desire for his partner to flourish
Study and I go on three, I can hit quick or chill and give you energy
Suggesting that he can work hard or take it easy depending on his partner's needs
Fresh out of college and they sweat you, now you got degrees
Praising his partner's achievements and education
Busy to follow me I'm tryna pollinate so won't you holla when it's gotta be
Asking his partner to keep in touch and work towards their goals together
Honey, sweet thing, let's get into it, we can do whatever
Sweet-talking his partner and showing that he is flexible about their plans
Be it intellect or intimate, levitate your habitat
Expressing that he is interested in both intellectual and emotional connection with his partner
(?) who you dealin' with, this sort of photosynthesis don't show up with the filter in ya
Using a metaphor to describe the genuine connection he desires with his partner
Eh baby, won't you (bloom, bloom, bloom, bloom)
Repeating his desire for his partner to blossom and grow
Love, me and you just ain't enough, we fruitful as youth let's accumulate some
Continuing his metaphor about young love and the need for growth
Tell me 'bout your roots, and how you've came up
Again, expressing his interest in learning more about his partner's past
I call you my flower, cause you my boo, K? Good!
Returning to his metaphor of calling his partner a flower as a term of endearment
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OLUBOWALE AKINTIMEHIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Quallsss
Listening to Wale is like walking outside for a fresh breath of air
@LaidbackNarration3000
Facts
@ivelizguirau9755
@@LaidbackNarration3000 yr0v
@lukejamesbgn
One of my favorite tracks off the album. Stokley did his thing!
@irGuilty
#NOTTHESINGER
@Patawon
Yea he did... I thought it was Raphael Saadiq this entire time lol
@DocTru
+Jamal Wallace haha me too!!
@juansean7605
+Jamal Wallace he do
Sound like him
@levihrah6
+Jamal Wallace for real!!!, me too!
@ADAJ3KINGANGEL
Wale doesn't even try hard to be poetic, that's just who he is.