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 MC
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
H2O flow and i don't hold gate,
This is no trial, this a closed case
Thats why my mans flippin birds like a road rager,
Im no angel, my hoes like a sega
Streets of rage 2, i make them hoes skate, dont let the flow escape,
Just let me flow above, im blowing loud out the clouds "TURNT UPPPP"
And these worth bucks, fuck ifs or maybes
I leave a hater like he lost a watermellon fight (LAUGHS)
Call it what you want i'm what you like, i'm ballin all my life i'm Sydney Dean ya'll Wesley Snipes,
Never really been into the ice, my lady friends never really be into the life,
I like a deep thinker, i like a wine drinker, i like a dutty wine bitch with some vagina piercing,
I like a good listener, i like a sense of humor, i like a hoe that likes a hoe just for my amusement,(laughs)
Ok, i like to think im likable, i like to think i write and rap as tighter than some biker shorts,
Dont know why they fighin' fo, dont know why they arguin' , dont know why you even ask, aint nobody hot as this
They be on that water here, put a couple in the air, then they get that choppin like they dont know where a traget is,
And im shoppin like i dont know where a Target is, swear a niggas draws be on some stupid Neiman Markus shit
(Stupip Neiman Markus shit)
Bring the hook, i think i need to spark again.
Uhh! yeah smokin yeah a should stop, everyday is 420 every moments Woodstock, everything is good but them haters wish i would stop penetrationg the culture but i do it til' this Wood Stop, Uhh!
Magnificent, anti-impotent, landslide winning by Lyricis,
Got it lock like Styles Sheek Kiss and them the irony in that is i aint all about the benjamins,
Im all about my woman friend, benefits to get it in BBM Pinnin me some pictures in they intiments,
Womanizing to say the least and everything after nautalis aint a beat,
Daytona 5 Grey S5 with the baddest out of 3 dimes Lisa "Left" Eye,
My Flow Chilly TBoz, watch with 30 rocks in it No Peacock, A little NBC talk,
I smoke and let the tree talk, I'm goin at the green Rock-steady/Bee-Bop(ninja turtles villians)
No Longer do i freestyle, Money for the strippers, they comin after me huh they probably off the dippers,
They must come with a bible, swine flu, and a pistol
My side is all ryders yall side dont buy tickets
I love them fly swattin bitches, my fly down when im wit em'
The lyrics in Wale's song The MC provide insight into his personality, preferences, and perspectives. The song's opening lines depict Wale's status as a desirable public figure in the industry as he receives calls from many girls (Bitches on my line, this a probate). Wale confidently asserts his skill as an MC with his H2O flow, and he implies that he is uncontested with the line "this is no trial, this a closed case." Next, he raps about his friend's drug-selling habits (thats why my man's flippin birds like a road rager). Wale also references Sega's fighting game Streets of Rage 2, implying that he is merciless when battling rappers (Im no angel, my ho's like a Sega, Streets of Rage 2, I make them ho's skate, don't let the flow escape).
Throughout the song, Wale talks about his preferences for women. He likes deep thinkers, wine drinkers, women with a sense of humor, and a willingness to amuse him. Wale also enjoys women with piercings in their intimate areas, making his preferences clear. The lyrics indicate he's less inclined to purchase luxury goods, as he references not being into the life. Instead, he cares more about his romantic relationships and friendship bonds with women. The song concludes with Wale talking about his ability to attract many girls (I love them fly swattin bitches, my fly down when I'm wit em), and he sarcastically claims that money is only for strippers.
Line by Line Meaning
Bitches on my line, this a probate
Girls are calling me all the time, this is a situation that I'm used to
H2O flow and i don't hold gate,
My rap flows like water and it doesn't stop
This is no trial, this a closed case
This is not up for debate, it's already decided
Thats why my mans flippin birds like a road rager,
That's why my friends are flipping off anyone who tries to test us
Im no angel, my hoes like a sega
I'm not a perfect person, but my girls are fun like playing Sega games
Streets of rage 2, i make them hoes skate, dont let the flow escape,
Like in the game Streets of Rage 2, I make my girls move in a fun and cool way, not interrupting my flow
Just let me flow above, im blowing loud out the clouds "TURNT UPPPP"
Let me do my thing, I'm rapping with so much energy that it feels like it's coming from the clouds
And these worth bucks, fuck ifs or maybes
I'm worth a lot of money, there's no doubt or uncertainty about it
Yeah surfs up harlem hoes say i'm "waaaavy", LA girls say i'm "holetiyyght"
My style is appreciated by girls in different cities, they describe it in different ways
I leave a hater like he lost a watermellon fight (LAUGHS)
I make haters feel embarrassed or humiliated, just like someone who lost a watermelon fight
Call it what you want i'm what you like, i'm ballin all my life i'm Sydney Dean ya'll Wesley Snipes,
You can use any word to describe me, but I'm just someone you like, I'm living my life to the fullest and I'm like Sydney Dean from White Men Can't Jump, while everyone else is like Wesley Snipes
Never really been into the ice, my lady friends never really be into the life,
I'm not interested in flashy jewelry, and the girls I hang out with don't care about that stuff either
I like a deep thinker, i like a wine drinker, i like a dutty wine bitch with some vagina piercing,
I like girls who are smart and introspective, who appreciate good wine and a certain type of dance, and who are willing to express themselves in unique ways
I like a good listener, i like a sense of humor, i like a hoe that likes a hoe just for my amusement,(laughs)
I like girls who are attentive to what I say, who can make me laugh, and who are comfortable with their own sexuality
Ok, i like to think im likable, i like to think i write and rap as tighter than some biker shorts,
I feel confident in myself and my abilities, I think my rhymes are better than most other rappers
Dont know why they fighin' fo, dont know why they arguin' , dont know why you even ask, aint nobody hot as this
I don't know why other people are trying to compete with me, there's no point in asking because nobody is as good as me
They be on that water here, put a couple in the air, then they get that choppin like they dont know where a traget is,
Some people try to act tough by smoking marijuana, but then they start acting crazy and not knowing what they're doing
And im shoppin like i dont know where a Target is, swear a niggas draws be on some stupid Neiman Markus shit
I'm shopping in fancy stores like I don't know where a regular store like Target is, and some guys are wearing expensive underwear from Neiman Marcus for no good reason (sarcastic)
Magnificent, anti-impotent, landslide winning by Lyricis,
I have a great flow, I'm always energetic and winning with my rap lyrics
Got it lock like Styles Sheek Kiss and them the irony in that is i aint all about the benjamins,
I'm as good a rapper as Styles, Sheek, and Kiss, but the irony is that I don't care about money as much as they do
Im all about my woman friend, benefits to get it in BBM Pinnin me some pictures in they intiments,
I'm more interested in girls and their companionship, and they send me private photos through BBM to express their feelings for me
Womanizing to say the least and everything after nautalis aint a beat,
I'm not ashamed to say that I like to pursue women, and I'm not interested in anything that's not a beat or rhythm
Daytona 5 Grey S5 with the baddest out of 3 dimes Lisa "Left" Eye,
I drive a cool Daytona 5 Grey S5 car, and I have the baddest girl out of a group of three, like Lisa "Left" Eye from TLC
My Flow Chilly TBoz, watch with 30 rocks in it No Peacock, A little NBC talk,
My rap flow is smooth like TBoz from TLC, and my watch has 30 diamonds in it, it's like a little NBC show
I smoke and let the tree talk, I'm goin at the green Rock-steady/Bee-Bop(ninja turtles villians)
I smoke marijuana and let my mind wander, and I'm like Rock-steady and Bee-Bop from the Ninja Turtles villains
No Longer do i freestyle, Money for the strippers, they comin after me huh they probably off the dippers,
I don't freestyle anymore, but I still have enough money to attract strippers, who are probably high on drugs
They must come with a bible, swine flu, and a pistol
Strippers come with their religious beliefs, their illnesses, and some violence
My side is all ryders yall side dont buy tickets
My crew consists of loyal people, while yours is not as reliable
I love them fly swattin bitches, my fly down when im wit em'
I like unconventional and cool girls, and I sometimes forget to zip up my pants during those fun moments
Contributed by Ella Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dan G
damn after 12 years! Still fire.
5ve
Wale is a huge inspiration to me and I WILL produce a song for him one day.
Smokealotofpotamous
Forever a classic
Maddog
Absolutely loved the first album .
All in one
Damn this shit just took me back π₯π₯π₯
MikeDubItIs
π₯π₯π₯
zax motivational
Bro u r about to surprise those who underestimated u ,mark my words.
Ranol Crooks
πΊπΊπΊfire fire song
Tc356
Classic
Martin Walker
βGoin after green. Rocksteady, Bebopβ cold bar