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 Opening Title Sequence
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
10 deep
Swag-er. This is a mixtape about... nothing. Not on drugs
If you bear with me you might see the undertone
Of the undertoned message that's at hand at the you know that I'm talkin' bout? Yeah
Look
Hmm, what's the deal with this rap stuff?
Since Napster the game's been flooded by
Has-beens and never-will-be, ringtone rappers
Hmm, what's the deal with these ringtones?
Niggas buy ringers can't pay their bill though
Thus contributing to ongoing credit
Issues their issue's pathetic, please listen to me
Hmm, what's the deal with these issues?
Magazines who at times seem to misuse
My time with their half-witted reviews
And the blogger has their reviews in rear view
Because he made his decision
A month prior when it, leak on the Inter-net
So now the net sales quivers
The record sold slips and the drop is now immi-nent
Yeah
What's the deal with the Nets though
Like being in the east ain't enough hell for 'em
Two Carters
I thought it'd get better but
They're getting rid of Kidd, like a miscarriage
Hmm, what's the deal with the DMV?
Niggas is unifying as we speak
And as we speak niggas hatin' me
While they hate me
They sendin' beats for a fuckin' feature
Hmm, yeah, and what's the deal with these rap features?
Half-witted rappers should of stuck to grass pushin'
I'm glad pushin' that envelope, it's mad open
It shows I know a bit
Rasputia
And, what's the deal with Rasputia?
I mean Eddie Murphy, swang, gettin' married
He got a wife, ex-wife, and a baby mother
In the same year
But I ain't judgin'
Hmm, what's the deal with these niggas judgin'?
I moved from DC in 1990-somethin'
I got a number one spot who gon' take it from me?
And I ain't never left
That's why I'm makin' money
Hmm, what's the deal with makin' money?
And why black niggas can't get enough of it?
But too much gets you viewed in the news youngin'
For shootin' done to you or we're losin' money
Shoot young and what's the deal with these little youngin's?
And True Religions make your butt look ugly youngin'
Let me put you on the joke, I'll put you on the frank
And tell me what you is, can't tell me what you ain't
I can tell you that this tape
Collection of freestyles that I just want to make
And not a single feature except Lil Wayne
Cause everybody else did it I had to save face
And if you love substance you'll love Wale
But most niggas love nothin' so I made this tape
Get it?
Most niggas love nothin' so I made this tape
Gone
Wale's song "The Opening Title Sequence" is essentially a commentary on the state of the rap industry and society as a whole. Wale begins by questioning the state of the rap industry and how it has been negatively affected by the rise of digital piracy and the influx of low-quality, "ringtone rappers." From there, he delves into a wider range of societal issues, such as ongoing credit issues and the tendency of magazines to misuse their time with pointless reviews. He also addresses the rise of blogs and the impact they have had on the music industry, as well as the constant scrutiny and judgment faced by artists in the industry.
Line by Line Meaning
10 deep
Wale is wearing clothes made by the clothing brand 10 Deep
Swag-er. This is a mixtape about... nothing. Not on drugs
Wale introduces himself as having swagger and his mixtape is about nothing; he is not under the influence of drugs
If you bear with me you might see the undertone
Of the undertoned message that's at hand at the you know that I'm talkin' bout? Yeah
Look
Wale asks the listener to pay attention to the underlying message in his music and suggests that they will understand it if they listen closely enough
Since Napster the sales been crashin' and
Since Napster the game's been flooded by
Has-beens and never-will-be, ringtone rappers
Wale criticizes the music industry for declining sales since the Napster file-sharing service and for being filled with subpar ringtone rappers
Niggas buy ringers can't pay their bill though
Thus contributing to ongoing credit
Issues their issue's pathetic, please listen to me
Wale points out that people who buy ringtones but cannot afford to pay their bills are contributing to credit issues, calling the issue pathetic and begging listeners to pay attention
Magazines who at times seem to misuse
My time with their half-witted reviews
And the blogger has their reviews in rear view
Because he made his decision
A month prior when it, leak on the Inter-net
Wale is frustrated with magazines and bloggers who do not properly review his music and instead take a lazy approach, making judgments on music leaks from the internet before hearing the album or review it hastily.
What's the deal with the Nets though
Like being in the east ain't enough hell for 'em
Two Carters
I thought it'd get better but
They're getting rid of Kidd, like a miscarriage
Wale comments on the struggles of the New Jersey Nets basketball team and the fact that they are getting rid of a key player, comparing it to a miscarriage
Hmm, what's the deal with the DMV?
Niggas is unifying as we speak
And as we speak niggas hatin' me
While they hate me
They sendin' beats for a fuckin' feature
Wale wonders what is happening in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area in terms of unity, but notes that despite this unity, some people still hate him and send him beats to work on a feature.
Half-witted rappers should of stuck to grass pushin'
I'm glad pushin' that envelope, it's mad open
It shows I know a bit
Wale believes that less talented rappers should have stuck to selling drugs instead of trying to rap, and he is happy that he is pushing boundaries and showing his intelligence for everyone to see
And, what's the deal with Rasputia?
I mean Eddie Murphy, swang, gettin' married
He got a wife, ex-wife, and a baby mother
In the same year
But I ain't judgin'
Wale comments on Eddie Murphy's complicated romantic life and doesn't judge him for it
I got a number one spot who gon' take it from me?
And I ain't never left
That's why I'm makin' money
Wale boasts about his number one spot in the music industry and his ability to make money because he has not left the music scene
And why black niggas can't get enough of it?
But too much gets you viewed in the news youngin'
For shootin' done to you or we're losin' money
Wale questions why Black people are drawn to making money, but warns that too much of it can lead to dangerous situations and money lost through violent actions
Let me put you on the joke, I'll put you on the frank
And tell me what you is, can't tell me what you ain't
Wale wants to speak frankly and honestly with his listeners and encourages people to be truthful about who they are
I can tell you that this tape
Collection of freestyles that I just want to make
And not a single feature except Lil Wayne
Cause everybody else did it I had to save face
Wale explains that his mixtape is a collection of freestyles that he made for himself, with the exception of one feature from Lil Wayne because he felt pressure to include features like other rappers.
And if you love substance you'll love Wale
But most niggas love nothin' so I made this tape
Get it?
Most niggas love nothin' so I made this tape
Wale believes that true fans who appreciate substance will love his music, but he acknowledges that most people don't care about substance, so he made a mixtape that appeals to that audience.
Gone
Wale ends the song abruptly, signaling the end of the track
Contributed by Jonathan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Adam Whitehead
I heard this 10 years ago been a Wale fan since. I gave it a listen because I love Seinfeld. Genius marketing haha.
Larry2times
this mixtape is what got me so into wale. he is on some real shit.
Ginga
Same with me. I discovered the greatness that is Seinfeld this year.Great idea for a mixtape too and I love the title.
Air Pegasus
2019 And Still Bumpin This Track ... Classic
Lou Jackson
wish I could give you 100 thumbs up, Wale is really nice. I've been saved for about 10-11 years and was never really into rap back in the day, just Go-go for real but this dude is nice, I'm glad he reps DC/MD/VA, I'll lived in all three. Where can I buy his cd's and if there is a clean versioin I'd definitely be interested in that. Thanks, Lou
Road2Bre-ZMania
Just watched Seinfeld - The Library "Season 3 Episode 5" so I had to bump this classic!!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
J Smith
lol yea this is tight I love this mixtape I listen to this all the time Im about to get a car and you already know one of the first CD's Im burning for it
Chanelle FT
My favourite show is Seinfeld! I love rap music! Therefore I'm very hype right now. And when I kept hearing "what's the deal with." I was like "I see what you did there" ;)
Erika McQueen
He's a genius, who thinks of incorperating seinfield with hip hop?
Molika Jenious
I am so late but I love WALE!