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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The Pessimist
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who am I to change perception?
If a nigga kill a nigga he's another statistic
If his skin's a little different they gon' say it was self defense
Nigga feelin' hopeless
Starin' at the idiom box, riddle me this
If a killer was a nigga would niggas still really care
Cause niggas worser than Zimmerman livin' life everywhere
Small niggas with big tools
Couldn't get to Harvard, hard work, he hard whipped
Cause them hardy hah's and hard nights
Are hard to live through
When you hopeless
What we gotta do to be winnin'?
Cause all the schools gettin' closed
Dribble a little, coach, shootin' at a foe
Cause they chargin' them to hoop at community center
My nigga, hopeless
25 bands, he was shootin' not a damn givin'
Cousin threw a couple grand at some dancers
Throwin' back their fat ass, is my glasses confused?
We're the hopeless
America's dream and nightmare in the same being
Even when being polite here
Niggas try to bring me down, the life of a pioneer
Lightyears worth of hopeless
Celebrities celebratin' disgust me
The cerebellum invaded with all these fresh things on
Watchin' "Love and Hip Hop : Atlanta" as we speak
Nigga we hopeless
Okay, the Steebie show is on
And so my broad rollin' weed now she's mad at me
Cause she seen a scene with Rasheeda baby father
Said, "You niggas all hopeless"
Got a pocket full of lint again, but it make no difference to me
Fallin' out with my friends again, but it make no difference to me
Goddamn I'm hopeless
Oh man I'm hopeless
Got no gas in my tank again, but it make no difference to me
Overdraft at the bank again, but it make no difference to me
Goddamn I'm hopeless
Lord knows I'm hopeless
Still I pray
Nigga feelin' hopeless
Like a Penny with a hole in it
We as empty as a corazón of a widow
From a soul that she don't know when he's comin' home
He don't got no limit, hopeless
What's a purple heart to a hurt head?
He done done 12 years, he was told 6
Prolly go back in a minute, ain't shit here
Nigga so hopeless
Thoughts are ravaging in the whole crib
Now he post-traumatic and always on the edge
On the pills, some bills, two kids, one leg
Nigga so hopeless
A lot of black cops always clap back
And some foul white cops always on deck
Playin' race card, guarantee you'll make a blackjack
Nigga so hopeless
Cause we ain't 'posed to ever have shit
And we ain't vocal as rap
Niggas cause we don't mope unless we trap hits
Nigga hopeless
Look at what I go through to show you
Niggas respect money, money respect power
And power, we never given unless
A nigga catch, shoot or dribble
We are hopeless
Nah you ain't out here for the culture
You finna riot, without a purpose
You ain't a mothafuckin' rider, you a fuckin' token, posin'
Nigga hopeless
Of course not literal
But why complain about the man
When a nigga with my skin
The same problems with them I had
Is out there killin' niggas too?
Eat your food, nigga
Got a pocket full of lint again, but it make no difference to me
Fallin' out with my friends again, but it make no difference to me
Goddamn I'm hopeless
Oh man I'm hopeless
Got no gas in my tank again, but it make no difference to me
Overdraft at the bank again, but it make no difference to me
Goddamn I'm hopeless
Lord knows I'm hopeless
Still I pray
The song "The Pessimist" by Wale ft J. Cole portrays hopelessness, despair, and frustration towards the racial inequality and systemic oppression experienced by black Americans. The lyrics suggest that regardless of their efforts, society views them as hopeless, helpless, and inferior. The opening lines, "A nigga feeling hopeless, who am I to change perception?" denote the feelings of helplessness and oppression experienced by the black community. The lyrics suggest despite their attempts to achieve their dreams and to be treated equally, their efforts are futile. For instance, even if a black person kills another black person, they are another statistic, but if a black person's skin is different, they will say it was self-defense.
The song further highlights the struggle of black Americans in getting an education, finding jobs, getting support from their community, and fighting for their rights. The line "cause all the schools getting close, dribble a little coach, shooting at a foe cause they charging them to hoop at the community center" suggests that even community centers, which should be a source of hope and community building for black youngsters, is run based on profit, which leaves young black kids hopeless about their future.
In conclusion, the song portrays the black community's struggles to survive and thrive amid systemic oppression, lack of opportunities, and minimal support. It resonates with a large segment of the black population, putting into words what they may feel and have experienced.
Line by Line Meaning
A nigga feelin' hopeless
I am feeling hopeless and defeated
Who am I to change perception?
I am powerless to change how others see me
If a nigga kill a nigga he's another statistic
If a black man kills another black man, it is seen as a common occurrence
If his skin's a little different they gon' say it was self defense
If a black man is killed and the other person has a different skin color, it will be justified as self-defense
Starin' at the idiom box, riddle me this
I am watching TV and wondering about the world's problems
If a killer was a nigga would niggas still really care
If the killer was black, would people still care about the victim?
Cause niggas worser than Zimmerman livin' life everywhere
There are people worse than George Zimmerman (who killed Trayvon Martin) who are still living freely
Small niggas with big tools
Young black men with guns
Couldn't get to Harvard, hard work, he hard whipped
They could not get into an Ivy League school and are struggling to make a living
Cause them hardy hah's and hard nights
The struggles and challenges of life
Are hard to live through
It's difficult to overcome these challenges
What we gotta do to be winnin'?
What do we need to do to succeed?
Cause all the schools gettin' closed
Many schools in black communities are being shut down
Dribble a little, coach, shootin' at a foe
Basketball is often seen as the only way to win and escape poverty
Cause they chargin' them to hoop at community center
They are now even charging kids to play basketball at a community center
America's dream and nightmare in the same being
America has the potential to be great, but it can also be a nightmare for black people
Even when being polite here
Even when I am being civil and polite
Niggas try to bring me down, the life of a pioneer
Black people often try to bring each other down, even when one is trying to achieve success and be a pioneer
Celebrities celebratin' disgust me
I am disgusted by celebrities who celebrate superficial and trivial things
The cerebellum invaded with all these fresh things on
My mind is overwhelmed with all the new and fashionable things around me
Watchin' 'Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta' as we speak
I am currently watching a TV show that represents the worst of black culture
And so my broad rollin' weed now she's mad at me
My girlfriend is rolling weed, but is angry with me for watching the TV show
Cause she seen a scene with Rasheeda baby father
She saw a scene on the TV show with a character named Rasheeda's baby's father
Said, 'You niggas all hopeless'
She said that all black people are hopeless
Got a pocket full of lint again, but it make no difference to me
I am broke and have nothing, but it doesn't affect me emotionally
Fallin' out with my friends again, but it make no difference to me
I am having conflicts with friends, but it doesn't bother me
Got no gas in my tank again, but it make no difference to me
I don't have any gas in my car, but I don't really care
Overdraft at the bank again, but it make no difference to me
I have overdrawn my bank account again, but it doesn't affect me emotionally
Still I pray
I have hope and faith in something higher than myself
Like a Penny with a hole in it
I feel empty and worthless, like a penny with a hole in it
We as empty as a corazón of a widow
We are as empty as the heart of a widow who has lost her loved one
From a soul that she don't know when he's comin' home
From a loved one who is absent and who knows when he will return
He don't got no limit, hopeless
He has no hope or prospects for the future
What's a purple heart to a hurt head?
A military honor means nothing to someone who is mentally or emotionally suffering
He done done 12 years, he was told 6
He was sentenced to 6 years, but served 12 instead
Prolly go back in a minute, ain't shit here
He will likely go back to prison soon because there is nothing for him outside of it
Thoughts are ravaging in the whole crib
His mind is tormented and the effects can be seen throughout his home
Now he post-traumatic and always on the edge
He suffers from PTSD and is constantly on alert
On the pills, some bills, two kids, one leg
He is trying to make ends meet while taking medication, paying bills, and caring for his two children with only one leg
A lot of black cops always clap back
Many black police officers are quick to use force and violence
And some foul white cops always on deck
Racist white police officers are often ready to escalate a situation and use excessive force
Playin' race card, guarantee you'll make a blackjack
If a black person mentions race, they will likely be seen as playing a card, and the situation may turn worse
Cause we ain't 'posed to ever have shit
Black people are not supposed to have anything in this society
And we ain't vocal as rap
We are not as vocal in real life as we are in our music
Niggas cause we don't mope unless we trap hits
Black people are only successful if they become rappers or drug dealers
Look at what I go through to show you
I go through a lot of hardship to try and convey the reality of black life to others
Niggas respect money, money respect power
Black people respect money, and money respects power in our society
And power, we never given unless
Power is not given to black people easily
A nigga catch, shoot or dribble
Black men are only valued in sports
Nah you ain't out here for the culture
You are not in this scene for the right reasons
You finna riot, without a purpose
You are about to riot without any clear reason or goal
You ain't a mothafuckin' rider, you a fuckin' token, posin'
You are not really a revolutionary, just playing a role
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OSINACHI NWANERI, JERMAINE COLE, OLUBOWALE AKINTIMEHIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind