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 Vacation From Ourselves
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With no return ticket
This how here different
That's why I'm so annoyed
That's why I here whispers
Call me a product of my own damn hood
Since nautical was popular than popular for good
Reason I stuck with the sound
I grew up on circuit boys and go-go music
A couple others but I feel they less important to me
The point is they pointed
Me in the direction of my home grown noises
Of a artist I loved yet avoided
Imitated out-of-toners wasn't going well
And I ain't going well
Them fast songs was cool but I never wrote to 'em
Only concern was the home that was close to him
I style, I slang and I own music
If I could hone my tone I could blow too
So I phone Tony Craig and I said we gonna do it
(Hey damn was that alright? Damn smack everythin sound good, we gonna keep it... Next)
A lot of rappers sound like a lot of rappers
Sound wise... oh they started puttin' out now
They puttin out the same blueprint
So pun... it's no new shit and it ain't no fun
It's no fundamentals it's one dimensional
One can mention ones self and it'd be too pretentious
And to pretend as if 2Pac is not these dudes intentions
Pay attention if you should listen to his shit and they shit it's too convincing
As well as Chris-to-pher we miss her
But every march night another twenty is with us
Clones... imitators known
For imitatin the off switch like I'm on top of my own
And they copy what's on
And copy what's hot until that goes cold
The one that breaks more is that last to get on
But usually will last cause the last stick is on
And firm his beliefs... his heart made of stone
Opposers try to knock but harder he will go
Never can he mimic... maybe can admire
Never will he imitate another rap nigger
I am Wale and never can I vacate
Never can I straight face
Look at Wale and say you nothing but a biter
Not the end lighter or liason to the niggers that's grindin
Niggers that's reading
Niggers that's runnin
Niggers that scheming
Niggers who ain't seen beef
To niggers in the knee deep who you think keep peace... me
And I'm free free free.
(Wale Folarin mixtape about nothing, but really I am saying something, y'all all bluffin... keep coming)
Even if I ever leave now
If I ever bleed DMV you hear it when I speak
You can hear it in my lyrics
And even when you old and your hearing is incoherent
You can feel it via spirit
Via my inheritance speakin as I did it
Via niggers rep spreading speeches through the city
The outskirts distribute my vision contributing to the burns I position
The thugs say I'm cool
The cool say I'm thug
The mercs screaming at me saying I'm Emmi Loater's son?
I am not the only one
In the city where the Burns magazines say I'm in
I don't really give a fuck
I don't want it on my back
And they label me King... you can come and take it back
I don't want no fucking crown
I don't need no fucking currency
The Kings get killed very least overthrown
I'm a thorough ass nigger I don't need a nigger to hold me
Even if I roll I'm a forever going to be home
See there no place better than the state of my mind
There's no time wasted and no vacations... Bitch.
In the song "The Vacation From Ourselves," Wale is criticizing the current state of hip-hop and the lack of originality in the lyrics and sound. He references how many popular rappers sound the same and follow the same blueprint, pointing out that they are one-dimensional and lack fundamentals. Wale also acknowledges the influence of his hometown, Washington D.C., on his own unique sound and style, specifically referencing the go-go music that he grew up listening to. He expresses his dedication to his craft and his refusal to copy anyone else, even if it means staying true to his own sound and not achieving as much mainstream success.
Through his lyrics, Wale encourages listeners to pay attention to the content of the music they are consuming and to appreciate artists who remain true to themselves and their original sound. He also emphasizes the importance of staying grounded and connected to one's roots, regardless of success or fame, stating that there is no place better than the state of his own mind.
Overall, "The Vacation From Ourselves" is a powerful reflection on the state of the hip-hop industry and the importance of originality and authenticity in music.
Line by Line Meaning
Bammers is trippin... vacationin you see they way off they mind
People are acting crazy and taking a break from reality.
With no return ticket
They're gone without a plan to come back.
That's why I here whispers
People are talking behind my back.
Call me a product of my own damn hood
People are labeling me based on where I'm from.
Since nautical was popular than popular for good
I've been around and seen things change.
Reason I stuck with the sound
I chose to stay true to my roots.
I ain't playing like the rest who got free from it
I'm not trying to follow what's hot and abandon my style.
I grew up on circuit boys and go-go music
I was influenced by local music growing up.
A couple others but I feel they less important to me
While I was influenced by other music, it didn't have a major effect on me.
The point is they pointed
The music pointed me in the direction of my home grown noises.
Of a artist I loved yet avoided
I liked the artist, but didn't want to imitate them.
Imitated out-of-toners wasn't going well
Imitating other artists wasn't working for me.
Them fast songs was cool but I never wrote to 'em
I didn't want to follow the trend of fast-paced songs.
Only concern was the home that was close to him
My focus was on representing my hometown.
I style, I slang and I own music
I have my own unique style and way of expressing myself musically.
If I could hone my tone I could blow too
If I could improve my skills, I could be successful.
So I phone Tony Craig and I said we gonna do it
I decided to work with a producer to create my own sound.
A lot of rappers sound like a lot of rappers
Many artists are copying each other's styles.
Sound wise... oh they started puttin' out now
They're copying what's popular now.
They puttin out the same blueprint
They're following the same formula.
It's no new shit and it ain't no fun
There's no originality or creativity.
It's no fundamentals it's one dimensional
The music lacks depth and variety.
One can mention ones self and it'd be too pretentious
Artists are too focused on themselves and it comes across as arrogant.
And to pretend as if 2Pac is not these dudes intentions
Many artists try to emulate Tupac's style.
Pay attention if you should listen to his shit and they shit it's too convincing
Their imitations of Tupac are too convincing.
As well as Chris-to-pher we miss her
The industry has lost talented individuals like Christopher Wallace.
But every march night another twenty is with us
Their legacies continue to live on.
Clones... imitators known
Copycats are well-known in the industry.
For imitatin the off switch like I'm on top of my own
They're copying even the smallest details of my style.
And they copy what's on
They copy what's popular.
And copy what's hot until that goes cold
They'll keep copying until the trend dies out.
The one that breaks more is that last to get on
Those who don't conform to the norm are often overlooked.
But usually will last cause the last stick is on
Those who stick to their guns often have longevity.
But harder he will go
They'll keep pushing themselves harder.
Opposers try to knock but harder he will go
Critics will try to bring them down, but they'll keep pushing forward.
Never can he mimic... maybe can admire
They won't copy others, but can appreciate their talent.
Never will he imitate another rap nigger
They won't copy other rappers.
I am Wale and never can I vacate
I won't leave behind who I am and where I'm from.
Never can I straight face
I will always be true to myself.
Look at Wale and say you nothing but a biter
No one can accuse me of being unoriginal.
Not the end lighter or liason to the niggers that's grindin
I'm not here to use my success to exploit those who are still struggling.
Niggers that's reading
I want to empower those who are seeking knowledge.
Niggers that's runnin
I want to inspire those who are chasing their dreams.
Niggers that scheming
I want to help those who are trying to come up with a plan for their future.
Niggers who ain't seen beef
I want to be a voice for those who haven't faced adversity.
To niggers in the knee deep who you think keep peace... me
I want to be a role model for those who are struggling to make positive change in their communities.
And I'm free free free.
I won't let anyone hold me back.
Even if I ever leave now
Even if I become famous and leave my hometown.
If I ever bleed DMV you hear it when I speak
I will always represent where I come from.
And even when you old and your hearing is incoherent
Even when I'm old, my music will still resonate with people.
You can feel it via spirit
My music has a spiritual quality that transcends age and time.
Via my inheritance speakin as I did it
My legacy will live on through my music.
Via niggers rep spreading speeches through the city
Others in my community will spread my message.
The outskirts distribute my vision contributing to the burns I position
My message will spread beyond my community.
The thugs say I'm cool
Even those who may not typically like my music see the value in what I'm doing.
The cool say I'm thug
Even those who may not typically like my music see the value in what I'm doing.
The mercs screaming at me saying I'm Emmi Loater's son?
Even those who may not typically like my music see the value in what I'm doing.
I am not the only one
There are others who share my vision and values.
In the city where the Burns magazines say I'm in
In my hometown where my message is making an impact.
I don't really give a fuck
I don't care what others say or think about me.
I don't want it on my back
I don't want the pressure of others' expectations on me.
And they label me King... you can come and take it back
Others see me as a leader, but I won't let it get to my head.
I don't want no fucking crown
I don't want to be put on a pedestal.
I don't need no fucking currency
I don't need money or fame to validate my worth.
The Kings get killed very least overthrown
Those who are seen as powerful are often brought down by others' jealousy or resentment.
I'm a thorough ass nigger I don't need a nigger to hold me
I'm strong enough to stand on my own and don't need others' validation or support.
Even if I roll I'm a forever going to be home
Even if I become successful and leave my hometown, it will always be a part of me.
See there no place better than the state of my mind
My thoughts and ideas are the most important thing to me.
There's no time wasted and no vacations... Bitch.
I'm always focused and working towards my goals.
Contributed by Joshua L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robert Williams
Wale was really rapping different back then it was art
Jesse Favitsou-Boulandi
Man Wale was really everything to Maryland in these days
Spaceman
@Onthemove_ts that nigga sold out so flagrantly its disgusting
DoubleRKillin
He fell off when he signed to MMG, he became just another rapper
Onthemove_ts
Sir Cartier real question where in his rapping discography did he fall for yall? I liked everything so I really wanna know where he lost the fan base
Sir Cartier
Jesse Favitsou-Boulandi he fell off so hard
gman 2015
JLD beasted! Elaine is nothin to mess with.
Your Name
This song is so perfect
Kevin R
This song and album cover is 💯 percent why I’m into jordan 4 breds OD
SOMA
Still relevant in 2020 ⏰