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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Triumph
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't tryin to be politically correct
But I won't rest 'til I'm givin' my respect
And my vision isn't set on the money I get
But more less the vets, I'm comin' for y'all neck
I ain't ?, just feelin' how you felt when you came more or less
The change is imminent
I asked Mr. West for a little bit of help
So I dreamed of presentin' myself
And the only thing I fear is I being shelved
The cocky, lobbyist for nobody
Book so many bitches should of been a Cum Laude
Fuck the camaraderie with B rate artists
I'm ballin', you niggas is Arliss, so watch this
Always knew where the pot was
With no receivers had the pickin' of a option
Tommie Frazier on the motherfuckin' one or two's
Or Michael Vick if y'all bark nigga, y'all through
Yeah, 25, 25, 25, can I get 30?
My side Jones is fat and my freak Jones is purdy
Why? 'Cause I Mac like (Bernie)
And she swallow everything like (Kirby)
Not Puckett but I hit it then I duck a bitch
And older women put a nigga on their Bucket List
Me against you, the movie of the year
'Cause you (Slumdog) and I'm the (Millionaire)
Their buzz internet and mines internat-
Ional, wearin' that, Chanel fitted cap
I know they suck, I'm just showin you where my city at
Where fiends always on that water like a lily pad
But since Mark put a nigga on that Lily track
I had the British hoes talkin 'bout bring him back
But that's a shitty accent, you should've figured that
'Cause I've been drinkin' to the point that I'm a Dizzie Ra-
Scal, fix up, look sharp Joe
'Cause I'm a look that part until I'm all broke, yeah
In Wale’s song Triumph, he opens up with a declaration that he doesn't care about political correctness but earnestly thirsts for recognition and respect. He goes on to emphasize that he is not just focused on making more money, but rather he sees himself as representing the younger generation of musicians and it's essential for him to prove himself to the veterans in the industry for him to be acknowledged. Wale then acknowledges that he reached out to Kanye West for assistance and realized that he needed to make his own way, so he set out to establish himself. He’s not afraid of being rejected or appearing arrogant in his pursuit of making it in the industry.
Wale drops a lot of references to popular culture, his hometown, and even some sports in Triumph. He brags about his "fat side Jones" and "purdy freak Jones," comparing himself to Bernie Mac and his favorite video games' character Kirby. Wale uses Michael Vick and Tommie Frazier, two legendary college football quarterbacks, to symbolize the level of success he aspires to in his career. Wale also references the movie Slumdog Millionaire, where the singer makes it big despite coming from a challenging background, to contrast himself with other struggling artists. In conclusion, Wale appreciates his hometown, his love for music, and his determination to succeed, all fuse in this song.
Line by Line Meaning
Ladies and gentlemen
The singer is addressing the audience respectfully.
I ain't tryin to be politically correct
The singer wants to speak his mind candidly without concern for political correctness.
But I won't rest 'til I'm givin' my respect
The singer will keep striving until he receives the recognition and respect he feels he deserves.
And my vision isn't set on the money I get
The artist is not motivated solely by financial gain but by a greater objective.
But more less the vets, I'm comin' for y'all neck
The artist is inspired by veterans to surpass their quality of work and become successful in the industry.
I ain't ?, just feelin' how you felt when you came more or less
The singer is trying to put himself in the shoes of the veterans who came before him and understand their struggles.
The change is imminent
The singer foresees and hopes for changes in the industry and his role in it.
I asked Mr. West for a little bit of help
The artist sought mentorship or guidance from Kanye West, a veteran in the industry.
Realized us new niggas got to get it ourself
The artist acknowledges that newcomers like himself must work hard to achieve their goals, and not rely on others to pave the way for them.
So I dreamed of presentin' myself
The artist dreams of presenting himself in the industry with his unique style and vision.
And the only thing I fear is I being shelved
The singer is afraid of being overlooked, dismissed, or ignored by the music industry.
The cocky, lobbyist for nobody
The artist has self-confidence in his skills but does not represent or show loyalty to any particular group.
Book so many bitches should of been a Cum Laude
The singer has had many women and implies he should have gotten a degree for it.
Fuck the camaraderie with B rate artists
The singer is not interested in forming friendships with subpar artists in the industry.
I'm ballin', you niggas is Arliss, so watch this
The singer is very successful and superior to his competition, and it's time for them to watch his ascent.
Always knew where the pot was
The artist is confident in his ability to find success and money in the industry.
With no receivers had the pickin' of a option
The artist has many choices and no limits in his pursuit of success.
Tommie Frazier on the motherfuckin' one or two's
The singer references former college football quarterback Tommie Frazier, comparing his skills to being a disc jockey on a turntable.
Or Michael Vick if y'all bark nigga, y'all through
The singer uses a football analogy again, comparing himself to Michael Vick, who was known for running quickly and successfully. If others try to catch up, they'll fail.
Yeah, 25, 25, 25, can I get 30?
The artist is asking for a higher level of success.
My side Jones is fat and my freak Jones is purdy
The artist is surrounded by attractive women.
Why? 'Cause I Mac like (Bernie)
The artist is skilled in attracting women, and compares himself to a Mac (player) like Bernie Mac, a comedian.
And she swallow everything like (Kirby)
The singer is implying that his sexual partners are willing to do whatever he wants.
Not Puckett but I hit it then I duck a bitch
The artist has sexual experiences with women and then moves on afterward.
And older women put a nigga on their Bucket List
The singer has been with older women and they consider their encounter with him noteworthy or a bucket list item.
'Cause you (Slumdog) and I'm the (Millionaire)
The singer is comparing himself to the singer of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, suggesting that he is on a path to success while others are struggling.
Their buzz internet and mines internat-
The singer acknowledges that others have gained fame and success through the internet, and he hopes to gain his success internationally.
Ional, wearin' that, Chanel fitted cap
The artist is representing his city while showing that he has a taste for luxury.
I know they suck, I'm just showin you where my city at
The artist implies that other artists in his city are not as talented as he is, and he aims to put his city on the map by highlighting its music scene.
Where fiends always on that water like a lily pad
The singer's city is a place where drug addicts constantly seek drugs or ‘water’ like a lily pad, which is a metaphor for their addictions.
But since Mark put a nigga on that Lily track
The singer references producer Mark Ronson's song 'Lily Allen', which gave him a boost in his profile.
I had the British hoes talkin 'bout bring him back
The artist gained popularity with British women who wanted him to return or visit again.
'Cause I've been drinkin' to the point that I'm a Dizzie Ra-
The artist has been drinking to the point of intoxication like British rapper Dizzee Rascal.
Scal, fix up, look sharp Joe
The artist quotes Dizzee Rascal and tells himself to get it together and look sharp.
'Cause I'm a look that part until I'm all broke, yeah
The singer will never stop putting himself together with looks and confidence, even if he loses money or success.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE SITEK, DAVID ANDREW SITEK, OLUBOWALE VICTOR AKINTIMEHIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind