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
Warming Up Cane
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is not Tha Drought 3
This is not a Kanye mixtape
This is not a 50 mixtape
This is something different
You know what I'm saying
If you love hiphop music and you love Wale
Then, prepare to have the eargasm of a lifetime
Let's do it
[Verse:]
Come get some, you little bum
I bake the cake but you can't get a crumb
I made the pop rock that guy on
Shanghai dutch with the high beam on
I've been fly, I'd could probably show
Pride of Columbia, I've got that y'all
Amidst? That kid cause I smoke Datpiff
Whips ain't shit but my kicks look sick
I don't wear jewels, too much conflict
Get loose, just like you when I do rhyming
And I'm at, I'm on their mind like a yamaka
Supreme for my team or Orlean all prided up
Got problems, what? I can't say
Can't wear grs, I'm pitching cocaine
I ain't even start yet, this is propane
Get the heat ready then I give them that flame
[Hook:]
There's crack, there's crack
There's crack, there's crack
There's crack, there's crack
There's crack nigga, there's crack
They warming up cane, they warming up cane
They warming up cane, they warming up cane
They warming up cane, they warming up cane
They warming up cane, they warming up cane
[Verse 2:]
Since cane been brought up, the cane been bought up
Cane been warmed up and sent to the corner
Every since then our whole city been horrible
The hard, fast dope has a whole lot of coroners
Whole lot of cobras with dope like soap bars
For the most part those blocks get Bogart
Hoes pop from the core to the whole block
Fed ain't dumb but they sittin' in the cold dark
I start to think it's all planned
It's all too black for me to blame it on the man
I just blame it on a man named Reagan
Face it: your face Caucasian, you literally naked
Physically straight but they cake they behavior
I ain't trying to bitch, but they say that I'm hating
Your wrists don't glist, get the pots out baby
You trying to get paid, then you better get to baking
[Hook:]
[Verse 3:]
It's odd that they say that the crack kill blacks
The crackerjacks say that the blacks kill blacks
The blacks kill blacks for the crack of respect
Or the crack that they sell to put food in their kids
Shoot my ping and if you gonna listen
The government officials is rude in the District
They do the shipment, we do the pitching
They do the score and we more like Pippen
They locking us up for the drugs that we doing
But I don't know no hood nigga that's a chemist
All we do is work white, sorta like a dentist
Cook that bag then buy a couple tennises
Supply it to the fiends that believe when it's in them that they better, but they never gonna be till they finished
Finished mean done, and done mean dead
Dc's here, this is where crack lives
[Hook:]
The lyrics of Wale's song "Warming Up Cane" are a critical reflection of the crack cocaine epidemic and its impact on African-American communities. The song's introductory lines make it clear that this is not a typical mixtape, and then the lyrics plunge into a critique of the crack cocaine trade, the social inequalities that it perpetuates, and the government's complicity in the crisis.
The first verse is a boastful declaration of Wale's lyrical prowess and his status as a Columbia, Maryland native. The second verse is where the song's social commentary takes center stage. Wale critiques the crack cocaine industry, the government's role in perpetuating its distribution, and its devastating effects on African-American communities. He points out how the crack cocaine epidemic has led to the deaths of countless young Black people in his city "our whole city been horrible/The hard, fast dope has a whole lot of coroners/Whole lot of cobras with dope like soap bars."
In the third verse, Wale takes aim at the pervasive myths surrounding crack cocaine and its impact on Black communities. He exposes the hypocrisy of the government's "War on Drugs" and the disproportionate impact it has had on communities of color. He points out how the system is designed to keep Blacks oppressed and unable to achieve success, and how the government benefits from this. He concludes by saying that this is the reality of many African-American neighborhoods, where crack cocaine is a ubiquitous presence.
Line by Line Meaning
This is not Tha Drought 3
This is not a specific album or mixtape, but rather something new.
This is not a Kanye mixtape
This is not a mixtape that belongs to or is created by Kanye West.
This is not a 50 mixtape
This is not a mixtape that belongs to or is created by 50 Cent.
This is something different
This is a unique and fresh project.
You know what I'm saying
Do you understand the concept that I am trying to convey?
If you love hiphop music and you love Wale
If you enjoy listening to hip-hop and are a fan of Wale's music.
Then, prepare to have the eargasm of a lifetime
Prepare to have a highly enjoyable and satisfying auditory experience.
Come get some, you little bum
Come and face me, you inferior person.
I bake the cake but you can't get a crumb
I am the one who creates and produces the product, but you are unable to obtain any success or recognition from it.
I made the pop rock that guy on
I created a pop sensation that many people are now listening to.
Shanghai dutch with the high beam on
I am smoking a particular type of cigar while driving a car with bright headlights.
I've been fly, I'd could probably show
I have been highly fashionable and stylish lately and could teach others how to do the same.
Pride of Columbia, I've got that y'all
I am proud to represent Columbia and do so in a highly effective manner.
Amidst? That kid cause I smoke Datpiff
I seem unusual to others because they are unaware that I smoke a particular type of marijuana called Datpiff.
Whips ain't shit but my kicks look sick
The cars I own are not important, but my shoes are highly impressive.
I don't wear jewels, too much conflict
I choose not to wear jewelry as it causes too much commotion and attention.
Get loose, just like you when I do rhyming
I become highly relaxed and in my element when I am rapping.
And I'm at, I'm on their mind like a yamaka
I am on people's minds as frequently and persistently as someone who wears a yamaka.
Supreme for my team or Orlean all prided up
I am highly supportive of and proud of my team or hometown of Orlean.
Got problems, what? I can't say
I have a set of challenging issues that I am currently experiencing but am unable to disclose them currently.
Can't wear grs, I'm pitching cocaine
I am unable to wear or purchase goods from a particular brand as I am currently selling cocaine.
I ain't even start yet, this is propane
I have not even begun to rap yet, but be prepared for something explosive.
Get the heat ready then I give them that flame
Prepare for some hot beats and rhymes once I am ready to deliver.
There's crack, there's crack
There are a lot of people using and dealing crack cocaine.
They warming up cane, they warming up cane
They are preparing and warming up batches of crack cocaine to sell.
Since cane been brought up, the cane been bought up
Since the topic of cocaine has come up, more and more cocaine has been sold and purchased.
Cane been warmed up and sent to the corner
The cocaine has been heated up and sent to various street corners for purchase.
Every since then our whole city been horrible
The entire city has been negatively affected by the influx of cocaine being sold and used.
The hard, fast dope has a whole lot of coroners
The potent and speedy cocaine has resulted in many deaths and therefore coroners being needed to investigate.
Whole lot of cobras with dope like soap bars
There are a lot of dangerous people selling cocaine and the cocaine itself is highly addictive and appealing like soap bars.
For the most part those blocks get Bogart
Those neighborhoods are mostly controlled by one or a few dominant drug dealers.
Hoes pop from the core to the whole block
Prostitutes are found throughout the entire area being discussed.
Fed ain't dumb but they sittin' in the cold dark
The law enforcement agencies are not clueless but they are having difficulty finding and stopping the drug dealing operation.
I start to think it's all planned
I am beginning to believe that this entire situation is meticulously orchestrated.
It's all too black for me to blame it on the man
It is too convenient to blame it on the government or other powers that be.
I just blame it on a man named Reagan
I specifically blame it on Ronald Reagan and his policies that have allowed for this type of situation to occur.
Face it: your face Caucasian, you literally naked
Admit it, you are Caucasian and are therefore privileged and unaware of the struggles and injustices being faced by others.
Physically straight but they cake they behavior
They may not be gay, but they still engage in behavior that is highly flamboyant and attention-seeking.
I ain't trying to bitch, but they say that I'm hating
I am not trying to complain or be negative, but some people accuse me of being hateful or critical.
Your wrists don't glist, get the pots out baby
You do not have expensive jewelry, so you should instead focus on making money through drug dealing.
You trying to get paid, then you better get to baking
If you want to make a lot of money, you should focus on creating and selling more cocaine.
It's odd that they say that the crack kill blacks
It is strange that people blame crack cocaine for killing black people.
The crackerjacks say that the blacks kill blacks
White people often claim that black people are responsible for their own struggles and problems.
The blacks kill blacks for the crack of respect
Black people engage in violence and aggression towards each other in order to gain respect or power.
Or the crack that they sell to put food in their kids
They are selling crack cocaine to make money to provide food for their children.
Shoot my ping and if you gonna listen
Pay attention to what I am about to say, it is important.
The government officials is rude in the District
The government officials in Washington D.C. are behaving disrespectfully towards the citizens.
They do the shipment, we do the pitching
The government officials are the ones responsible for importing drugs into the city, while the citizens sell and distribute them.
They do the score and we more like Pippen
The government officials are the ones who ultimately benefit financially from the drug dealing operation, while the citizens are more like sidekicks such as Scottie Pippen.
They locking us up for the drugs that we doing
The law enforcement agencies are arresting us for selling drugs.
But I don't know no hood nigga that's a chemist
I do not know anyone from the streets who has a deep understanding of chemistry.
All we do is work white, sorta like a dentist
All we know how to do is deal cocaine, similar to how a dentist is an expert in their line of work.
Cook that bag then buy a couple tennises
Prepare and sell the cocaine, then use the profits to purchase a few expensive tennis shoes.
Supply it to the fiends that believe when it's in them that they better, but they never gonna be till they finished
Provide the cocaine to the addicts who believe that it will make them feel better, but they will never be truly satisfied or whole until they overcome their addiction.
Finished mean done, and done mean dead
When we say that something is finished, we mean it is over and done with. When something is truly dead, it is finished and gone forever.
Dc's here, this is where crack lives
Washington D.C. is where the cocaine epidemic is most prevalent and harmful.
Contributed by Amelia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RLB
DAM HE KILLED THIS
basedjj93
Still 🔥🔥🔥 2018
Ajax KMA
New favourite song, thanks wale!
lari861
gros respect
basedjj93
2022 still 🔥🔥🔥
Johnny Blaze
DC CHILLEN WALE KILLIN THIS
HipHopHead187
ill track,like da way Wale used da beat & applied a whole other concept 2 it usin Big daddy Kane's style.
SKTheKid
Your guess is as good as mine. He used to really go off on tracks.
sidi jammeh
nice like the kane beat
Jarred Williams
that scooby doo beat.... tight tho!