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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sunshine
Wale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunshine, I can’t tell a lie
No need to say it but they just wanna hear it now
No need to say it but they just wanna hear it now
(I can't lie I feel quite phenomenal today baby)
(That new black soul)
I was in the business when you was chasin' the bitches
Couple bad decisions I got some character issues
Although I'm never slippin' like student parent permission
Yes I am aware that America tryna get me
So I let my friends carry paraphernalia
Before I love a industry girl I'll marry civilian
Picture a young, rich former taking me serious
Although I hit my stride, ain't even in prime (nah)
Singles in the chart make a broad lose top these days
You ain't gotta do nothin' to pop these days
Instagram is runnin' they thoughts these days
62 joint, got me Doug-in on em
Humbled that my ass dropped now I'm stuntin on em
You better know that you overdo for some better endings
That's who whoever develop second guessing they blessing
The spotlight on my face
Sunshine, I can’t tell a lie
No need to say it but they just wanna hear it now
No need to say it but they just wanna hear it now
The spotlight on my face
Sunshine, I can’t tell a lie
No need to say it but they just wanna hear it now
No need to say it but they just wanna hear it now
I don’t like to boast but man you touchin' the floor
Fair pussy, put everything in this cone
My only feelin' mere, she scared of being alone
She settle for this bitch, she starin' she be a trophy
I’mma probably marry somebody ready familiar
VH1 team all I’m thinkin' about is this
Can do without the pennies, another bro record up in the business
Had that locked since I lost my scholarship
Bout me getting it to my old coach I’m ballin'
Rose glow with 40
Shall we record it mane? Grab the 40
To me the thought of money would change it and got worse
But it’s a lot better than the screaming who got worse
I’m holding it from back to packin' it on that 30
I never sold crack when crack rappin was workin'
With that fat just backpackin' and murkin
Get in that, probably he know why you’re Mr. Perfect
Spotlight on my face
Sunshine, I can’t tell a lie
What makes you say that they just wanna hear now?
What makes you say that they just wanna hear now?
Spotlight on my face
Sunshine, I can’t tell a lie
What makes you say that they just wanna hear now?
What makes you say that they just wanna hear now?
Let me tell you about the girl
Let me tell you about the girl
Let me tell you about the girl
This dedicated to my nephew Tony
Rest in peace bro
Love
Shine on us Kuzo
We ain’t pposed to never
We ain’t pposed to never
We ain’t pposed to never
We ain’t pposed to never
We ain’t pposed to never have
We ain’t pposed to never
We ain’t pposed to never
We ain’t pposed to never
In “Sunshine“, Wale talks about his journey to success and the struggles he faced while trying to make it to the top. The song begins with the spotlight on his face, and he emphasizes that he feels phenomenal today. He acknowledges his past mistakes and character issues but reassures his fans that he is never slipping. He mentions that despite his success, he is still not at his prime and is striving to make better decisions for his career. He also notes that the industry has its challenges, including the pressure to conform to its standards, and acknowledges that America is trying to get him. Wale also addresses the impact of social media on the music industry and how easy it has become for artists to become famous without putting in much effort.
In the chorus, he talks about how people only want to hear positive things and are not interested in the truth. He implies that people are only interested in hearing good news about their favorite celebrities and are not interested in their struggles or failures.
The last verse of the song is dedicated to Wale's nephew, Tony, who passed away. He also talks about his inner demons and the difficulties he faces while dealing with his success. Overall, "Sunshine" is a reflective track where Wale shows his vulnerability and explores the darker side of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
The spotlight on my face
The attention and focus is on me.
Sunshine, I can’t tell a lie
Feeling good and honest.
No need to say it but they just wanna hear it now
People are eager to listen and hear what I have to say.
(I can't lie I feel quite phenomenal today baby)
I'm feeling amazing and unstoppable.
(That new black soul)
My music represents a new sound and vibe.
I was in the business when you was chasin' the bitches
I've been in this music business for a while, while others were focused on women.
Now I got the dollars I'm tryin' get my position
My hard work has paid off financially, now I'm working on gaining more power and influence.
Couple bad decisions I got some character issues
I've made some mistakes in the past, and my personality may not be perfect.
Although I'm never slippin' like student parent permission
I'm always on top of my game and don't make careless mistakes.
Yes I am aware that America tryna get me
I know that the industry can be cutthroat and is always looking for the next big thing.
So I let my friends carry paraphernalia
I'm cautious and don't take any risks - I let my friends handle any illegal activities.
Before I love a industry girl I'll marry civilian
I won't date someone just because they're famous, I want a genuine connection with someone normal.
Picture a young, rich former taking me serious
It can be difficult for people to take me seriously because of my youth and wealth.
Although I hit my stride, ain't even in prime (nah)
I'm doing well now, but I know I still have a lot of potential left to fulfill.
Singles in the chart make a broad lose top these days
One hit song can make any artist skyrocket on the charts.
You ain't gotta do nothin' to pop these days
It's easy to become famous in today's social media-driven world.
Instagram is runnin' they thoughts these days
Social media platforms like Instagram have a strong influence on people's opinions and choices.
62 joint, got me Doug-in on em
I have a brand new luxury car.
Humbled that my ass dropped now I'm stuntin on em
I've experienced setbacks, but I'm still succeeding and showing off my success.
You better know that you overdo for some better endings
If you keep pushing yourself, good things will come your way eventually.
That's who whoever develop second guessing they blessing
Don't doubt yourself or your abilities.
I don’t like to boast but man you touchin' the floor
I'm doing so well that anyone who's not at my level would feel inferior.
Fair pussy, put everything in this cone
I'm successful in relationships and can attract any woman I want.
My only feelin' mere, she scared of being alone
The girl I really care about is afraid of being single.
She settle for this bitch, she starin' she be a trophy
She's dating someone she doesn't really like just to avoid being alone and looking good in front of others.
I’mma probably marry somebody ready familiar
I'll most likely end up with someone I already know and have a connection with.
VH1 team all I’m thinkin' about is this
I'm solely focused on my music career and making it big.
Can do without the pennies, another bro record up in the business
Money isn't my main priority, my focus is on making good music and being successful in the industry.
Had that locked since I lost my scholarship
I've had my sights set on the music industry since I lost my college scholarship.
Bout me getting it to my old coach I’m ballin'
I'm finally achieving success and showing off to those who didn't believe in me before.
Rose glow with 40
The color of my drink is rose, and I'm feeling good with my crew.
Shall we record it mane? Grab the 40
Let's make a song together, and grab some drinks to celebrate.
To me the thought of money would change it and got worse
I used to think becoming rich would change me for the worse, but now I see that it's not always true.
But it’s a lot better than the screaming who got worse
I'd rather be successful and confident in myself, than dealing with anxiety and self-doubt.
I’m holding it from back to packin' it on that 30
I'm holding back my emotions and feelings.
I never sold crack when crack rappin was workin'
I've always stayed true to myself and my style, even when it wasn't popular in the industry.
With that fat just backpackin' and murkin
I was carrying around a lot of weight and stress, but still making great music.
Get in that, probably he know why you’re Mr. Perfect
People might assume that I have it all together and am perfect, but they don't know everything about me.
This dedicated to my nephew Tony
I'm dedicating this song to my nephew Tony.
Rest in peace bro
Tony has passed away.
Love
I'm sending love to my nephew and those affected by his loss.
Shine on us Kuzo
I hope my nephew continues to watch over and bless us.
We ain’t pposed to never
We're supposed to always strive for success and happiness.
We ain’t pposed to never
We're supposed to always work towards our goals and dreams.
We ain’t pposed to never
We're not supposed to settle for less than we deserve.
We ain’t pposed to never
We're not supposed to give up on our passions and aspirations.
We ain’t pposed to never have
We're not supposed to lack success or fulfillment in our lives.
We ain’t pposed to never
We're not meant to experience failure and disappointment for long periods of time.
We ain’t pposed to never
We're not supposed to be content with mediocrity or unhappiness.
We ain’t pposed to never
We're not meant to give up on our dreams and aspirations.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDRE PROCTOR, BRIAN SOKO, RASOOL DIAZ, NOEL FISHER, TRAMAR DILLARD, FRED DURST, BRYAN WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind