Wale folarin biography

Who is Wale? A Brief Career Overview

The self-proclaimed "Ambassador of Rap for the Capital," Wale (pronounced "wah-lay") is an electrifying rapper whose blend of pop rap, R&B, southern hip hop, and trap has captivated music lovers worldwide. Since bursting onto the scene in 2006, Wale has transformed from a local sensation in Washington D.C. into a significant figure in modern hip-hop. With acclaimed albums like The Gifted (2013) and The Album About Nothing (2015), he skillfully combines clever wordplay with infectious melodies, reflecting the rich tapestry of urban soundscapes. Wale's innovative approach has featured go-go elements--an offshoot of disco native to D.C.--that adds a unique layer to his music. His passion for vinyl culture is evident through numerous landmark releases, appealing to collectors who treasure both the artistry of his music and the tactile experience of spinning his records on a turntable.

Wale's Early Life and Background

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born on September 21, 1984, in the vibrant heart of Washington D.C., to Nigerian immigrant parents. His early years in the Brightwood neighborhood were rich with cultural influences that shaped his worldview and affinity for music. After moving to nearby Montgomery County, Maryland, he became engrossed in the artistic environment that surrounded him. Growing up, Wale was frequently exposed to various musical genres, with the rhythmic beats of go-go music resonating throughout his youth. Even as a star athlete, earning scholarships in football at multiple universities, Wale's heart was always tied to music. Early experiences with rap and hip-hop culture would ultimately steer him towards a lifelong love for vinyl records, a passion that has only grown with time.

The Musical Influences That Shaped Wale's Sound

Wale's artistic style is a product of diverse musical influences. Artists such as Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and J. Cole have left a

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Folarin (born September 21, 1984 in Washington, D.C.), better known by his stage name Wale, is an American rapper and producer. Fusing DC's homegrown go-go genre with a streetwise Northern hip-hop sensibility, he takes samples from all genres and blends them together with lyrical dexterity. In 2005 he released his debut mixtape, Paint a Picture, and has since released four more. His debut album, released by Interscope, Attention Deficit, was released November 10, 2009. He has since then released three more albums, with Rick Ross's MMG label, Ambition (2011), The Gifted (2013), and The Album About Nothing (2015), based on his 2008 mixtape, The Mixtape About Nothing.

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 "

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin (born September 21, 1984), better known by his stage name Wale (WAH-lay), is an American rapper. He first became known for his 2006 song "Dig Dug (Shake It)", which became popular in his hometown of Washington, D.C. and led Wale to gain further local recognition as he amassed a number of follow-up releases. He signed a recording contract with English DJ-producer Mark Ronson's Allido Records in 2007, which, after a three-label bidding war, entered a joint venture with Interscope Records for US.3 million the following year. During this time, Wale's mixtapes and singles saw national attention as he appeared on MTV and various Black America-focused magazines.

Wale's debut studio album, Attention Deficit (2008) was under-shipped and thus underperformed commercially, but saw positive critical reception and spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 entry with its lead single, "Chillin" (featuring Lady Gaga). He continued gaining mainstream recognition with his guest appearance alongside Roscoe Dash on Waka Flocka Flame's 2010 single "No Hands", which peaked at number 13 on the chart and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He then signed with Florida-based rapper Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group, an imprint of Warner Records the following year to release his second album, Ambition (2011). Supported by the Grammy Award-nominated top 40 single "Lotus Flower Bomb" (featuring Miguel), the album saw further critical and commercial success, and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. His third and fourth albums, The Gifted (2013) and

Wale Victor Folarin (born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin; September 21, 1984 in Washington D.C.) is an Americanrapper better known by his stage name Wale.

In 2010, Wale was nominated for Best New Artist from both the Soul Train Awards and BET Awards. He did not win.

Discography

Studio albums

Wale has released 7 studio albums:

Mixtapes

Wale has released 8 mixtapes:

Singles

Wale has had 5 singles:

References

Other websites