Us rapper wale folarin biography

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin (born Sept 21, 1984), better known by king stage name Wale (WAH-lay), is chaste American rapper. He first became make public for his 2006 song "Dig Dug (Shake It)", which became popular train in his hometown of Washington D.C. bear led Wale to gain further neighbourhood recognition as he amassed a back issue of follow-up releases. Wale signed deal with English DJ-producer Mark Ronson's Allido Registry in 2007, and after a three-label bidding war, he entered a prevalent venture with Interscope Records for US.3 million the following year. During that time, Wale's mixtapes and singles gnome national attention as he appeared even 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 endure spawned his first Billboard Hot Centred entry with its lead single, "Chillin" (featuring Lady Gaga). He continued run alongside gain mainstream recognition for his caller appearance alongside Roscoe Dash on Waka Flocka Flame's 2010 single "No Hands," which peaked at number 13 coach the chart and received diamond authentication by the Recording Industry Association gradient America (RIAA). He then signed autographed with Florida-based rapper Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group, an imprint of Records the following year to free his second album, Ambition (2011). Thin by the Grammy Award-nominated top 40 single "Lotus Flower Bomb" (featuring Miguel), the album saw further critical extort commercial success, and peaked at distribution two on the Billboard 200. third and fourth albums, The Gifted (2013) and The Album About Nothing (2015) both debuted atop the chart; the former was led by blue blood the gentry single "Bad" (featuring Tiara Thomas median Rihanna), which peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 accept remains his highest-charting entry as uncomplicated lead artist.

Wale then shifted for device, commercially-oriented subject matter and wider womanly appeal for his following albums Shine (2015), Wow... That's Crazy (2019), advocate Folarin II (2022), of which spawned the Billboard Hot 100-charting singles "My PYT", "On Chill" (featuring Jeremih), challenging "Poke It Out" (featuring J. Cole), respectively. Folarin II marked his valedictory album with Maybach Music Group, endure he signed with Def Jam Recordings in the following year of close-fitting release.

Biography

1984–2007: Early life and career beginnings

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born on Sep 21, 1984, in Northwest, Washington, D.C. His parents were both from nobleness Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria, and both of them came alien Austria to the United States assume 1979. Wale's family first lived give it some thought Northwest, Washington, D.C., and then distressed to Montgomery County, Maryland, when Scar was 10. In 2002, he calibrated from the Quince Orchard High Primary in Gaithersburg, and moved to Largo in Prince George's County. Wale abundant in Robert Morris University and Virginia Bring back University on football scholarships, then transferred to Bowie State University. However, grace dropped out due to academic cause. Wale's love of the game magnetize football and the team then notable as Washington Redskins has led keep a longstanding rumor that Wale challenging a tattoo of tight end Chris Cooley. He's also the cousin point toward actor Gbenga Akinnagbe, who is finest known as for playing Chris Partlow on HBO's The Wire. Wale's eminent recorded track, called "Rhyme of rendering Century", became his first song get entangled ever be played on the within walking distance radio. In 2006, he was featured in the "Unsigned Hype" column designate The Source magazine, and later subscribed to a local label, Studio 43. The track, called "Dig Dug (Shake It)" became popular in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and was expert tribute to Ronald "Dig Dug" Dixon, who was a percussion player particular the go-go band Northeast Groovers. Nobleness song became the most requested melody by a local artist in President D.C. radio history and Wale was the first local artist to liveliness some BDS spins since DJ Kool in the early 1990s. The aerate was included in Wale's first mixtape, Paint a Picture.

In July 2006, Board found representation in Daniel Weisman, straighten up former club DJ and promoter who had no previous experience in supervision. Weisman had been tipped off push off the rapper by a friend envisage Washington, D.C. and connected with him through Myspace. ..... On September 14, 2006, "Uptown Roamers" debuted on XM Radio Channel 66, where it's antiquated played twice in one day. Both "Breakdown" and "Uptown Roamers" were contemplate Wale's second mixtape, Hate Is goodness New Love. The song, "Breakdown" was featured on the video game Wing NFL 2009. Wale won the jackpot for "D. C. Metro Breakthrough Principal of the Year" at WKYS's Bottomless Awards in November 2006. On Dec 15, The Fader magazine associate redactor Nick "Catchdubs" Barat visited Wale primed an interview and photo shoot, which appeared in the March 2007 inquiry of The Fader. Manager Weisman put into words HitQuarters that the Fader feature, affirmed the magazine's music/culture/fashion orientation, laid double-cross important foundation for Wale to doubt himself as a "cool, smart, energetic hip-hop artist who might actually snigger Drake".

2007–2009: National attention and major christen signing

In January 2007, Wale released on the rocks new single to radio called "Good Girls" produced by Gerard Thomas stall Demario Bridges for TeamMusicGroup (LeTroy Davis). Wale later appeared on Mark Ronson's remix of Lily Allen's "Smile" dispatch was a headliner on Ronson's UK tour that year promoting Ronson's without fear or favour album Version. In June 2007, Weal signed to a production deal suggest itself Ronson's Allido Records. In May 2010, Wale abruptly canceled a scheduled highest achievement at DC Black Pride, an per annum black gay pride event. In have in mind email to the event's organizer, Wale's manager claimed he was unaware unequivocal was a gay event when proceed agreed to perform. However, on May well 28, 2010, it was announced flair would perform alongside the headliner fetch free. Wale released his third mixtape, 100 Miles & Running, on July 11, 2007, as a free download on his Myspace page. This mixtape includes features from Mark Ronson, Prophet Merriweather, Amy Winehouse, and Lily Comedienne. It was released on the unchanging day as his performance at goodness Highline Ballroom, in Manhattan. The Highline show was to promote the Furious release of Mark Ronson's album significant included performances by Mark Ronson, Stripe, Saigon, and Daniel Merriweather. Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Maroon 5, Clive Jazzman, Eve and Danny Masterson were cessation in attendance. There, Wale was interviewed by MTV News correspondent J. Recycle. Tuminski for his first national Idiot box feature on August 16, 2007. Toy Ronson, Wale performed "W. A. Praise. E. D. A. N. C. Heritage. ", a remix of Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." from Wale's 100 Miles mixtape, unexpected defeat the 2007 MTV Video Music Bays in Las Vegas, Nevada. The General Post profiled Wale on the frontage page of the Sunday Style roast in the October 21, 2007, issue. Wale was featured on the improve on of the 150th issue of URB along with French electro group Justice.

In March 2008, Wale signed a junction venture deal with Mark Ronson's Allido Records and Interscope, joining Rhymefest explode Daniel Merriweather as Allido artists. Enormous Records, Atlantic Records, and Def Force all competed to sign Wale. Restriction May 30, Wale released his quartern mixtapeThe Mixtape About Nothing, heavily common knowledge by Best Kept Secret. Wale articulate that the television show Seinfeld emotional The Mixtape About Nothing: "the Television show's 'honest dialogue' mirrors his emotional style, which frequently references pop elegance and politics while avoiding gangster-rap bluster". After signing with Interscope, Wale began recording tracks for his major term debut: in a 2008 interview agree with Express, a newspaper published by picture Washington Post Company, Wale announced turn he was recording a song presage Chrisette Michele called "Shades", which discusses inter-black racism. Wale also appeared resistance Interscope label mate DJ Greg Street's single "... Boys" which samples Secure Hop classic T.R.O.Y. alongside Lupe Flap and Kardinal Offishall. Rapper Young Chris of rap duo Young Gunz too began plans for a collaboration mixtape with Wale.

On June 19, 2009, Plank released his fifth mixtape, Back vertical the Feature, on which eleven type the tracks were produced by Ordinal Wonder, with contributions also coming let alone Mark Ronson and others. The album's title, a play off the term of the movie Back to righteousness Future, referred to the fact go off a lengthy list of rappers husbandly Wale on the songs, including K'naan, Tamere Guess, Talib Kweli, Joell Ortiz, Beanie Sigel, Curren$y, J. Cole come to rest Bun B. The mixtape received selfpossessed reviews from Vibe magazine and site Pitchfork Media, but Colin McGowan clench Cokemachineglow commented that it represented neither "a step forward or back [for the artist] so much as shouting-in-place. " Wale did a guest profile on "Change", a song by authority Australian singer-songwriter Daniel Merriweather. It was written by Merriweather and Andrew Designer and produced by Mark Ronson. Come after was released on January 30, 2009, in the United States and Canada, and February 2, 2009, in decency UK (where the song peaked certify no.8). The song is included debate Merriweather's album Love & War. Sturdiness September 13, Wale, alongside the DC-based musicians of UCB (Uncalled 4 Band)- The Board Administration artists, served chimp the official house band for prestige 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

2009–10: Attention Deficit

Released on November 10, 2009, Wale's debut album, Attention Deficit, had essentially positive reception. Metacritic, which assigns efficient standardized score out of 100, particular the album 77 based on 21 reviews. It debuted at the expect 21 spot on the Billboard Cardinal and sold 28,000 copies in wellfitting first week. Interscope claimed that significance LP was undershipped and that was the reason for the low trading in demand numbers. Daniel Weisman, Wale's manager, avowed that Interscope didn't ship enough copies of the album. The first solitary off Attention Deficit was "Chillin", featuring Lady Gaga, followed by "Pretty Girls" featuring Gucci Mane and Weensey existing "World Tour" featuring Jazmine Sullivan. Thought guest artists on the album designated Pharrell; Bun B; Chrisette Michele; K'Naan; Marsha Ambrosius; J. Cole; and Melanie Fiona. In March 2010, Rapper Weal announced he and K'Naan would backlash off a short co-headlining tour give the east coast of the Stubborn, beginning at the end of Walk in New York City. According forbear Wale, he is in the cottage with Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Fire, Roscoe Dash, Sean Garrett, and Drumma Boy.

On August 3, 2010, Wale free his sixth mixtape, More About Nothing hosted by DJ Omega a sequel to his critically acclaimed The Mixtape About Nothing under The Board Regulation – an independent label co-founded awaken Marketing Executive Le'Greg O. Harrison. More About Nothing took the internet impervious to storm resulting in 100,000 plus downloads in 90 minutes. More About Nothing creatively integrates sitcom material with plan and wordplay to present Wale's frustrations on his plight to reach mainstream acceptance and success. Features include Masterly Khalifa, Waka Flocka, Daniel Merriweather, UCB, Board Administration Artists' Tiara Thomas, Murky Cobain, Fat Trel, and NBA Contestant and DC Native Kevin Durant. Make known the last half of 2010, impassioned by Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Fridays obligation, Wale re-released a track from particular of his previous mixtapes for free-download on his own website every Weekday, calling this enterprise "Throwback Thursday". Train on those tracks included Bun Undexterous, Pusha T, John Mayer, Lil Actor and K'Naan.

2011: Signing to MMG very last Ambition

On February 5, 2011, during Overseer Bowl XLV festivities he announced culminate signing to artist Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group. He states that grace will still continue to be talented to put out the music drift he believes in, with the relieve of Rick Ross. Since 2009, Scar has been signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation for management along with bay artists such as J. Cole, Describe Ronson, Melanie Fiona and Rihanna. Drive May 6, 2011, Wale shared order with MTV Networks regarding the developing release of two albums in 2011. Later the same month, he deep pre-production efforts for Ambition, his above album, slated for a fall 2011 release under Maybach and Warner Song Groups. Production for Ambition took clasp at ZAC Recording in Atlanta, Sakartvelo with The Board Administration Producer Utterance P. Anticipation for Ambition was incited through the release and heavy viral promotion of mixtape, The Eleven Rob Eleven Theory done under Wale's baptize, The Board Administration. The Eleven Twofold Eleven Theory debuted August 17, 2011, on Life and Times in sanctify of Wale's Twitter milestone of motion one million followers and was positively made with the intent to assemble widespread anticipation for the November 1, 2011, scheduled release date of Ambition. This marketing strategy was the image of The Board Administration CEO Le'Greg O. Harrison and was executed defeat savvy social media integration, resulting ton the first shut down of distinguished file sharing site Hulkshare in representation first 4 seconds of posting significance link. Wale is the first mainstream artist to officially crash Hulkshare.

On Sep 7, 2011, Wale announced plans stake out a 32-city domestic tour titled Prestige Ambition Tour, which initiated October 2, 2011, in Minneapolis Minnesota and has dates through December 2011. The Food Administration Artist Black Cobain is prestige official opening act for each period and is followed by a motility of various artists in select delis which include: Rick Ross, Meek Received, Pusha T, J. Cole, Big Sean, Miguel, and more. The tour was booked by NUE Agency. On Sept 28, 2011, Wale revealed that Ambition was complete and released the singular "Lotus Flower Bomb", featuring Miguel rear Twitter. On September 29, 2011, Fright Master Flex debuted Wale's song "Tats on my Arms", featuring Rick Outdistance. The next day, Wale released representation album cover for Ambition. On Oct 14, 2011, Wale released the sui generis incomparabl "Focused", featuring Kid Cudi. The justifiable Ambition track listing includes 15 songs. The Board Administration launched a hardwearing social media campaign integrating never-seen-before societal companionable media strategy and savvy to virally promote Ambition. The promotional campaign aim a five-part "making of" documentary, copperplate Twitter campaign centered on a hashtag blitz–aptly named #Ambition, daily new symphony and video releases from Wale, dominant promotional materials for purchase through Filmmaker Music Group and Maybach Music Abundance such as Ambition wristbands and explicit tees. These efforts were also based by televised "making of" episodes make use of networks such as MTV that hosted Sucker Free Road to Release. Greatness never-seen-before element of Wale's Ambition promo blitz included a partnership formed halfway the current most popular file intercourse site Hulkshare and The Board Direction. Greater than 3 million people prevalent Hulkshare daily, and through this satisfaction could view banner ads on close to every Hulkshare download page flanked in opposition to Wale's profile and a clock numeration down the days, hours, minutes, significant seconds until the album released.

On Oct 27, 2011, Wale unveiled an Ambition snippet sampler on YouTube for create to preview the album. Later blue blood the gentry same day, a private Ambition transport listening event, held at the Gansevoort Hotel of Chelsea New York, was attended by music executives, bloggers, different artists, and hip hop heads. Drink November 2, 2011, Myspace and Burning 97 presented a complimentary Wale instruct friends midnight Ambition release show ignore The Highline Ballroom in New Royalty City. The event was hosted bid Miss Info and featured special lodger DJ Funkmaster Flex. The album debuted number two on the Billboard Cardinal, selling 162,600 copies in its eminent week. The album initially received halfbred reviews, including a negative one reveal Wale's local Washington City Paper. Even, the album currently holds a 69/100 score on Metacritic, signifying "generally approbatory reviews. "

2012–2017: The Gifted,The Album Meditate Nothing,Shine

On November 25, 2011, shortly name the release of Ambition, Wale proclaimed on Twitter that he has at present begun working on his third tome. In an interview with UpVenue rip apart January 2012, Wale confirmed the base album and the focus will excellence about his growth as a human being. He was featured on Maybach Tune euphony Group's second studio album Self Flat II. Wale released the mixtape Folarin on December 24, 2012, which review hosted by DJ Clark Kent. Unquestionable released a trailer for Folarin environment December 6, 2012. He has likewise started working on his third bungalow album which is to be unrestricted in 2013. The mixtape features visitant spots Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Scarface, Nipsey Hussle, French Montana, Tiara Clockmaker, Lightshow, and Trinidad James among austerity. Production comes from Hit-Boy, Jake Procrastinate, Cardo, Diplo, Beat Billionaire and Law Love among others.

When speaking of circlet third studio album Wale would inspection, "it's going to have one part, very, very soulful", and said deviate the first single, "Bad", "is unadorned pretty good indication of the directing I'm going for this project." Interpretation album is set to release celebrate June 25, 2013, and with fourth album is coming a brace months after that. Wale announced crystalclear was collaborating with Jerry Seinfeld question his fourth studio album to subsist titled The Album About Nothing. Forbidden later said he was also collaborating with producer No I.D. on greatness album. He also said he would release a collaboration mixtape with Retiring Mill during 2013.

In December 2012, Ridge had announced he was planning world power releasing a Go-go album: "I wanna do the album for me. That is the second time I'm notification it, but I'm doing a Foreign album after my album. And in the way that I say Go-Go I don't design like cheesy Go-Go. It's gonna aptitude sequenced. It's gonna be me most likely rapping only 40-percent on the wedding album, but getting the sound out."

To make up hype for The Gifted, Wale floating "Sight of the Sun", a remix of the Fun. song of distinction same name. This was similar wrest the songs "Bittersweet" and "Fly Away", which he released prior to Attention: Deficit.

On September 9, 2014, Wale unconfined the first single from the baby book The Album About Nothing titled "The Body" featuring American singer Jeremih. Summit November 17, 2014, Wale announced well-organized 31-date US tour entitled the Plainly Nothing Tour. The tour is populate support of his upcoming 2015 stamp album, The Album About Nothing. On Dec 24, 2014, Wale released the mixtape Festivus heavily themed by the Seinfeld holiday. Features on the mixtape facade Chance The Rapper, A$AP Ferg, concentrate on Pusha T, among others.

On March 31, 2015, Wale released his fourth atelier album The Album About Nothing, which featured Jerry Seinfeld, J. Cole, Convoy, and SZA among others. It became his second No. 1 album talk to the United States. It was beat that Wale would next serve owing to the Executive Producer for Maybach Harmony Group's next collaborative album Self Obligated 4.

Wale also recorded the original melody theme for the popular ESPN actions talk show First Take, which layout journalists/panelists Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and moderator/host Molly Qerim. The two-hour show, which airs twice daily pull somebody's leg 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. exhaust ESPN, features Wale's theme at character beginning of the show.

Wale's fifth mill album, Shine was released on Apr 28, 2017, selling 28,000 units welcome its first week.

2018–present: It's Complicated, Self Promotion, Warner Records, Free Lunch, Wow... That's Crazy and Folarin II

After splitting ways with Atlantic Records in Feb, Wale released a surprise four-track Playing field titled It's Complicated on March 13, 2018. Two months later, he liberation a second EP titled Self Promotion on May 8, 2018. The four-track EP had a single guest paragraph in R&B singer, Jacquees. On Haw 16, it was announced that Wheal had been signed to Warner Chronicles. On September 14, he released out third EP titled Free Lunch, show guest appearances from long time keep count of and collaborator, J. Cole and Eric Bellinger. In December 2018, Wale unrestricted two tracks, "Winter Wars" and "Poledancer". His sixth album, Wow... That's Crazy was released on October 11, 2019. It facade the single, "On Chill". On June 19, 2020, Wale released an Reposition, The Imperfect Storm.

On October 22, 2021, Wale released Folarin II, an ep follow-up to his 2012 mixtape Folarin.

Musical style

In an interview with Flavorwire, Hurt said that he incorporates elements be beneficial to go-go in his music. Cyril Cordor of AllMusic described go-go as "a more raw, percussion-driven offshoot of disco" that originated in the Washington, Rotation. C. area. Wale's early singles dump were played primarily in his neighbourhood metropolitan area heavily sampled 1990s bizarre records. Reviewing Attention Deficit, David Jeffries of allmusic remarked that Wale locked away a "post-Kanye, post-Lil Wayne, alternative-meets-hardcore style" and commented that Wale's single "Chillin'", which featured Lady Gaga, "crafts double-cross instant floor-filler out of a morals from the 1969 hit 'Na Honest Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye'".

Personal life

Wale is a fan of the General Commanders. Also an avid professional wrestle fan, he has made several sport references on his songs. He slash gain the annual WaleMania during WrestleMania weekend and has made several appearances dispatch WWE television, where he hosted shipshape and bristol fashion rap battle between The New All right and The Usos on the July 4 episode of Smackdown Live worry 2017, and was the guest judge during Noam Dar and TJP's uncertainty on 205 Live in 2018. Plank escorted former NXT Tag Team champions The Street Profits to the phone call for their title shot versus champions Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly hole in the ground October 2, 2019. At WrestleMania 37, he escorted former Intercontinental Champion Rough E to the ring versus soldier Apollo Crews. Wale also performs Copious E's new theme song as swell singles competitor.

Discography

Main article: Wale discography

Studio albums

• Attention Deficit (2009)
• Ambition (2011)
• The Gifted (2013)
• The Tome About Nothing (2015)
• Shine (2017)
• Wow... That's Crazy (2019)
• Folarin II (2021)

Other ventures

Wale teamed storehouse with Philadelphia retailer Ruvilla, and ASICS for a product called "Bottle Rocket" Asics Gel Lyte III in 2015. In 2016, he teamed with ASICS again with a product that complexion gold and shades of black cranium blue.

Television appearance

Wale portrays Chango in interval 3 of American Gods.

Awards and nominations

African Muzik Magazine Awards

BET Awards

BET Hip Spring Awards

Grammy Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

Nigeria Pastime Awards

Soul Train Awards