Crackberry Confessions: Wale

From his local Maryland go-go and Baltimore Club music scene to working with the likes of Mark Ronson, Travis Barker, and Lady GaGa, Wale (pronounced Wah-Lay), born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin has taken his small town glory and popularized music that was specific to his hometown D.C, all over the globe.

23 year-old Wale was born in Washington, D.C to Nigerian parents. Before entering his teens, he and his family migrated to Maryland suburbia, where his in depth exposure to the Baltimore Club scene began. Wale like many Maryland and D.C natives gravitated towards the local music, which was somewhat exclusive to that demographic area. He was heavily influenced by the music and sought out away to make it his own.

It seemed natural that Wale’s first songs would be go-go inspired tracks, which he formed in to what would become a series of mixtapes. With lyrics like the ones featured on “Nike Boots” he paid tribute to D.C style and his surroundings, making locals proud to rock to his songs. With that he got the attention of the B-more and D.C. club scene as he related to the urban crowd. His single “Dig Dug (Shake It)” became a rapid hit, reaching North Carolina, Maryland, and Virginian airwaves.

However, Wale is not just a go-go artist; his music goes beyond the Maryland and D.C. club and party scene. In 2006 after teaming up with his manager Daniel Weisman Wale finally released his first non go-go influenced track, “Uptown Roamers”. His 2007 radio released single “Good Girls” caught the attention of mega producer Mark Ronson, thus Wale joined him on his UK tour and later landed a deal with Ronson’s Allido Records.

After his European tour Wale continued to release mixtapes. His 4^th mixtape, entitled The Mixtape About Nothing continued to increase his popularity on the underground and satellite radio scene. The talent of the budding artist attracted the attention of mainstream artists like Travis Barker and he even did a track on the Smiles mixtape for Lily Allen, which was produced by Mark Ronson. Wale’s first single (off the album) “Chillen” featuring another artist on our radar, Miss Lady GaGa.

Currently, Wale is finalizing his first album Attention to Deficit that is said to be released some time later this year and will be on tour with D.C.’s own UCB. For upcoming tour dates and more on Wale check out his myspace page and www.walemusic.com.

- Ms Dash

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