Wale (Wha-lay)

Interviewer .:V:.

He’s Just doin what he got’s to do, fly’r than the rest of them!
Fresh out of DC and Grinding to the top of charts Wale has brought forth not only his clever lyricism but also his trendy style onto the radar. Pronounced wah-lay, this new artist breaks into the scene using a distinct musical style fusing Go-go and Hip Hop on the same beat. He is a rap ambassador in the capitol. His presence places DC on the map, a city now known for more than Capitol Hill. ThatsHipHop.Com got a chance to catch up with Wale to chop it up!

V: Many people out there might not be familiar with your background, where you from, where you rep? Give the readers a lil history lesson right quick.

W: I was born and raised in Washington D.C. I moved to Maryland when I was about 10. I rep Washington DC first and foremost but if you are from here, then you know its about the surrounding areas as well which we call the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia)

V: How hard have you work to get from DC to the ear lobes of other states and country’s? How and when did you catch your break?

W: I’ve worked extremely hard to push my work everywhere. It’s the beautiful grind that never stops. I have a great team behind me as well as a great manager and we just kept the ball rolling and never stop pushing no matter what gets in the way. We work on grind time, which a lot of people can’t keep up with.

V: Do you feel you have reached a certain point of achievement?

W: I feel like I’ve achieved a very minimal level of success. I guess the fact that music is my job; it is a great point to be at. This is what pays my bills. It’s my whole life and I thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to do what I love for a living. So in that sense, yeah I do feel I’ve reached a certain point of achievement. I mean how many people can really say they love what they do? But as far as feeling like I’ve reached a certain point of achievement in the music industry or the world, I’m nothing. It’s only just begun and there is much, much more to come. I’ve set the bar extra high so I don’t get comfortable. As LL Cool J said, I’m just getting warm.

V: What is your main goal as a Rapper/Lyricist/Musician?

W: My man goal is to simply make the best possible music I can. Jay Z gave me some great advice, albeit very simple advice, when he told me, All you can do is make the best music you possibly can. He’s right. I can set up all the opportunities in the world, have the best connections, have the flyest gear, but at the end of the day, if the music sucks, it doesn’t matter. I want to make music that crosses genres, color lines, continents, etc. From the beginning, I’ve tried to cast my net as wide as possible. Whether it’s doing a go-go song, sampling Justice or doing a Lily Allen remix. Basically I want people to see where I’m coming from, see the type of stuff I’m into and let people know it’s okay to go outside the box. This concept will be very obvious when I drop my next mix tape. I think it’s going to put people on their head.

V: What type of message are you trying to send thru your music?

W: Man, sending messages… I feel like we are talking about Poor Righteous Teachers or something. I don’t really have a message because every record I do is so different. It all depends on how I’m feeling that day, what’s going on around me when I record, etc. I could be really frustrated about something, like prominent black people fucking up and I go hard on them in a song like my remix of Flashing Lights. Or I could be frustrated with my financial standing and lament about it on the track like I did on the Big Spender remix.

V: What is this Go-go Music?

W: Go-go music is a genre of live music that was born in Washington DC. Some major songs you might be familiar with are EUs “Da Butt” that was in Spike Lee’s School Daze. It’s all live instrumentation and is a very raw form of music with a lot of percussion. I grew up on Go-go music and it has heavily influenced me musically and that’s why I usually perform with a live band backing me as well as a DJ. I’m trying to come out the gates with that kind of show so when I reach global star status. It’s going to be no big deal for me to have a 60 piece orchestra. Although I performed with the BBC Orchestra (56 pieces) live on television in London with Mark Ronson back in October. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=5XCLTgs1DKQ).

V: Why did you leave your football Scholarship behind to pursue your
music career?

W: I loved football. It’s definitely my first love, but I feel like music is my calling. It’s not like I just hung my jersey up one day and said fuck football though. I went to Robert Morris (D-1) on scholarship, left there after some problems and then transferred to Virginia State (D-2). I eventually quit the team there and transferred to Bowie State. While at Bowie State, I started really doing the music. It started taking off and eventually it was just a waste for me to be in school. I do want to finish and get my degree at some point though.

V: You just knew that this was your calling and you went for the opportunity?

W: I guess. I just have a lot to say and they don’t really listen when you work at Sprint. That was one of my last jobs before I started doing music full time.

V: Who was your biggest supporter?

W: That’s a tough question, I feel like I have a lot of big supporters. My parents obviously, though it took them a minute to realize what was going on. My brother, my cousins and all my friends that I still roll with. They all told me to keep grinding. Then there’s DJ Alizay who is like a big brother to me and kind of discovered me. My manager who lives in LA, we’ve been working together for almost 2 years. All my fans, and then every person along the way who maybe only did one small thing, like a DJ who spun my record in the club even though it’s not Crank Dat. To me, that’s big because for a DJ to go off and play an unknown record, that takes balls. DJ Sinden was the first DJ in the UK to play my shit two years ago and now the dude is like blowing up. It works in cycles.

V: Whom are you looking forward to or want to collaborate with in the
near future?

W: I’ve had the pleasure of working with great artists like Daniel Merriweather, Mark Ronson, Lil Wayne, the Roots, Justice, Raheem DeVaughn, MIA, Rhymefest, The Dap Kings, The Budos Band, Kenna, Maroon 5 and so on. I’d love to do a record with Jay-Z of course. Not because he’s one of the greatest but because I feel him and me on a track together would definitely be amazing. Other artists I want to work with are Corinne Bailey Rae, Calvin Harris, Young Jeezy, Bun B, etc. As far as producers Kanye, Premo, 9th wonder, Just Blaze, Pharrell, Timbaland. Those guys have a wonderful ear for music and innovation. I also would like to work with other artist in other countries generating a new buzz.

V: Who are your top 5 Mc’s?

W: Let’s see…today I will say…
1. Jay
2. Black Thought
3. Andre 3000
4. Big Pun
5. Kanye

V: Who inspired you along your travels to success musically?

W: I was inspired by a lot of different music. Jackson 5, Prince, Paul Simon, Whitney Houston, Big Daddy Kane, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, The Roots. I’m also a huge Camp Lo fan. I think they were way ahead of their time and almost created their own lane back in 97 when nobody even knew what a lane was. And of course all the Go-go bands like Northeast Groovers, EU, Backyard Band, and Huck-A-Bucks.

V: How did they whole Lil Wayne project come about? How’d ya’ll end up working together?

W: He was feeling the beat, I sent him the song, and he got on it. That was pretty much it. I’m just glad I can cross “Lil Wayne feature” off my To Do List now. I heard there is a Dip Set Nike Boots remix floating around too.

V: So when you’re not writing and working on new material what do you like doing as a hobby or just on an ordinary day?

W: Music is a big part of my life so when I’m not doing that I’m either sleeping or watching Seinfeld DVD’s. Ha ha. I like to stay fly so I might be shopping for new gear; sneakers or denim. Actually, not so much sneakers anymore cuz Nike and Jordan Brand be sending me boxes like crazy. I like to play sports also, me and the homies run pickup games every once in a while when we are all free.

V: What’s your main focus?

W: Being successful and making the best music ever.

V: What are you working on now?

W: I just did a song for Rhymefest’s album. I just did a song with Black Thought for the new Roots album. I’m working on my next mix tape. I’m also working on some clothing collabs with New Era, 10Deep, Stussy and a company from China called Mess.

V: Is there talk of an album?

W: Definitely. I just got the paperwork for my deal today actually. I have it mapped out in terms of songs, concepts, features and producers. Now I’m just waiting on the deal to get finished so we can go full speed with it. I hate when people set dates for their album and don’t come through just know it’s coming soon, probably fall.

V: What label are you signed to?

W: Right now I’m not signed to a major but I am signed to a production deal with Mark Ronson’s Allido Records. For those who don’t know, Mark got nominated for 3 Grammys this year and has produced for Amy Winehouse’s Rehab, Lily Allen’s Smile, Christina Aguilera’s Slow Down Baby, Rhymefest, Robbie Williams and Nikka Costa. His first album was like a “who’s who” of Hip Hop in 2003. I’ve gotten a lot of offers though. The first one came in May of 2007. Since then it’s been all uphill.

V: You know there’s a lot of cats out there just like you who are hungry and eating chips, starving to get to the filet mignon on top. They often get so caught up in the hype then they forget about the D word (dedication) Sidetracked by the limelight. We refer to them as one hit wonders. What makes you so different? Are you here to stay?

W: This sort of ties in to your question earlier about feeling a level of achievement. As soon as I accomplish something, I take it in for about 5 seconds and then it’s on to the next thing. I am always setting new goals and always raising the bar. If you come into the music industry trying to make a quick buck, that’s exactly what you’ll do. And just as fast as that bullet on the chart helped you rise, it will also kill you. Think about the biggest Hip Hop radio singles of the past two years. I mean, Mike Jones couldn’t even get his second album out. That’s what happens when you confuse that ring tone money for real money. Guys that were hitting their peak when I got my first deal offer are now an afterthought. And here I am, still growing, still building and I haven’t even dropped a single.

V: Being as you coming up in this wave of technology, what is your take on the bootleggers?

W: It sucks. Bottom line. It lowers the bar for everyone. If artists aren’t getting paid, then they don’t have money to pay the producers, etc. It’s a trickle down effect. But at the same time, you can’t cry about it. All I’ve tried to do is use it to my advantage. I’m making a living doing music and I haven’t sold ANY music. I make my money off shows, licensing,
sponsorships, features, etc. My manager and I had a goal to make a living without selling any music so when we do drop the album, whatever money comes from that is just the icing on the cake. I’ve given away all my music for free thus far to the point that when my album does drop, I hope people are so grateful for the free music, that they feel compelled to go spend $10 to buy my album which will be a true album in every sense of the word.
I did pretty good financially in 2006 for an unsigned artist so I know dudes with deals and singles and tours are doing much better, so I don’t really feel that bad. Plus, it’s forced artists to step there game up in other aspects of their career. Studio rappers are not cutting it anymore. I mean, I got to give a shout out to all the promoters and schools around the country that fly me around to do shows in places I’ve never even heard of. Touring is where the real money is and it’s one of the few things that an artist has complete control over, although with these new 360 deals, labels are trying to take part of that now.

V: Do you think the government should enforce laws on illegal downloads?

W: It’s pointless. I think the government should help the industry develop a new business model for delivery.

V: Just sucks cause album sales can never be what they were. Now they
have itunes and all these sites where you can sell your music, which is cool but could never amount up to selling an album. I saw you teamed up with Jamster. How’s ya ring tone pimp game?

W: Yea it does suck but I feel it makes artists come twice as hard as far as planning, marketing and making sure they think everything through and not just throw some shit together.

V: You have a Website/Myspace?

W: Yea myspace.com/wale202 <http://myspace.com/wale202> And Walemusic.com <http://Walemusic.com>

V: Anything you want to add before we end?

W: Support good music yall! Never take no for an answer. And make sure you come to my show when I’m in your town. I promise you a party!

V: Any topics you want to comment on /discuss?

W: I’d like to thank yall for reaching out and interviewing me. I appreciate the opportunity.

V: Word… Thank you. Keep flowing. We out.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 27th, 2008 at 10:49 pm