Wale

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, known professionally as Wale, was born on September 21, 1984, in Northwest, Washington, D.C. His parents, both from the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria, immigrated from Austria to the United States in 1979. Wale’s early life saw his family move from Washington, D.C. to Montgomery County, Maryland, when he was ten years old. He graduated from Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg in 2002 before attending Robert Morris University and Virginia State University on football scholarships, ultimately transferring to Bowie State University and later dropping out due to academic reasons. His musical journey began with the track “Rhyme of the Century,” which received local radio play. Wale gained notable recognition in 2006 with his song “Dig Dug (Shake It),” a tribute to a go-go band percussionist, which became a local hit in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas. This led to his feature in The Source magazine’s “Unsigned Hype” column and a signing with local label Studio 43.

Wale’s career quickly progressed with the guidance of manager Daniel Weisman, whom he connected with via Myspace in 2006. After releasing additional singles like “Breakdown” and “Uptown Roamers,” he secured representation. In 2007, Wale collaborated with Mark Ronson on a remix of Lily Allen’s “Smile” and toured with Ronson, performing at high-profile events. This exposure culminated in a production deal with Ronson’s Allido Records in June 2007. His mixtape “100 Miles & Running,” released the same year, featured notable artists such as Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, and Lily Allen. Wale’s national visibility increased with an MTV News feature and a performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. By March 2008, after a competitive bidding war, Wale signed a joint venture deal with Allido Records and Interscope, valued at $1.3 million. This period saw him working on his major label debut, collaborating with artists such as Chrisette Michele and Young Chris.

His debut studio album, “Attention Deficit,” released in 2009 under Interscope, received positive critical acclaim, despite initial commercial underperformance due to distribution issues. The album featured his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, “Chillin'” featuring Lady Gaga. A significant career turning point occurred in 2011 when Wale signed with Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, an imprint of Warner Records. His second album, “Ambition” (2011), achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 and featuring the Grammy-nominated single “Lotus Flower Bomb” with Miguel. Subsequent albums, “The Gifted” (2013) and “The Album About Nothing” (2015), both debuted atop the Billboard 200, solidifying his commercial standing. “The Gifted” included “Bad” featuring Tiara Thomas, his highest-charting single as a lead artist. Wale continued to release successful projects, including “Shine” (2017), “Wow… That’s Crazy” (2019), and “Folarin II” (2021). In 2023, he departed from Maybach Music Group and signed with Def Jam Recordings, releasing the single “Max Julien” as his first under the new label, continuing his commitment to evolving his sound and career.