Wale

Artist Image: Wale
Attribution
Image Credit: Max.blodgett (Own work), CC BY 3.0

Biography

Ralph Victor Folarin (born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin in September 21, 1984), better known by his stage name Wale (/ˈwɑːlei/ wah-lay), is a Nigerian-American rapper from Washington, D.C. Wale was born to Nigerian parents. He rose to prominence in 2006, when his song "Dig Dug (Shake It)" became popular in his hometown. Wale became locally recognized and continued recording music for the regional audience. Producer Mark Ronson discovered Wale in 2006 and signed him to Allido Records in 2007. While signed to that label, Wale released several mixtapes and appeared in national media including MTV and various urban magazines. In 2008, Wale signed to Interscope Records for $1.3 million, and his debut album Attention Deficit was released in 2009 with the singles "Chillin", "Pretty Girls", and "World Tour". The album, although under-shipped, received positive reviews from critics. In early 2011 Wale signed on with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group, where members of the label released a compilation album, Self Made Vol. 1 on May 23, 2011. His second studio album, Ambition was released November 1, 2011.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 2005
Number of Albums 78
Record Label
Website www.maybachmusic.net
Wikipedia Wale on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Hip Hop R & B

Trivia

What song became popular in Wale's hometown?

Dig Dug (Shake It)

...He rose to prominence in 2006, when his song Dig Dug (Shake It) became popular in his hometown. Wale became locally recognized and continued recording...
Who discovered Wale in 2006 and signed him to Allido records?

Mark Ronson

...zed and continued recording music for the regional audience. Producer Mark Ronson discovered Wale in 2006 and signed him to Allido records in 2007. Wh...
When did Wale sign with Allido Records?

2007

... Mark Ronson discovered Wale in 2006 and signed him to Allido records in 2007 . While signed to that label, Wale released several mixtapes and appeared...
What was the name of Wale's second album?

Ambition

...pped, received positive reviews from critics. His second studio album, Ambition Wale, an African American, was born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin in Wa...
Where did his family first live?

Northwest Washington DC

...nited States from Austria in 1979. Wale's family first lived in Northwest Washington DC before moving to Montgomery County when Wale was 10. Wale's lo...
What was the name of the tight end Wale had a tattoo of?

Chris Cooley

... has led to a longstanding rumor that Wale had a tattoo of tight end Chris Cooley . He was featured in the Unsigned Hype column of The Source magazine ...
In what magazine was he featured in the 2006 Unsigned Hype column?

The Source

... to a longstanding rumor that Wale had a tattoo of tight end Chris Cooley. He was featured in the Unsigned Hype column of The Source magazine in 2006....
When did his parents move to the US from Austria?

1979

...ents, who have their origins in Nigeria, moved to the US from Austria in 1979 . His family moved to Montgomery County when he was 10 years old. He comp...
Where did his family move to when he was 10 years old?

Montgomery County

...Nigeria, moved to the US from Austria in 1979. His family moved to Montgomery County when he was 10 years old. He completed his high school from Quinc...
What school did he attend?

Quince Orchard High School

...y when he was 10 years old. He completed his high school from Quince Orchard High School , Gaithersburg, Maryland. He later joined Robert Morris Univer...
Who did Wale join on football scholarships?

Robert Morris University and Virginia State University

...School, Gaithersburg, Maryland. He later joined Robert Morris University and Virginia State University on football scholarships. Wale loved football b...
Where was Wale transferred to?

Bowie State University

... Wale loved football but hated academics. He was transferred to Bowie State University and had to drop out later due to academic reasons. Wales intere...
Who is Wale's cousin?

Gbenga Akinnagbe

... music surfaced during his college days. He is the cousin of actor Gbenga Akinnagbe , known for his role in the HBO crime drama The Wire. Rhyme of the ...
What was Wales first song to be featured on local radio?

Rhyme of the Century

...a Akinnagbe, known for his role in the HBO crime drama The Wire. Rhyme of the Century was Wales first song to be featured on the local radio. His succ...
When did Wale first rise to prominence?

2006

...He first rose to prominence in 2006 , when his song Dig Dug (Shake It) became popular in his hometown. Wale became locally recognized and continued rec...
Wale met Mark Ronson in 2006 and joined what label in 2007?

Allido Records

...le met English DJproducer Mark Ronson in 2006 and joined his label, Allido Records in 2007. While signed to that label, Wale released several mixtapes...
When was Ambition released?

November 1, 2011

...ption from critics. His second studio album, Ambition was released November 1, 2011 , with mixed reviews. His third studio album, The Gifted, was relea...
Which album was released on June 25, 2013?

The Gifted

...eleased November 1, 2011, with mixed reviews. His third studio album, The Gifted , was released on June 25, 2013, to mainly positive reviews; it debute...
The Gifted debuted at number one on what chart?

Billboard 200

...5, 2013, to mainly positive reviews; it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 . His second Billboard number one album The Album About Nothing was ...
What was the name of Wale's number one album?

The Album About Nothing

...one on the Billboard 200. His second Billboard number one album The Album About Nothing was released on March 31, 2015. In 2018, Wale released three E...
When was The Album About Nothing released?

March 31, 2015

... Billboard number one album The Album About Nothing was released on March 31, 2015 . In 2018, Wale released three EPs titled It's Complicated, SelfProm...
How many EPs did Wale release in 2018?

three

...bum About Nothing was released on March 31, 2015. In 2018, Wale released three EPs titled It's Complicated, SelfPromotion and Free Lunch. In 2019, Wal...
What is the title of the sixth album by Wale?

Wow... That's Crazy

...ion and Free Lunch. In 2019, Wale released his sixth studio album Wow... That's Crazy , with the album's lead single On Chill (featuring Jeremih) was r...
On what date was On Chill released?

July 12, 2019

...19, Wale released his sixth studio album Wow... That's Crazy, with the album's lead single On Chill (featuring Jeremih) was released on July 12, 2019 ....
What did Wale use as the vehicle for his clever wordplay and music?

gogoinspired hiphop

...atus as local sensation and become a national rap contender using gogoinspired hiphop as the vehicle for his clever wordplay and music. Most of the ma...
Most of Wale's major singles were what?

melodic slow jams

...usic. Most of the major singles that ensued for him, however, were melodic slow jams spread across the tailend of the 2000s and well into the late 201...
What year was The Gifted released?

2013

... at the top of the Billboard 200, including the charttopping The Gifted ( 2013 ) and The Album About Nothing (2015). The proper fulllength studio releas...
What is Maybach's seventh album called?

Folarin II

...graphy with an EP, The Imperfect Storm (2020), and his seventh album, Folarin II (2021). Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born in Washington, D.C. in ...
What year was Victor Akintimehin born?

1984

... II (2021). Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born in Washington, D.C. in 1984 to Nigerian immigrants who'd arrived in America five years earlier. Alth...
What country was Victor's family from?

Nigerian

.... Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born in Washington, D.C. in 1984 to Nigerian immigrants who'd arrived in America five years earlier. Although the f...
What is Rick Ross's label called?

MMG

... 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 (...
Where was Wale born?

Washington, DC

...xtape 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, M...
Where did he grow up?

Peabody Street in Northwest DC

...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 sev...
How many different high schools did John attend?

seven

... in Northwest DC and moved to Largo, Maryland as a teenager. He attended seven different high schools in Washington, D.C. and Maryland, finally gradua...
When did John graduate from Quince Orchard High School?

2001

...D.C. and Maryland, finally graduating from Quince Orchard High School in 2001 . He went to Robert Morris College and Virginia State University on footb...
What was the name of the college Wale attended?

Robert Morris College

...y graduating from Quince Orchard High School in 2001. He went to Robert Morris College and Virginia State University on football scholarships, and the...
What magazine featured Wale in the June 2005 Unsigned Hype section?

Source

... 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....
When was Wale born?

September 21, 1984

...Born on September 21, 1984 , Wale, whose birth name is Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, is an American rapper that grew up in Washington, D.C., where he w...
What is Wale's birth name?

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin

...Born on September 21, 1984, Wale, whose birth name is Olubowale Victor Akintimehin , is an American rapper that grew up in Washington, D.C., where he w...
Where did Wale grow up?

Washington, D.C.,

...lubowale Victor Akintimehin, is an American rapper that grew up in Washington, D.C., where he was discovered and began to grow his rapping career to w...
Where did Wales parents come from?

Nigeria

...name that could easily be remembered. Wales parents are originally from Nigeria , and they emigrated from Nigeria to the U.S. via, Austria, in 1979. Wa...
What was the reason that Wale dropped out of Bowie State University?

academic reasons

... Bowie State University, but never finished. He dropped out due to academic reasons . Wale became a local name with his music in the early 2000s, and a...
Wale became a local name with what?

his music

... He dropped out due to academic reasons. Wale became a local name with his music in the early 2000s, and after being formerly discovered, he began to ...
What was the name of the song Wale released in 2006?

Dig Dug

...le. Discovered in 2006 Wale really began to rise in 2006 when his song, Dig Dug became a hit in his own hometown. Since he was locally known, he conti...
What country did his family move to in 1979?

Austria

...gerian parents in the United States. His family moved Stateside through Austria in 1979, allowing him to get education in Quince Orchard High School i...
What was the name of Wale's first mixtape?

Paint a Picture

... in D.C. radio history. It was later included in his first mixtape, Paint a Picture . Wale's name started to spread around in DJ scene and reached the ...
Who represented Wale on Paint a Picture?

Daniel Weisman

... spread around in DJ scene and reached the ear of a former club DJ, Daniel Weisman . The rapper was then represented by Weisman and released his first ...
What was Wale's first single called?

Uptown Roamers

... The rapper was then represented by Weisman and released his first original single called Uptown Roamers . Wale made a couple more mixtapes after that....