With the power of Rck Ross and Maybach Music behind him, Washington DC’s Wale is back for the first time.
HHW: When did the pursuit of music begin for you?
Wale: I think I was always into drums, percussion, melodies, and writing. It’s almost like, since I was like, eight or nine, every year, I’d have new interests. Whether it might be writing, then eventually it would be like, I wanna play the drums, then I wanna play the piano, I wanna play… whatever. Like, it was just always a part of my life.
What inspires your music?
I’m inspired by the people, my environment… I could meet somebody, or be around good energy, and from that it’s takin’ me somewhere for like, the next month or two. Like, you look at a mixtape like More About Nothing; my head was in the clouds when I wrote it. I’m a Virgo – we love hard, or we don’t love hard, so my mind was there at that time when I did it. So, I’m inspired by pretty much people and situations. I try to acquire something outta every day that I can attempt to change the world with at some point.
When did you put out your first work?
My first piece of work was 2002 I believe. It was a song called “Rhyme of the Century.” It was on the radio in D.C. I was a young’un – very, very young at that time.
What’s the Hip Hop scene like where you’re from?
It was non-existent when I was growin’ up. It was kinda frowned upon to Rap. All the “cool people” was in Go-Go bands.
How and when did you go from underground rookie to pro?
I always had that mentality like I was meant to be here. I never felt like the rookie. My mentality was always that of somebody who was prepared and was supposed to be in it. The rookie tries to prove themselves. I always felt like I belonged.
What’s it like working with Rick Ross?
Working with Rick Ross is amazing, man. I never really met anybody like him before. His energy is just… his spirit, his vibe in the studio is something that’s just a blessing to be around… like, it’s an anomaly to me. You know, I been around a lotta different artists, but it’s just f—– unexplainable. He totally understands music like, more than I’ve ever heard a rapper understand it, as far as writing songs, and the vibe, and executing the record.
What should fans expect from Wale in the immediate future?
Just a lotta music, man, and great energy. You know, the Maybach Music move kinda gave me an extra kick in my energy. Like, I never really hung out with rappers, I never really… most of my friends don’t rap. So you know, now I been around a lotta different musicians, and the energy is on another level now. My fan base seems to be growin’ more and more everyday – rapidly. So I just wanna continue to do that – to make good music. I just wanna be that guy that’s always consistent.
Do you plan on doing any more videos for your More About Nothing mixtape?
We got a video for “Ambitious Girl” coming out. There’ll also be a video for “The Trip,” and one or two more. While we doin’nat, I’m workin’ on two other projects that I can’t really speak on right now.
When it’s all said and done, what do you wanna be remembered for?
Persevering through a lot; you know, being a fighter; makin’ my way back to the top, overcomin’ a lotta the odds, and overall making great music.
For more of our exclusives interviews, be sure to pick up the latest issue of Hip-Hop Weekly on newsstands now.
Leave a Reply