For Fans of: Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Jay-Z
Wale has been bubbling underground for a few years, but he shot into prominence after dropping the catchy single "Nike Boots" in 2007. He then cemented his popularity by grabbing a show-stealing cameo on The Roots' "Rising Up," alongside Black Thought. Anyone who can hang with Thought on the same song is plenty special. Sure enough, Wale doesn't fit your typical hip-hop profile, though. He was born and raised in D.C.; he's a fan of J.U.S.T.I.C.E.; he's heavily cosigned by Lindsay Lohan; he rhymes as much about Seinfeld as he does NIKE boots; and his style is a unique blend of go-go music and braggart lyricism. After spending the last two years honing his skills as a smart M.C., Wale caught the ears of Grammy-winning beatsmith Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Rhymefest), which led to a record deal with Ronson's Allido Records. With a goal to conquer the climate of mediocrity and a journey towards greatness, Wale is certainly worth keeping a tab on throughout 2009.
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