Wale

Wale And J. Cole Reunite On The J Dilla-Sampling ‘Poke It Out’

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Wale and J. Cole are a match made in hip-hop heaven, proving as much once again on their J Dilla-sampling new single, “Poke It Out.” The two former XXL Freshmen continue their long history of bringing out the best in each other on their smooth new jam, which interpolates the Jay Dee-produced beat from 1999 debut solo single “Vivrant Thing.”

The original was a huge hit in its own right, giving Q-Tip his highest-charting single to date; Wale and Cole’s version, produced by Cool & Dre, updates the lyrics but keeps a similar theme, letting the two rappers praise the beauty of a female companion with their usual slick, wordplay-laden rhymes. The two also shout out female rappers Coi Leray and Megan Thee Stallion as a way of touting their broad and inclusive tastes.

The single is the latest from Wale’s upcoming album Folarin II, which he also announced is set for release on October 22 through Warner Records. So far, he’s released a pair of other singles: “Angles” and the Mike Jones-sampling “Down South” featuring Texans Maxo Kream and Yella Beezy. From the singles released so far, it appears Wale’s latest album will pay homage to classic hip-hop as he parallels his legacy with those of his musical heroes in his ongoing efforts to prove himself one of the greatest rappers of all time.

Listen to “Poke It Out” above and pre-order Folarin II, out 10/22 on Warner Records, here.

Wale is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Wale and J. Cole Collab Coming Soon

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J. Cole & Wale

Rappers J. Cole and Wale have had a low-simmering rivalry, but the two might finally be coming together to unite fanbases. Wale posted a tweet that suggests the two will be dropping a song together tomorrow. Cole + Wale = No Beef Wale and J Cole had tension between them in the past.   Cole has […]

Experience A Day In The Life Of Wale As He Tunes Out And Zones In

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A few months ago, Wale revealed that he’s readying a sequel to his beloved 2012 mixtape Folarin, titled Folarin 2. Even more good news is that it appears he’s in the home stretch of working on something that may or may not be that project: In a new “Good Listeners” video (presented by Uproxx and Samsung), Wale takes viewers behind the scenes of his life for a day, which includes a studio session where he’s putting the finishing touches on new material.

The rapper’s day starts with a photoshoot trying out some different looks, including some shots with his headphones (the Galaxy Buds2, specifically). He says with a smile, “They told me I could listen to what I want to listen to for a couple shots, so I’m going to listen to myself.” Additionally, he noted the headphones offered an assist with multi-tasking, making it easier for Wale to take some phone calls and review songs in progress during moments of downtime.

Speaking of fresh music, Wale later wraps his day up by heading to the studio to listen to some mixes of new material. As he notes, this is another scenario in which having headphones around comes in handy, saying, “I learned from somebody a long time ago about… you can do the studio mixes, they always feel good, everything is right, you’re used to the room. But sometimes you got to step off and listen to the mixes on headphones, off a computer, phone, and just see how I feel. That’s a little bit of the overthinking that I do, but it works for me.”

All in all, the clip is an interesting peek behind the curtain of what it’s like being one of the (justifiably self-proclaimed) greatest rappers of all time, so check it out above.

Wale Establishes Himself As A G.O.A.T.

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DC rapper, Wale has been in the game a long time and is tired of being over looked in the greatest rappers of all time conversation, so he’s decided to just inject himself into it. Wale Says He’s The GOAT and Means It With All His Heart Wale has been making a come back as […]

Wale Brings The Receipts To Prove He’s ‘One Of The Greatest Rappers Of All Time’

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It’s not unusual for artists in hip-hop to feel that they are the best at their craft — in fact, it’s almost a prerequisite to success. With that said, while having a healthy (or unhealthy) ego about their status is often key to a rapper’s persona, there aren’t really all that many who can pull the receipts to back up their claims. However, Wale is one of those rare rap stars who isn’t just boasting when he calls himself “one of the greatest rappers of all time,” as he did in June and reiterated this week.

In a tweet on Wednesday, the DMV repper explained his position, writing, “When I say I’m one of the greatest rappers of all time. I mean it with all my heart.” He didn’t just brag, though; he also detailed the accomplishments he feels qualify him to make such a statement. “I’ve put out more QUALITY music than most,” he ventured. “My deep cuts are crazy. My singles all got plaques.”

But the real kicker he offered was his longevity, noting he’s been in the game for a “decade-plus.” “THAT is why I’m heavy on the gratitude,” he concluded, showing that he doesn’t take any of this for granted. It was a great way to come back from his social media hiatus due to being “extremely sick,” as he prepares to release his seventh studio album Folarin 2 sometime this year. To that end, his single “Down South” with Maxo Kream and Yella Beezy is out now.

Wale is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Wale Partners Up W/ Yella Beezy + Maxo Kream For New ‘Down South’

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Maybach Music Group’s Wale is back on his grizzle. The hip-hop veteran has stepped up to deliver a new Yella Beezy and Maxo Kream-featured “Down South” to the masses. Wale Partners Up W/ Yella Beezy The Washington, DC native surprised fans heading into the weekend courtesy of his newest audio gem. The nostalgic anthem features […]

Wale Flips A Southern Classic With Yella Beezy And Maxo Kream On ‘Down South’

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Wale concluded 2019 with the release of his well-structured sixth album Wow… That’s Crazy. The following year saw the DMV rapper released several singles as well as his EP, The Imperfect Storm and now, he’s ready to gift the world with another project. Wale previously announced that his seventh album Folarin 2 would arrive later this summer. The news came with a bold claim from the rapper which he shared on Twitter. “I understand you may feel how you feel for whatever somebody told you…but I just wanna reiterate that I’m one of the greatest of all time,” he wrote. “Catalog. Consistency. Influence. Longevity. DMV.

Nearly a month after sharing that thought, Wale returns with some heat thanks to his brand new single, “Down South.” The track features contributions from Texans Maxo Kream and Yella Beezy and is carried by production from Harry Fraud, who samples a Southern classic in Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug’s “Still Tippin.” On the track, Wale takes his talents to the South for a smooth verse that aims to separate himself from the competition while Yella Beezy and Maxo Kream stand beside with confident and hard-hitting verses of their own.

The track comes after Yella Beezy kicked off the year beside Erica Banks for their strong “Star” collab while Maxo Kream just made his return last week with his “Local Joker” video.

You can listen to the new song in the video above.

Wale is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.