Introducing WALE

So, its Saturday afternoon and I'm doing some research. I am blessed to be rather open to change. So, when I was introduced to Go-Go music and the culture of Maryland, DC, and parts of VA, I welcomed it. Go-Go music, according to Wikipedia, is a subgenre of funk that originated in the Washington, D.C., area during the mid- to late-1970s. A handful of bands contributed to the early evolution of the genre, but singer-guitarist Chuck Brown is credited with having developed most of the hallmarks of the style.In technical terms, "Go-go's essential beat is characterized by a syncopated, dotted rhythm that consists of a series of quarter and eighth notes (quarter, eighth, quarter, (space/held briefly), quarter, eighth, quarter)… which is underscored most dramatically by the bass drum and snare drum, and the hi-hat… [and] is ornamented by the other percussion instruments, especially by the conga drums, timbale, and hand-held cowbells."[2] A swing rhythm is often implied (if not explicitly stated).



I love the music. Now today, I know of a guy named Wale. (Pronounced Why-Lay). He is a Washington D.C. hip hop artist. Born September 21, 1984. (He's turning 24 this year) He hit mainstream with a feature on a Roots song with Chrisette Michele. He first hit the District with a song called Rhyme of the Cetury. This was played on the radio in 2004. This led to a feature in Unsigned Hype, a section in the famous magazine Source in June 2005. Wale continued to work. And his first non go-go inspired piece, Uptown Roamers, debuted on XM radio September 14, 2006. His first interview was with MTV News at a performance he did at the Highline Ballroom in Manhattan. The show was for Mark Ronson's album but Wale more than played his part. The event was July 11, 2007, the same day Wale released a free downloadable mixtape, 100 Miles & Running, on his Myspace page.

Wale was given the chance to perform W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E., a track from his mixtape at the 2007 MTV VMAs in Vegas.



March 2008, Wale signed with Interscope records. Wale is featured on several tracks on The Roots 2008 released, Rising Down. In May, Wale released his fourth mixtape, The Mixtape About Nothing, for free on his website, elitaste.com. The mixtape can also be downloaded at 10deep.com.




Now, back to today. I was on a website and Wale has a freestyle over Put On,(Listen to it above.) Jeezy's latest song featuring Kanye. I like it. I don't love it but, I like it. Enjoy... He has some more tracks on The Miixtape Messiah's YouTube Channel, enjoy.