Wale (rapper)
Wale, born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin on September 21, 1984, is an American rapper from Washington, D.C. His parents are Yoruba from Nigeria. He grew up in the D.C. area, went to Quince Orchard High School in Maryland, and played football in college before leaving school.
Starting out in the mid-2000s, his 2006 song Dig Dug (Shake It) became a local hit in the D.C. area. He signed with Mark Ronson’s Allido Records in 2007, which led to a joint venture with Interscope. His debut album Attention Deficit (2009) had positive reviews and the hit single Chillin featuring Lady Gaga. He gained broader fame with No Hands (2010) with Waka Flocka Flame.
In 2011 he joined Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group and released Ambition, which included the hit Lotus Flower Bomb with Miguel. His next albums The Gifted (2013) and The Album About Nothing (2015) topped the charts. He followed with Shine (2017), Wow...That’s Crazy (2019), and Folarin II (2021).
In 2023, Wale left Maybach Music Group and signed with Def Jam Recordings, releasing Max Julien as his first Def Jam single. Wale is known for blending go-go, a Washington, D.C. sound, into his music. He’s a fan of the Wizards and the Commanders and hosts WaleMania during WrestleMania weekend; he has also appeared on WWE shows. His cousin is actor Gbenga Akinnagbe.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:47 (CET).