Smino and Wale

Growing up in suburban Washington D.C, US, Wale (pronounced way-lay) spent his youth playing football, gaining scholarships to attend Robert Morris College and Virginia State University before moving to Bowie State University. However, Wale had already found a love for music, deciding to quit college to pursue a career in music.

Wale made his first recording in 2003, with "Rhyme of the Century," building strong local support for his music and being named in a list of unsigned artists to watch in Source magazine. Three years later, Wale had signed with local label, Studio 43, becoming a big name in the D.C/Maryland/Virginia area after scoring a number of hits. Wale's sampling of 80's Go-Go Disco, with its raw, lo-fi, percussive sound, impressed British DJ Mark Ronson, known for his hugely successful work with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Christina Aguilera and Rhymefest.

The pair soon began working together, after Wale signed to Ronson's record label, Allido, soon after releasing the mixtape, "100 Miles and Running." The release brought Wale fans outside of his local fan base, receiving positive critical acclaim from XXL Magazine and The New York Times. WIth great hype around him, major labels began a bidding war for Wale in 2008, with Interscope eventually securing the artist, beating Epic, Atlantic and Def Jam. His major debut followed shortly after 2011's "Attention Deficit," bolstered by the hit single, "Chain Music." His follow up, "The Gifted," in 2013 brought Wale further attention, with Rhianna featuring on his single, "Bad."