“I’m really just taking you where I am with hip-hop,” Wale said about his new album The Gifted and bringing his music to fans across the nation as part of the What Dreams May Come tour starring J. Cole.
The Gifted debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top 100 chart, and based on the buzz surrounding the tour – which kicks off Tuesday in Miami and lands in St. Louis, next Thursday (Sept. 19) – people are definitely up for the journey.
“It’s going to be a wild ride,” rapper J. Cole said upon announcing the tour last month.
The two rising rap stars will tag team to show the diversity within the newer generation of hip-hop. Neither is from rap epicenters like Atlanta, Los Angeles or New York. And both have the sort of anti-swag, purist approach that opts for homage to the craft and legacy of hip-hop over the commercialized imagery.
Although it’s been nearly 10 years since the D.C. native made a splash on the hip-hop scene with the release of hometown hit “Dig-Dug,” it would be 2009 before the national scene would truly take notice of Wale, thanks to his being signed to Interscope Records. Two years later he signed to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group and has jumped nearly to the front of the line among rising rap stars.
He’s enjoyed the success of singles such as “Lotus Flower Bomb,” “That Way,” “Bag of Money” and more.
And for the second year in a row, he’s enjoyed “summer jam” status – 2012 with “Lotus Flower Bomb” featuring Miguel, and this year with “Bad” featuring Tiara Thomas.
With his latest album The Gifted, Wale confessed his intention was to honor his interpretation of the best of music.
“Whether it be like ‘90s soul music or Marvin Gaye or Michael Jackson, I used all of those sounds to inspire what I like to call ‘new black soul,’” Wale said.
The “new black soul” he refers to showcasing through The Gifted is a mix of classic hip-hop beats and a taste of trap music with some obvious R&B influences. He even pays a slight tribute to the Go-Go roots in his hometown.
And the features on the album reads like the latest volume of the “Who’s Who of hip-hop,” thanks to verses by Meek Mill, Cee Lo Green, Yo Gotti, Nicki Minaj, Juicy J, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, and French Montana to name a few.
The album also features singers Rihanna, Lyfe Jennings, Ne-Yo and Tiara Thomas among others.
He was eager to share an experience with Rihanna during the recording of “88” – the song he says he connected most with on The Gifted.
“I was working with Rihanna on this album. I would talk to her about icons and [expletive] like that and who we grew up watching and asking ‘what’s an icon to you?’” Wale said.
“Obviously, the theme of it is the icons. I’m a big sneaker guy, and Michael Jordan had his iconic year in 88. That’s when everything changed. He went from like a fan favorite to THE GUY in the NBA. That’s what I’m trying to say in this song. I’m just trying to find my place.”
He’s currently enjoying the success of his second single from The Gifted, “LoveHate Thing” featuring Sam Dew.
As Wale works towards crossover triumph as far as pop culture goes, he hopes The Gifted and What Dreams May Come Tour will be the mainstream’s wakeup call.
“It’s a real big world outside of Black America and they don’t know me yet,” Wale said. “And I’m going to make sure they know me – by my terms.”
Wale will be appearing with J. Cole on the What Dreams May Come Tour on Thursday, September 19 at 8 p.m. at The Fox Theatre. For tickets or more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.
