Wale (wearing cap)

Few artists in hip-hop have accomplished as much as 23-year-old up-and-comer Wale. In just under two years the Washington, D.C., native has amassed heavy radio buzz, to million MySpace plays thanks to cuts like the remix of “Nike Boots,” with Lil Wayne and “W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.” The Washington Post, The New York Times and Rolling Stone have already dubbed him the next big thing in music, period. Not bad for a guy who was just signed to Interscope last month. The funny thing is the hype is all new to Wale.

“I didn’t know people really knew my records until I really started hitting the road,” he admits, adding that with coming from the tough bowels of the Beltway, it’s always hard to get love in your hometown. “You could put on the greatest show or have the greatest rap verse ever, or be the most successful businessman [but when] you come back home everybody’s going to be like, ‘Oh whatever, it ain’t that deep.’”

Regardless of what folks are saying at home, Wale’s talent is the real deal. He’s often compared to Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco for his witty wordplay and introspective lyrics. Currently promoting his newest disc, the “Seinfeld”-inspired, A Mixtape About Nothing and touring with his band, UCB, Wale is just happy he’s able to offer audiences a taste of what is to come. “I feel like every show with me and the band is like a big step in music as a whole,” he says, “because you’re adding something that people are familiar with, but they don’t know where it came from.” -gavin philip godfrey

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