Today in Hip-Hop — September 21: Wale Turns 42 - Custom Creative

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin was born September 21, 1984 in Washington, D.C. — and before the world knew him as Wale, D.C. knew him as the guy who could make go-go, the city’s own homegrown percussion-and-call-response funk, sound like it belonged on the radio next to anything coming out of New York or Atlanta. His 2006 single “Dig Dug (Shake It)” became the most-requested song by a local artist in D.C. radio history — before he’d ever touched a major label.

That go-go instinct never left him. Wale spent his major-label run (Attention Deficit in 2009, then Ambition in 2011) proving a regional sound and a punchline-heavy, conscious-leaning pen could both live in the same catalog. “Chillin’” with Lady Gaga put him on national radio; a guest verse on Waka Flocka Flame’s “No Hands” went on to certify diamond. But the run that actually defined him came later — two back-to-back #1 albums, The Gifted (2013) and The Album About Nothing (2015).

The Album About Nothing is the jewel most casual fans miss: Wale built an entire concept record around Seinfeld, got Jerry Seinfeld himself to record interludes for it, and still landed his second Billboard #1. No other rapper has pulled off a full-length built around a 90s sitcom’s creator showing up to co-sign it. Add in the fact that he’s spent years hosting his own pro-wrestling event, WaleMania, and you’ve got an MC who’s never been afraid to let his actual interests bleed into the art — go-go drums, Seinfeld bits, folding chairs and all.

Also today in hip-hop:

Brockhampton, Iridescence (2018) — the boy band’s major-label debut for RCA dropped September 21, 2018, recorded partly at Abbey Road, and became their only #1 album on the Billboard 200 — landing right after founding member Ameer Vann’s exit forced the group to rebuild in real time.
Shaolin Soul reissue (2018) — the four-volume compilation collecting the soul and funk records RZA and the Wu-Tang camp sampled (Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway among them) got a September 21, 2018 reissue — the family tree behind every Wu beat, laid out in one crate.
Twiztid, Heartbroken & Homicidal (2010) — the Psychopathic Records duo’s eighth studio album dropped September 21, 2010, charting on both the Top Independent Albums and Top Rap Albums lists — horrorcore proving its underground numbers can still move.
Lil’ Romeo, Romeoland (2004) — Master P’s son released his third album on this date via New No Limit and Koch, a reminder of how deep the No Limit family business ran into the 2000s.

Stay creative — The Custom Creative Team

Jon Jones