🎤 go, Folarin: a Wale playlist
hip hop's new daily operation | 6.18.20
The Motto No. 46 and we’re moments away from pressing play on new Wale music. The above art was posted by Wale on his IG with the caption: The Imperfect Storm. And I’m excited. It’s the worst kept secret in the music industry: Wale is one of my favorite artists in the culture. How’d we get here? Well, I got a lot of stories. Some I can share. Also in preparation for the next chapter of Wale’s career, I’ve been going through some of my favorite songs from his catalogue all day. Check out my Wale playlist:
top billin’:
the most slept-on track on Wale’s last album, Wow… That’s Crazy (Warner) is also one of his personal favorites. Produced by Hit-Boy, keeping some dough tucked never sounded so fresh ⬇️
this is the gift and the curse of Wale 🎶 No matter how much success he achieves, he’s always yearning for more. To reach a higher level. This track is still his mission statement ⏬
I was there when Wale joined Rick Ross on his MMG mission. I interviewed Wale for RESPECT. magazine, to confirm the news. This collab with Rozay + Meek still gets me amped. You seen me at the MMG Press Conference. You know where I stand. Ha!
Anyone who knows danyelliott knows this ⤵️ is one of the wife’s all-time faves. Featuring Melanie Fiona on the hook, it’s platinum in our household. Along with Hov’s “A Star Is Born,” “Beautiful Bliss” is one of Cole’s early intros into the game. Dope to see the two reunite and perform it at NBA All-Star weekend last year ⤵️
a perfect song ⬇️
Text message from Elliott / Saying tape is dope. That’s from “The Soup” and the tape was 2010’s More About Nothing. Back when Wale parted ways with Interscope (early in his career), Wale reignited his brand with this classic project. It crashed my site when we debuted it and Wale’s the first rapper to ever make Rap Radar a trending topic on Twitter. Though I appreciate the shout-out, this Stevie Wonder-sampling joint is the one 🔽
truth be told, I kinda slept on Wale’s 2016 Summer on Sunset mixtape, but this one slaps and the hook is mighty ⏬
The most highly underrated / of my generation. Nobody backs Folarin into a corner. In response to J. Cole’s “False Prophets” snub, Wale was respectful to his friend, but still made it clear he ain’t the one to play with. And the Cudi retort was long overdue: “I ain’t forget that, Scott” ⤵️
when MMG’s deal with Atlantic ended, Wale found himself at a crossroads. So in 2018, he dropped some independent singles and EPs to reclaim his status. He recorded this one before he signed his current deal with Warner ⤵️
I can out-rap my opponents. In spite of the occasional social media clash, Wale is still very much in control of who he is and his purpose in hip hop. I love the title of this one. Folarin ain’t goin’ nowhere ⬇️
And I can’t wait to hear what he’s cooked up tonight.
@elliottwilson tweets | @elliottwilson IG | follow HRDlist
a danyelliott production
Danyel Smith + Elliott Wilson