Wale’s Debut Album Attention: Deficit Introduces Hip-Hop’s Next Great Innovator
Of this time yet unafraid to move beyond this moment, rugged yet introspective, Wale–hip-hop’s newest sensation and the first D.C. rapper to gain national attention in more than a decade–demands to be heard with his debut album Attention: Deficit (Allido/Interscope), releasing September 22, 2009. With its initial single, “Chillin’” featuring Lady Gaga, gaining spins on Rhythmic Radio, boosted by a video from Grammy-nominated director Chris Robinson, Attention: Deficit catapults Wale to hip-hop’s center stage.
The 24-year-old D.C.-born son of Nigerian immigrants, Wale has previously issued a series of acclaimed, go-go/rap mash-up mixtapes that gained notice and airplay in the DMV (D.C.-Maryland-Virginia) and beyond. In 2007 super producer Mark Ronson–responsible for new luminaries such as Amy Winehouse– began playing Wale’s “Good Girls” on his East Village radio show. Soon after, Ronson added Wale to a remix of Lily Allen’s bubbly pop record “Smile” and recruited him for a U.K. tour for his latest album. Wale also turned “D.A.N.C.E.” from French electro-house stars Justice into a hip-hop banger renamed “W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.,” which he performed at the MTV Video Music Awards.
In 2008 Ronson signed Wale to his and Rich Kleiman’s Allido Records and subsequently to its joint venture with Interscope. That year, Wale appeared on The Roots’ single “Rising Up” from their Rising Down album before remixing his own “Nike Boots” track to feature Lil’ Wayne. Most recently, Wale inked a co-management deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and this summer headlined his first tour, which sold out a number of venues.
Along with Ronson (”Mirrors” feat. Bun B, “90210″), some producers on Attention: Deficit include Cool and Dre (”Chillin’” and “World Tour” feat. Jazmine Sullivan), Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio (”Warrior” feat. K’Naan), Sean C and LV (”OG”), and Sleepwalkers (”Diary” feat. Marsha Ambrosius).
Proclaimed “The Great Rap Hope” by The Washington Post (October 2007), Wale fulfills his promise of a new voice in hip-hop with Attention: Deficit.
Source: Interscope Geffen A&M Records
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