The streets are Hip-Hop and we’re Hip-Hop so the streets belong to us. No self respecting MC should be caught dead in those streets without viable (read: free) marketing  for their fanbase. In our continuing efforts to give you the last of the 2009 in 2010′s first week, here’s the best of digital goods that circulating throughout the year. Read the rest of this entry »

First thing that came to mind after seeing this clip was the Fave Five Wale did with us awhile back where he revealed his desire to be able to search IP addresses for those who make disparaging comments against his craft. As you can see, his M.O. hasn’t changed as he proceeds Read the rest of this entry »

Ladies and gents, Wale has arrived.

After a few years of putting in work on a regional & underground level, his music was thrust into the spotlight with the release of several critically acclaimed mixtapes. And now, the D.C. spitter is ready to take it mainstream with his Attention Deficit album around the corner.

Even though his world has grown larger & his options expanded, Wale is steadfast in his determination to stay an individual in a world of collaborations and co-signs. Early one morning recently, he got on the phone with the Crew’s David D. to talk about this dilemma, the reception to his single, “Chillin” and which character from The Wire he is most like.

Wale: Hello?

TSS: Hey, Wale?

Wale: Hey, how you doing man?

TSS: What are you up to right now?

Wale: I’m on my way to New York from D.C. right now. (Brief yawn) I got a couple of photo shoots to do and interviews.

TSS: I hear you yawning, they wearing you out man?

Wale: Yea, man, I didn’t get home till late. We had a crazy show in D.C. last night.

TSS: Yea, I ran into you here at the Jugrnaut in Chicago a few weeks ago. You were doing an in-store and you seemed pretty tired then too. Has the tour kind of taken its toll on you physically?

Wale: Absolutely. I got two shows tonight and one tomorrow in New York. It’s been a lot of tough work.

TSS: Have you looked at this like boot camp for the tour you’re supposed to be going on with Jay this summer?

Wale: I think this is actually the hardest part right now. It’s just a lot of early flying. (Simulates a yawn) Going to bed late. Not eating right. Y’know, just eating whatever you can get your hands on because everything is closed.

TSS: Now, your “Chillin” video recently came out then didn’t come out and as soon as it came out you went to Twitter to kind of explain it. Do you feel like you have to justify a single like that to your core audience?

Wale: Naw, I mean. Not necessarily explain it. I think it’s important just in case everyone is not hip to what’s going on. I just gotta get them a little hip to it because some people understand what’s going on and some people don’t. Sometimes you gotta throw a little bit out there to say “look” so people get it now.

TSS: And you have this “Family Affair” video also coming out at the same time. Is this to reach some sort of balance to reach that side that doesn’t get it?

Wale: Naw, that’s what I do. Mixtape About Nothing is kind of my niche. I’m the creative song-writing guy. Or the go-go party record guy. I want to do something different because the concept of this album is attention deficit. It’s left. Or not necessarily left. It’s just to bring you in my world.

I feel like that was the best way to do it, because most people send out an invitation to go party and get the most popular girl to send out invitations. When you hear the album, you’re gonna hear a lot of those records that are like “wow, that’s an amazing record.”

TSS: It looks like you have Slim Charles from The Wire in the video.

Wale: Yeaaaah. Well, I grew up listening to him and his band growing up. He’s in one of the biggest bands (Backyard Band) in D.C. history. So, I grew up watching him and we became cool like three years ago. It was kind of a no-brainer when I got the record. I saw the treatment and I knew who I wanted to play that role.

TSS: How closely did you follow The Wire?

Wale: Oh, I’ve seen every episode.

TSS: Which character from the show is Wale? Read the rest of this entry »

Push up ya lighters! It’s that time. Before giving fans his debut album, Wale & 9th Wonder take us Back To The Feature. Hit the break for the goods. Read the rest of this entry »

Two newly released Wale tracks for your archives. “Wonder Why” features current favorites Mike Posner & Big Sean. “Rain, Sleet, Snow” was Read the rest of this entry »

Over the past few weeks, I’ve read quiet speculation as to if this Back To The Feature project with 9th Wonder-ful was forgotten since Wale was touring or ultimately just Detox-ed. Well, Wale took to his Twitter to demystify it all for his fans & followers.

Apparently not. If you order your TSS Ez Split within the next 24, you should have it in time for the listening session.

Giving credit where credit is due.

For the majority of last year, I had to argue with The Great Debater about the value of The Mixtape About Nothing. Bar none, I still think it was one of last year’s best releases (if not the best), regardless of it had a SKU number or not. Read the rest of this entry »

New Wale from his upcoming mixtape, Back To The Future Feature. Read the rest of this entry »