MMG rapper, Wale dropped his 6th album, "Wow...That's Crazy" on the 11th of October, and after a full week in stores, the album sold 35,727 copies first week.
Showing posts with label wale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wale. Show all posts
3 Reasons Why I Feel Wale's Shine Album Flopped
Wale just dropped his 5th album, Shine and it sold 25,000 copies first week. I consider this a flop for someone of Wale's status. This is the lowest first week sales of any Wale album since he dropped Attention Deficit in 2009. His last album, The Album About Nothing (2015), which I felt didn't do so good commercially at least sold 88,000 copies first week.
The way I see it is there are the three kings of the new school- J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake, and then you have Big Sean, and Wale who are top contenders for that top three position. So, for Wale to release an album and sell less than 50k copies first week is a big disappointment.
Below are three reasons why I feel the album flopped.
1. The J.Cole Diss (False Prophets)
J.Cole might just have seen that song as a way of getting to his friend (yea, they are still good friends to this day), but it did a lot of damage to Wale's career. In this day and age, majority of rap music listeners don't have minds of their own. Once these kids hear someone of authority, or the crowd say something is wack, they are riding with that automatically...and vice versa. J.Cole calling out Wale for not appreciating his fans and being a "false prophet" registered in the minds of the rap music buyers (who are predominantly kids under 18 by the way) that Wale is 'not cool,' and no one wants to be uncool. So, they see the Wale CD in the store, or on ITunes, and just ignore it.
2. Bad Timing
How would you go ahead and drop a CD two weeks after Kendrick Lamar dropped the biggest album of his career. Damn is not necessarily Kendrick Lamar's best, but Kendrick is at his peak right now, and this is Kendrick Lamar season. These kids don't care about anything else but Kendrick right now. Even the king of sales, Drake is not selling as much as Kendrick right now, so Wale would be worse affected by the Kendrick wave. He should have left the album release at the original date (5th of May), and then done a lot more promotion, instead of dropping the album a week early.
3. Bad Promotion
I don't know if he is having problems at Atlantic Records, but I feel they didn't do enough to promote this album. I didn't even know it was coming till the day it dropped. Plus, Wale didn't have a strong enough single that could carry the album; PYT, Running Back, and Fashion Week with G-Eazy are all good songs, but they just didn't buzz enough to make people long for the album. Maybe if he had dropped the album around the time PYT was buzzing last year, he would have done better numbers.
The way I see it is there are the three kings of the new school- J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake, and then you have Big Sean, and Wale who are top contenders for that top three position. So, for Wale to release an album and sell less than 50k copies first week is a big disappointment.
Below are three reasons why I feel the album flopped.
1. The J.Cole Diss (False Prophets)
J.Cole might just have seen that song as a way of getting to his friend (yea, they are still good friends to this day), but it did a lot of damage to Wale's career. In this day and age, majority of rap music listeners don't have minds of their own. Once these kids hear someone of authority, or the crowd say something is wack, they are riding with that automatically...and vice versa. J.Cole calling out Wale for not appreciating his fans and being a "false prophet" registered in the minds of the rap music buyers (who are predominantly kids under 18 by the way) that Wale is 'not cool,' and no one wants to be uncool. So, they see the Wale CD in the store, or on ITunes, and just ignore it.
2. Bad Timing
How would you go ahead and drop a CD two weeks after Kendrick Lamar dropped the biggest album of his career. Damn is not necessarily Kendrick Lamar's best, but Kendrick is at his peak right now, and this is Kendrick Lamar season. These kids don't care about anything else but Kendrick right now. Even the king of sales, Drake is not selling as much as Kendrick right now, so Wale would be worse affected by the Kendrick wave. He should have left the album release at the original date (5th of May), and then done a lot more promotion, instead of dropping the album a week early.
3. Bad Promotion
I don't know if he is having problems at Atlantic Records, but I feel they didn't do enough to promote this album. I didn't even know it was coming till the day it dropped. Plus, Wale didn't have a strong enough single that could carry the album; PYT, Running Back, and Fashion Week with G-Eazy are all good songs, but they just didn't buzz enough to make people long for the album. Maybe if he had dropped the album around the time PYT was buzzing last year, he would have done better numbers.
Official First Week Sales of Wale's "Shine" Album
I had predicted this album would sell between 120-140k first week, but for the first time in a long while, I was way off on an album first week sales prediction. Wale's Shine album sold 25,584 copies after a full week in stores.
This is really low for someone of Wale's status. I know Wale is a very emotional being, and I hope he doesn't slip into depression because of these low numbers. These are really bad numbers for someone on a major label.
This is really low for someone of Wale's status. I know Wale is a very emotional being, and I hope he doesn't slip into depression because of these low numbers. These are really bad numbers for someone on a major label.
Wale Speaks About He and J.Cole's Relationship After Their Beef
Right before J.Cole dropped his 4 Your Eyez Only album last year, he dropped a song called False Prophets, were he goes at Kanye West, and Wale. And for those that don't know, Wale and Cole are really good friends, so that record was really unexpected. In his recent interview on Power 105.1 FM, Wale speaks on how he reacted after hearing the song and how he and J.Cole's relationship has been since the song dropped.
"The night before that joint came out right. I will never forget it...me and my daughter's mother, we're not together but we've always remained, we always, at the worst, we best friends. You know what I'm saying. And I was talking to Cole. I was like 'men.' We was just talking about some things that were happening in...at home. Just on some homie shit. You know what I'm saying....Cole always give me good advise...I consider him a real friend. He was just telling me like...he was giving me game. We talked for maybe forty-five minutes that night. You know what I'm saying. And he never mentioned it one bit."
Whoa! That's kinda odd, don't you think? It is interesting to know they are still good friends after that. I guess that song was a way Cole felt he could get to his friend, since Wale wasn't taking his advise of appreciating what he had instead of complaining all the time.
Wale then went on to speak on what happened after he heard the song (False Prophets), and how he recorded his response to the song.
"That night, I went to VA (Virginia) to go watch some high school basketball. I went with my mans and then we went to like three clubs that night, and I got fried, and I didn't want to drive back to all the way to my house. So I stayed in the city. I woke up. I had like 30 missed calls, and like 40 text messages...So, at this point, I was like, I don't know what to expect. So, I hear that joint. You know what I'm saying. As I'm smoking and listening to that joint, riding around, and I'm just like 'take me to the studio. Right now.'...I ain't text him, he ain't hear from me until...he ain't hear from me until I put it out...That joint was down in about ten hours...He got those ideas in his mind because we so close...he felt that way, and the only bad thing is if that might set a narrative for people who don't really know me...But at the end of the day, like me and Cole gon always be friends."
Yea, you heard the man. They are just like brothers who might fight every now and then, but it doesn't mean they will hate each other for life. They would always work things out.
"The night before that joint came out right. I will never forget it...me and my daughter's mother, we're not together but we've always remained, we always, at the worst, we best friends. You know what I'm saying. And I was talking to Cole. I was like 'men.' We was just talking about some things that were happening in...at home. Just on some homie shit. You know what I'm saying....Cole always give me good advise...I consider him a real friend. He was just telling me like...he was giving me game. We talked for maybe forty-five minutes that night. You know what I'm saying. And he never mentioned it one bit."Whoa! That's kinda odd, don't you think? It is interesting to know they are still good friends after that. I guess that song was a way Cole felt he could get to his friend, since Wale wasn't taking his advise of appreciating what he had instead of complaining all the time.
Wale then went on to speak on what happened after he heard the song (False Prophets), and how he recorded his response to the song.
"That night, I went to VA (Virginia) to go watch some high school basketball. I went with my mans and then we went to like three clubs that night, and I got fried, and I didn't want to drive back to all the way to my house. So I stayed in the city. I woke up. I had like 30 missed calls, and like 40 text messages...So, at this point, I was like, I don't know what to expect. So, I hear that joint. You know what I'm saying. As I'm smoking and listening to that joint, riding around, and I'm just like 'take me to the studio. Right now.'...I ain't text him, he ain't hear from me until...he ain't hear from me until I put it out...That joint was down in about ten hours...He got those ideas in his mind because we so close...he felt that way, and the only bad thing is if that might set a narrative for people who don't really know me...But at the end of the day, like me and Cole gon always be friends."
Yea, you heard the man. They are just like brothers who might fight every now and then, but it doesn't mean they will hate each other for life. They would always work things out.
Wale Says His Daughter Makes Him Cry
In his recent interview with Power 105.1 FM's The Breakfast Club crew, MMG rapper, Wale let the world know his daughter makes him cry sometimes. Tears of joy.
Read his exact words on this below.
"She's the best thing ever men! I ain't never really like...like I mean niggas think I was emotional before. Goddamn! Like when I be...you know. You know we on the road and shit if that shit hit you...like 'I miss my kids.' Like, I just be like...And then you probably go throw...you know me, I don't know how other parents...but I just go through my phone, and just be looking at her like...and I just be crying...sometimes. I be like 'young, what the f, what is, what is this smokelike, what is this sorcery. You know what I'm saying. And I just be like crying."
By the way, his daughter's name is Zyla Moon Oluwakemi, and she will be a year old in June.
First Week Sales Prediction of Wale's "Shine" Album
Wale just released his 5th studio album, Shine, and I want to predict what it would sell in its first week out. Wale has always sold in the range of 60-150 first week, and this is not going to be any different. I predict Shine would sell between 120-140k first week...plus or minus.
The album dropped today, the 28th of April, and it is supported by two singles...My PYT, and Running Back featuring Lil Wayne.
Tracklist of Wale's "Shine" Album
MMG rapper, Wale dropped his album (Shine) today...a week early. Checkout the tracklist of the album below. By the way, this is Wale's 5th album.
- Thank God
- Running Back (f. Lil Wayne)
- Scarface Rozay Gotti
- My Love (f. Major Lazer, WizKid & Dua Lipa)
- Fashion Week (f. G-Eazy)
- Colombia Heights (Te Llamo) [f. J Balvin]
- CC White
- Mathematics
- Fish n Grits (f. Travis Scott)
- Fine Girl (f. Davido & Olamide)
- Heaven on Earth (f. Chris Brown)
- My PYT
- DNA
- Smile (f. Phil Adé & Zyla Moon)
Wale Spending Quality Time with His Daughter, Oluwakemi
D.C rapper, Wale has been spending a lot of time with his bundle of joy this past couple weeks. His daughter, Zyla Moon Oluwakemi was born 23rd July 2016, and is currently 9 months old.
For those that don't know, Wale's real name is Oluwabowale Folarin, and he has his roots in the western part of Nigeria...same region as me. His parents left Nigeria for a better life abroad in the late 70s.
Checkout lovely pictures of Wale and his daughter, Kemi below...
Pic: Rotimi and Wale
Checkout this picture of two American musicians of Nigerian descent, Power's Rotimi, and MMG's Wale.
Pic: Photo of Wale's Baby Daughter
Wale has been off the rap scene for a while, but he has something else going for him right now...fatherhood. Below is a picture of Wale's baby daughter in a bath tub. She was born in July. Isn't she is adorable? He named her Zyla, and she also has a Yoruba name- Oluwakemi. To those that don't know, both Wale's parents are Nigerians that moved to America in the 80s.
Meek Mill Disses Wale on Instagram
It is funny they are on the same label, and yet they seem to always be feuding. First, it was about two years ago when Meek Mill went on Twitter and started going at Wale for not Tweeting a link to his album, Dreams and Nightmares when it dropped. And then, two days ago, Wale was on The Breakfast Club, and he was asked who he felt won the rap battle between Meek Mill and Drake, and he took Drake's side. A few hours later. Meek Mill jumped on Instagram and went kamikaze on Wale. Read his words below.
Wale Speaks on Meek Mill and Drake Rap Battle
Rick Ross has been interviewed about the beef between Meek Mill and Drake a few times, and being Meek Mill's boss, he felt he had to protect his artist, and so danced around the question, but never admitting to the fact that Meek Mill lost the battle (Oh, yea. He lost). Meek Mill's label mate, Wale wasn't as biased as Ross when he was asked during his recent interview on Power 105.1 who won the battle. Read his words below.
"I think...I just feel like, and this is me speaking as someone who's been in the industry for a good amount of time and as the same age as these dudes. I...don't think, you know...I honestly think, you know, he brought like a pencil to a gun fight. He didn't bring a knife...a pencil. You know what I'm saying...a piece of paper...try to paper-cut him to death. You can't...you couldn't...you can't compete with somebody that go them type of relationships. And I am telling everybody that thinks Meek lost just off of the strength of losing. Whether...It doesn't matter what he made. He could have wrote Ether 3.0. And the opinions of the people would have been that of, there boy from Canada waxed him." (The Breakfast Club Interview)
"I think...I just feel like, and this is me speaking as someone who's been in the industry for a good amount of time and as the same age as these dudes. I...don't think, you know...I honestly think, you know, he brought like a pencil to a gun fight. He didn't bring a knife...a pencil. You know what I'm saying...a piece of paper...try to paper-cut him to death. You can't...you couldn't...you can't compete with somebody that go them type of relationships. And I am telling everybody that thinks Meek lost just off of the strength of losing. Whether...It doesn't matter what he made. He could have wrote Ether 3.0. And the opinions of the people would have been that of, there boy from Canada waxed him." (The Breakfast Club Interview)
This is actually fact. I remember telling my friend after Meek and Funk Flex started dropping those ghostwritten/reference tracks trying to end Drake's career. I remember telling my friend that it won't hurt Drake's image. That dude is just so huge right now, and Meek Mill took a very ignorant way to attack him. He definitely wasn't calculative, and didn't think things through.
Wale Speaks on Recent Terrorist Attack in Nigeria
In a new interview with MTV, Wale spoke on the recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria. With his roots in Nigeria, it was only a matter of time before he spoke on this. And me being a Nigerian, with predominantly American readers on my blog, it was only right I blogged about this.
During the MTV interview, he was asked about the recent terrorist in the northern part of Nigeria, which CNN claims had a casualty of over 2,000 people. Below is what he had to say about the incidence.
During the MTV interview, he was asked about the recent terrorist in the northern part of Nigeria, which CNN claims had a casualty of over 2,000 people. Below is what he had to say about the incidence.
New Music: The Body (Wale feat. Jeremih)
The Body is the new Wale song featuring Jeremih. Wale has always had a lane of his own...never competing with no one with this love ballads he makes. This song is definitely going to climb up the charts in the next couple of weeks.
Listen to the song below.
New Music: My Town (Magazeen feat. Wale)
MMG's Ragga artist, Magazeen drops this new one, My Town, which features Wale. I like how Wale throws up a Nigerian flag in the song cover-art. Nice Ragga and Rap blend.Download the song here- My Town
New Music: Yayo Freetsyle (Wale)
I guess the new trend is to remix any hot song. I know, I think I am getting tired of this trend. Anyway, Wale is the rapper to remix Snootie Wild's hit song, Yayo.
Download the song here- Yayo
American Rappers With Nigerian Roots
With a population of 170 million people, Nigeria is the most populous black country on the continent. So, it is only right that you would have a handful of Black Americans with Nigerian descent in America. And in our case, list of American rappers, with Nigerian descent.
Chamillionaire
Stage name, Chamillionaire; real name, Hakeem Seriki. The 34 year old American rapper who rose to fame in 2006, with his hit song, Ridin has his roots in Nigeria. His father is a Yoruba Muslim from Oyo state, and his mother is African American from Washington. He moved to Houston at the age of four.
Wale
Stage name, Wale; real name, Olubowale Victor Akintimehin. He was born in Northwest, Washington, DC, in 1984, and didn't even step foot on Nigerian soil till 2013. But his parents are of the Yoruba ethnic group, of southwestern Nigeria. They traveled to the United States from Australia in 1979. Apparently, they had left Nigeria for Australia at an earlier date, but no record is available on that. Wale is very vocal in his music about his Nigerian roots, and has even done remixes of popular Nigerian songs (My Sweetie, No One Be Like You...) in the past.
Fat Tony
Stage name, Fat Tony; real name, Anthony Obi. Born March 24, 1988 to Nigerian-American parents in Houston, Texas. He won the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 Houston Press Music Award's 'Best Underground Hip Hop Award.
Tyler, The Creator
Tyler Gregory Okonma, born in Los Angeles, California in March 1991, is an American rapper, and leader of the Hip Hop group, Odd Future. He was born in America, and never has stepped foot on Nigerian soil before. And maybe never plans to do so. His father is Nigerian, and mother is African American. Tyler claims to have never met his father.
Akinyele
Akinyele Adams, an American rapper popularly known by his rap name Akinyele (pronounced Aknel), enjoyed mild fame in the 90s. He was a very explicit rapper, with hit songs like, F#*k Me For Free. His close associates from New York at the time were Large Professor, and Nas
Chamillionaire
Stage name, Chamillionaire; real name, Hakeem Seriki. The 34 year old American rapper who rose to fame in 2006, with his hit song, Ridin has his roots in Nigeria. His father is a Yoruba Muslim from Oyo state, and his mother is African American from Washington. He moved to Houston at the age of four.WaleStage name, Wale; real name, Olubowale Victor Akintimehin. He was born in Northwest, Washington, DC, in 1984, and didn't even step foot on Nigerian soil till 2013. But his parents are of the Yoruba ethnic group, of southwestern Nigeria. They traveled to the United States from Australia in 1979. Apparently, they had left Nigeria for Australia at an earlier date, but no record is available on that. Wale is very vocal in his music about his Nigerian roots, and has even done remixes of popular Nigerian songs (My Sweetie, No One Be Like You...) in the past.
Fat TonyStage name, Fat Tony; real name, Anthony Obi. Born March 24, 1988 to Nigerian-American parents in Houston, Texas. He won the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 Houston Press Music Award's 'Best Underground Hip Hop Award.
Tyler, The Creator
Tyler Gregory Okonma, born in Los Angeles, California in March 1991, is an American rapper, and leader of the Hip Hop group, Odd Future. He was born in America, and never has stepped foot on Nigerian soil before. And maybe never plans to do so. His father is Nigerian, and mother is African American. Tyler claims to have never met his father.
Akinyele
Akinyele Adams, an American rapper popularly known by his rap name Akinyele (pronounced Aknel), enjoyed mild fame in the 90s. He was a very explicit rapper, with hit songs like, F#*k Me For Free. His close associates from New York at the time were Large Professor, and NasFat Trel Comments on The Difference Between Him and Wale
Although the two MMG acts hail from Washing D.C, Fat Trel has come forward to let people know that there is a big difference between himself and Wale. Recently, he was featured on XXL, and he spoke about his just released Gleesh mixtape, and how it details his life growing up in the harsh parts of Washing D.C. He then took time to speak on the fact that he and Wale might come from the same state, but that their upbringings cannot be compared.
“A lot of people look at Wale and they think that’s the vision and that’s how they are. You know, he’s not from my side. He didn’t grow up doing the things that I did. I didn’t graduate high school. I wasn’t thinking about college. I didn’t think about the Jordan IIIs or the Sabado bucket hats. Balenciaga jackets. That wasn’t my lifestyle. I just want people to see the truth coming out of Washington D.C…..The truth is I am a young savage who comes from the worst streets of Washington D.C. But, I also have a heart. I’m a family man. I’m a cancer so I love a lot. I’m sensitive about my music. I care about what people think about me. I just want people to know that this is a genuine rapper. I’m not a nigga looking for a check.” (XXL)And of cos he is not trying to diss Wale, he is just trying to say he grew up a different way from how Wale grew up, and that even though they come from the same state, his story is different from Wale's.
Master P Speaks on Why Fat Trel's Deal With No Limit Didn't Work
He is signed to Rick Ross's MMG now, but Fat Trel was once on No Limits Records. Master P has been trying to rebuild No Limits and Fat Trel was one of the artists he signed to the label two years ago. In a recent interview with AllHipHop, Master P spoke on why Fat Trel's deal with No Limit fell through.
“Fat Trel is a good rap artist, but the No Limit Forever brand is about building entrepreneurs and business partners. When I was around Fat Trel, he was in a rush to getting a check and a record deal versus being patient and building his own to be a true boss. I even spoke with his manager and told him that this was not an overnight process. I’m not in the business of signing artists, this second go round I want to help all of my artists/partners to become their own boss but that requires sacrifice and hard work if you want to make millions. I’m not just cutting checks and taking care of artists anymore. No Limit Forever is a real independent company, this is not just a write-off for us. And if you’re a real street dude, you would appreciate me for what I’ve already done for you and your family. went above and beyond for Fat Trel. I took him out a negative environment, got him a safe place to stay in Los Angeles, transportation, put money in his pocket, paid for plane tickets and hotels for him and his team, got him exposure, put him on music with me and all without a contract just because I believed in the little homie."
Well, a lot of people might not like Rick Ross, but at least he gives his artists creative control over their works; that's why there are a diverse list of artists on MMG, and they are all doing their individual thing. I know people would say he would have been better off on No Limit, but I have to say I didn't even know who he was till he signed to MMG last year.
“Fat Trel is a good rap artist, but the No Limit Forever brand is about building entrepreneurs and business partners. When I was around Fat Trel, he was in a rush to getting a check and a record deal versus being patient and building his own to be a true boss. I even spoke with his manager and told him that this was not an overnight process. I’m not in the business of signing artists, this second go round I want to help all of my artists/partners to become their own boss but that requires sacrifice and hard work if you want to make millions. I’m not just cutting checks and taking care of artists anymore. No Limit Forever is a real independent company, this is not just a write-off for us. And if you’re a real street dude, you would appreciate me for what I’ve already done for you and your family. went above and beyond for Fat Trel. I took him out a negative environment, got him a safe place to stay in Los Angeles, transportation, put money in his pocket, paid for plane tickets and hotels for him and his team, got him exposure, put him on music with me and all without a contract just because I believed in the little homie."
During the course of the interview, Master P also said he is surprised Fat Trel signed with MMG.
"I told his mother that I would do my best to help him. I admit I was surprised when I heard that he did a deal with Wale because I thought they didn’t like each other. But I wish him the best with MMG. I think it’s a better fit for him as an artist."
Well, a lot of people might not like Rick Ross, but at least he gives his artists creative control over their works; that's why there are a diverse list of artists on MMG, and they are all doing their individual thing. I know people would say he would have been better off on No Limit, but I have to say I didn't even know who he was till he signed to MMG last year. Wale Speaks on Altercation With Twitter Troll
Yesterday, Wale confronted a twitter troll in real life at a WWE event. The troll had gone on twitter saying some offensive things about Wale, and when Wale found out they were actually in the same location, he located him and things got a little rough. Now, in this recent interview with MTV, he spoke on what happened.
"I was like, 'Yo, is this you?' And one thing lead to another, and I just kind of mushed him a little bit. Honestly, if there wasn't kids right there, it would have went a little bit differently, but I just wanted to be conscious of them. It's not to say it was the right decision. But in the moment, you know. People get it misconstrued. Like, 'Oh, you're so butt-hurt.' It's not even that. I come from a place where when we was at the lunch table and n---as was jonesing on each other, I'll respond. I'm gonna have something better, too. And now we've come to a place where, if you respond, you're a bitch. Somebody could say 'F--- you' 100 times, if I say 'f--- you' back, then I'm a bitch. And people be like, 'You're famous, you shouldn't care.' " (MTV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)