D.C.'s finest: Wale (MP3s)
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Sound familiar? Wale freestyles over the Justice hit.
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Wale's third mixtape.
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D.C. was known for being the murder capital for many years, not for hip-hop. Even though I'm originally from D.C., I find it difficult to name a prominent DC-area rapper. (Ummm, DJ Kool? Yeah). Despite the recent emergence of regional rap stars like Lil' Wayne in NO, T.I. in ATL, and the Swishahouse label in H-Town, the rise of Wale was not necessarily inevitable. But hard work and luck pays off. He got early exposure via WKYS and the Source magazine, fashioning a brand of hip-hop infused with regional go-go flava. Buzz from The Fader, XXL magazine, and collaborations with Mark Ronson have certainly helped him gain some deserved recognition.
Wale's myspace