The Breakfast Club - Wale Interview

Episode Date: April 9, 2015

Wale stops through to chat about "The Album About Nothing", having anxiety, going through depression, his girl having a miscarriage, working with Jerry Seinfeld and much more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast

Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you?

Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other.

So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Real people, real celebrities, real talk. Join the Breakfast Club. Weekday mornings, 6 to 10. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy Angelou. real people real celebrities real talk join the breakfast club morning everybody it's dj envy angela yee charlamagne the guy we are the breakfast club special guest friend to the room mr wale what's up yo what's up sir what's that big ass belt you got on your shoulder wale i'm just you know i'm in the wrestling world like i'm gonna turn it into a good guy. Okay. Oh, yeah. I like to think of myself as a bad guy.

I don't think you fell for a heel, man. I don't think so. But you can be a good heel, though. I'm a tweener. I'm like Stone Cold. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Brock Lesnar. Now, another album dropped.

Wait, wait, wait. Wiley, come on. What did I tell you? The gum, please. Thank you. Every time you come here. You don't let somebody else tell you to take some gum Out your mouth How could you let

When I was a woman Are you letting another Oh that's not a man That's a woman Yeah it works with a woman It works with a woman Are you letting another man Ask you questions

Exactly You sure you wanna do this interview See after you technically My boss You're asking me questions Where's your boss today Okay The album about nothing is out

I see everybody Got their profile pics changed. Your album cover is trending on Twitter. Do you feel the love? Yeah. Are you embracing it today? I'm embraced. He's a good guy.

Try to remind myself to embrace the love. Okay. I want to be the people's champion. You had a surprise show at SOB's, right? And I saw a lot of people came out to support you there. So you just went on Twitter and just told people, come out? Yep. Yep. Because I just feel like I've done a lot of people came out to support you there. So you just went on Twitter and just told people, come out? Yep. Yep.

Because I just feel like I've done a lot of stuff. So, you know, like all my albums, I always do like a big show, Webster Hall or Roseland, whatever. Like I wanted to do something like, all right, let's like not promote nothing. Like let's just, you know, the day of, the morning of, be like, yo, this is where we at. You know, it was another risky move. But, like, just like the wrestling event I had at San Jose was risky as hell. What was the wrestling event? I had, like, a, like a...

Wale Mania. Yeah, I just, just did a jump, like, invited all, like, Rey Mysterio, Razor Ramon, like, all the people that, from my childhood, like, and I just mixed it in with, like, Ratchet, like, girls with, like, brazilians and stuff like that like so it was dope like blend of like lace front girls and like straight up brazilians yeah like waxes yeah like no like the weed joint oh yeah yeah you you know while are you grown you 30 years old you deal with a lot of reality you always talk about a lot of great social issues why do you believe in wrestling no no Why do you like wrestling?

It's not a believe. It's an art. It's like improv. Like, you know, you ever like see like whose line is it anyways and stuff like that? Like, they thinking

on their toes. So, you know, when you watch a match, like, they calling the spots. They like, you know, they might be like, you know, elbow or like,

it's like an all sequence. And they botch. They mess up all the time. Somebody recently died. Yeah, and you got to think on your toes. You know what I'm saying? Like, in any art form that you have to be on your toes, I'm a fan of. And, like, you know, a piece of it is just like an escape from, like, this.

No, hip hop. Like, just get the. Hip hop and wrestling don't got a lot of similarities. Some rappers. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Some like the Wahala that comes with like hip hop. You know what I'm saying?

But I'm a fan, you know, obviously when I was a child, I was a fan of it, like just like believing in it. But like when you get older, like I'm a fan of the business and how it's run, how you have an episodic television show that never ends. You know what I'm saying? Like they don't have reruns. They don't have off seasons. Those athletes are in there every, you know, and they do house shows. You know what I'm saying?

And the storytelling, I think it's just amazing. You know what I'm saying? That's something that I could see myself doing as far as writing and being a part of the creative. It seems like your new album is like storytelling. Absolutely. Jerry Seinfeld on this episode. Let's get back to the wrestling. What did you think about when you seen Snoop wrestle with Hulk Hogan?

What did you think about that? I was like, you know what I'm saying? That's one of the things where I wish I was in the creative room. I'm like, yo, I like the Snoop and Hulk Hogan having a moment thing, but Snoop throwing a guy over the thing, like, come on. Like if Floyd Mayweather jumped on the giant. I mean, if Floyd

hit him flush in the chin, though, you can still drop him. But Snoop, Snoop is all of 140 pounds. You know what I'm saying? Love dog to death. Dog gonna make that phone call on you. He could have done that.

But I don't know my dog throwing over a 250-pound man over the rope like that. But, you know, it was all in good fun. And you got a lot of love for SLBs. You even name-dropped them on the album About Nothing. Yeah. I mean, it's a staple. It's a cornerstone. Like, it's like your first initial, like, test run.

And it's like your coronation into the game. You know, I remember a lot of people's first SOB show. I remember, like, you know, like, when it was, like, all of us young artists, like, it was Meej, Wiz, Drake, and all of us, like, and I remember everybody coming to my SOB show, and it was a big deal. It was kind of the test run to see how my show was going to be outside of D.C. You know what I'm saying?

So it's definitely a part of our history. It's a part of our culture. And I'm just fortunate enough to be back in that zone like seven years later, crushing that zone. Even though it's a small venue, the energy there was unlike no other. And what did you say, E? I was asking about the album and how it's like episodes with Seinfeld.

And I saw the skits that you've been putting up with him in the studio with you and talking about things like matrimony and roller coasters and all of that. So is this supposed to be like different episodes? Yeah, well, essentially, it's like he plays my conscience. Well, essentially it's a, it's a,

it's like he plays my conscience. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, like how this guy, like he's a, he's plays my conscience in real life at times. Like as far as like, like I get an opinion and it's something that I would choose to follow or like I have to

assess myself or like a chin check, you know what I'm saying? At times like, you know, you got a record like the middle finger for instance, and Jerry's like, yo, no people want to talk, like let them talk. Like, you you know I'm saying at times like you know you got a record like the middle finger for instance and Jerry's like yo yes no people want to talk like let them talk like you know I'm saying they don't believe they self and exactly in it and it's like a template that like like a method of development you know when you when you in school you learn how to

write like a thesis and you have a method of development and like that's how I was writing my records like I was letting it be like a template of where I'm going to go and how I'm going to break down a record. And I just found it challenging as a writer to execute. But the bigger the challenge, the bigger the reward. Let's talk about that Middle Finger record, because that's one of my favorite records off the album. What was the convo you and Seinfeld were having?

Because he does say he encourages you to let people talk because they don't believe half of what they say you don't let people talk

nah I don't I don't at all but I just when me and Jerry get in the studio we just kind of just let it flow we don't rush it

we don't force it he says so much I could make two more albums off of the stuff we talked about if I wanted to. Like, so it was all, like, perfect. It was all just laid right out there.

And, you know, it just, you know, we go in the studio. We just got mics everywhere. And, like, we just talk. Like, you know, he'll have his coffee. You know, I go outside. You know what I'm saying? Do you let him hear the record beforehand? Like, yo, I got this record.

I let him when it's done. Yeah, yeah. When it's done. Yeah, yeah. When it's done. You said you go outside, so you smoke. I climb a tree. When you come back in and you smelling like smoke, what does he say? Bubbly time. Like, when the liquor start coming around, he be like, bubbly time.

And that's when it starts to get loose in the studio. But he don't got no problem with that, obviously. I'm sure Jerry been around. Does Seinfeld get royalties from your album? He don't want nothing. He ain't want nothing. He shouldn't. He's over a billion. I don't know if he with that, obviously. I'm sure Jerry been around some. Did Seinfeld get royalties from your album? He don't want nothing. He ain't want nothing. He shouldn't. He's almost a billionaire.

As rich as he is, I don't know if he got to just do it because he wants to. Yeah, I'd have been like, dang, man. You trying to finesse me, bro? Like, no, but he ain't want nothing. Like, the crazy thing is, like, I'm a young black dude from D.C. Like, I'm not supposed to be clearing NBC like that. Hell no. Have they intervened?

No, we cleared it. Like, Jerry was like, yo, make sure he's good on everything. Wow. I'm sure he has that kind of power. He do. They made him a lot of money. He do. The album could have been out like four months ago,

but clearing it was a challenge. But it got done, and that's one of the things that's unprecedented. And I want hip-hop to feel pride in that like knowing that we did that like they're they're bidding for the to for the uh to own the rights to Seinfeld right now and it's like millions of dollars on the table and I just come in here and use whatever I want what you mean like Netflix and people like that yeah it's a lot of money out there on that on that show and for like a young hip-hop dude to be able to use the show in an artistic way, that says a lot about where we're at as a culture.

And this is what I understand about you. You'll say things like you don't get the respect you deserve. But who can get Seinfeld to narrate an album? And he did it based off the fact that he's a fan, right? Yeah. He wasn't that familiar at first. I never really have a problem with the respect or lack thereof from my peer, like from my other entertainers.

I get a call from, you know, Jay-Z came here and said, my thing is more so like the media or the quote-unquote gatekeepers that kind of make or break or that can help you put food on your table and provide. The bosses. I see Meek Mill tweeted about the album and you guys clearly made up. He came to that show at SOB's. Where's my grill at?

Your grill. You know I got to get in my whole feng shui. Your feng shui. feng shui but yeah let's so let's talk about that how did you guys um you know finally come together and i know you hadn't spoken but there was no real beef but now it seems like friendship is back he's in love that's you know love chain makes people get another bounce in your step you know what i'm saying um, but in all seriousness, it's just everybody go through it, man. We're growing up in front of the world, though.

What was that first conversation, though? That initial convo, that breaking ice convo? It was never really like a thing. It was just like... Just forgot about it? It was done, you know what I'm saying? It was just like, man, whatever. You know what I'm saying?

Did y'all laugh about it? When your love, that changes that. When your love, it changes that. I mean, he was just like, man, whatever. Like, you know what I'm saying? Did y'all laugh about it? When your love, that changes that. When your love, it changes that. Yeah, he's, I mean, he's just, and plus, like, you know, he's cleaned up a lot of things in his life. Like, and me as well. Like, at the end of the day, like, blood thicker than water. And like, you know, obviously, we're not blood related, but in this industry, we blood.

Like, you know what I'm saying? That's my sister, so. Hey, sister. What's up, sis? I don't want this grill. All right. But anyway. you got more than one grill? You a rapper for real? I'd be wasting money.

Like, you do it to him. Yeah, don't f*** with me. It still be... But I gotta keep up with him. Oh, stop it. Let's talk about love. You're in love too now, right? Nah, I wanna be.

Okay. I actually wanna be. You got the record, Matrimony. I wanna be. That's what I was thinking when I heard that and then I know you and I saw the billboard article you talked about how you want to be married one day I mean this is something that I'm willing to like you know not aggressively pursue but pursue in some regards like you know like sacrifice yeah because like man are you. Like, you know. Take sacrifices. Yeah, because, like, man.

Are you willing to do those sacrifices, though? Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, who want to really do this here alone? Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, and I don't like, like, you know, my mind must be off to, like, oh, let's solve this. All right.

Well, okay. You go make that money and go spend it alone and see how much fun that is. Well, last time you were here, you talked about a girl that you were dating, and then you said you got in trouble after that. Well, I date women. I date women, though. A woman.

A woman. I got, you know, situationships. Situationships. Okay. You talk about. I got vibes. Okay. And the match money, you almost, you said you lost a baby.

What was that situation? Well, it was one of the most difficult times in my life because, you know, it was around the time my cousin passed away, and that was my cousin that was, I mean, I was with him every day. You know what I'm saying? How'd he die? Car accident. Wow. And, I mean, he had his firstborn,

and he passed away the day after. Wow. Damn. Yeah, and it was, I mean, I remember, like, yesterday, I was in, I was staying at the Intercontinental, and me and all my cousins, you know, we was all gathered around. Like, we was just, you know, drinking in the hotel. Like, man, we got to grow up, man.

Like, you know, Bo had his kid. Like, we got to keep the kids clicked up, so we got to grow up, man. Like, you know, Bo had his kid. Like, we got to keep the kids clicked up. So, we got to start knocking them down. And, you know, we lost them the next day. Were you a godfather or something? Well, we all just kind of, we all just agreed to just. Raise the kid. You know what I'm saying?

Like, whatever we got to do, you know, he won't want nothing in his life. You know, but as far as my miscarriage, like, it's different when, you know, he won't want nothing in his life. You know, but as far as my miscarriage, like, it's different when, you know, I'm sure y'all slipped a couple past the goalie at some time. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. I'm sure y'all, you know, I don't know. I've had three abortions. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Like, I'm sure y'all slipped a couple past the goalie, made that trip to the joint, whatever. But it's different when you got to when you've you got a situation where you found peace and you ready for it and then you start getting excited for it and you you know so when that happened I kind of went in the downward spiral like a lot of things started like taking over my life how far along was you like 10 11 weeks okay yeah so when we did that like when that happened you know it was like you know because you go from like having to tell your

parents about it and you know everybody like you got like the proper you know channels or whatever and then you know names and all that other stuff and like okay where i'm gonna move to because i'm not trying to be one of them. Like, you know what I'm saying? You're preparing. Yeah, absolutely. And then it's just, like, immediately. You know what I'm saying?

And I'm a person that always wants to know why. You know what I'm saying? And, like, I'm not talking about why, like, health-wise. I mean, God, why. You know what I'm saying? So it was tough to deal with. Then you started, from what I read, you said you started dealing with pills and alcohol. I just started getting into the deep end.

You know how it go, man. And the thing is, I'm not a person that just do what to fit in. I just don't want to be this person that is hindering my career, like, because of the perception of me. Like, I don't naturally walk around

with a smile on my face. What can I do to put a smile on my face? What, like, if we gonna make me come across as lazy and uninterested, what can I take?

What can I drink to make me give a proper, you know, energy towards something that I'm not interested in? And there's temporary energy, too. Exactly. And it's artificial. It's not real. You just want to numb it at some point. You just want to be like, man, like, you know, and like, people gonna lie. You know, I'm always going to tell you what it really is. Like, you know, when you start to get consumed in all the negative things that people say about you, like, it do hurt.

It do. Like, all right, man, we all men here. Man, I can fight, though. I really can fight. Like, I don't care. Like, I'm tough, like, whatever. But that shit hurt. You mean, like, via social media?

I'm talking about in general like when you hear like you go to a radio station and somebody say well I heard about you you heard what like what you heard what that I didn't want to do

500 drops I did 499 you know what I'm saying like what you hear because I know what goes on in my at Atlantic Records

I know how many times you got curbs I know what goes on at Atlantic Records. I know how many times you got curbed. I didn't curb. I did all your interviews, and I did all your drops. But what you hear, like, you didn't get your nephew's son's cafeteria lunch lady's autograph. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, the negative things travel so much faster. It's so much faster.

It's a very interesting combo because you're dealing with the death of your cousin. You had a miscarriage, but people don't know that. When you do an interview and you come off with an attitude, people don't know what's behind the attitude. Like, I saw the interview with Nardwine. I'm like, damn, why are they flexing on Nardwine? That's another thing. I was joking. Explain that because I don't know what you're talking about, Shalem.

Because the Nardwine joint, like, I was, the next day, I'm looking at the comments, or not even the comments, people are like, yo, why did you tweet Nardwuar like that? And I'm like, and I had to ask my crew, I'm like, what? And my man's like, bro, you know, people just don't understand you. People take it at face value. Yeah, like, I'm like, because I was like this. I was like, because he had the mic. And, like, I was looking forward to Narwhal interviews.

I thought he was going to show me, like, my second grade teacher, Ms. Rathbone. Like, oh, do you remember Mrs. Rathbone? He didn't dig deep enough for you. He was just like, oh, here's a treble funk CD. I mean, here's a treble funk album. Here's a Nigerian CD album. And I was like, oh, like, I thought it was going to be like something else. But I was like being, I was, to me, I thought I was joking about it. So I got his mic and I was like, huh, but like playing with him

But people like you're being a jerk to him Like I'm not gonna kiss the dude's ass like I'm just like I'm just playing with the dude like When I don't play y'all tell me I'm a stickler and when I'm playing around you say like why don't you just see here and Give a vanilla ass interview? Now, how was how was your baby mom's? How was she coping with the loss? Well, she's a strong girl, man. She's a very strong girl. Like she helped me.

You know what I'm saying? She she went. She I was on the road at the time. And, you know, she went to my mother's house and, you know, they had a woman's time. And that's the one, Wiley. If she's the one that helps you when you're down, that's the one. But, I mean,

there's a lot of, like, things, things happen, you know what I'm saying? Things change. I fuck up, she fuck up, and, you know,

who's to say me or that person even together anymore? Right. Why not just call off the interview sometime? Or just be like, yo, look, man,

I need to fall back today. I'm glad you said that, bro. I learned that early in the game. See, you know, you can't do that. You can't do it. You can't do it. Because the label makes that time and now the label looks bad. It makes the artists look bad. Yeah'm glad you said that, bro. I learned that early in the game. See, he know. You can't do that. You can't do it. Because the label makes that time, and now the label looks bad.

It makes the artists look bad. Yeah, but the label looks bad anyway. If they put him out there, he's not even going through something. You guys have, and I'm not trying to like ride y'all jockeying or anything like that, but like let's call it space play. You guys are the coveted morning show, but y'all earned that. You earned that from working with Wendy. You earned that from putting with wendy you earn that

from putting in works from you i was having your mixtapes when i was in high school you you earn that from doing a serious radio and all that and when y'all came together it's everybody wants to do this joint like there are people that are essentially extorting rappers for or or entertainers for their their time their their rub like the wrestling world, they call it a rub when you get somebody from another. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, like, so, like, there are people like, yo, like, if I don't get this,

then we're going to badmouth you. We're going to, you know what I'm saying? And that's not, it should be, like, a mutual respect thing. Like, I was up last night till, like, 6 in the morning. I'm excited to come here because y'all earned that. Like, you know what I'm saying? come here because y'all earned that. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's how it should be.

And that's what I feel like this whole wave of Almond Ball Nothing represents. Like, it's like power back into the consumer, the people, the fans, you know, and that's what J. Cole represents. That's what Drake dropping that secret album out of the blue. Like, that's what that represents, putting the power back into the people putting the power and like i will never forget this man i might even told y'all this story before we was in australia doing a little tour and q-tip we was on a bus it was like farside q-tip and uh like all these like um like groups from like the 90s and stuff like that And um, I was just peeping game and it was a school of me and stuff and Q-tip said dog in The 90s all we had was the source double XL and our album artwork. That's all we had to deal with now

it's so many things and avenues and so many things people use as leverage to to shit on you or to act like you're not as important or you know the gatekeepers like you know what I'm saying and that's unfortunate because it dilutes the the media it dilutes media as a whole you feel like it's classism in hip hop because I was talking to Big Sean and I said I feel

like it's tears like you have Kendrick's J. Cole's Drake's and it's a second tier it's like you Sean you have Kendrick's, J. Cole's, Drake's and it's a second tier. It's like you, Sean, Meek. Well, I mean, I think in some regard, I think really it's just two. It's like us and love and hip hop.

You know, I don't say that as like an, you know, like that's an entertaining show but it's about as real as Empire. Empire might even have an edge up on her as as far like, you know, as far as

People like yeah, like I don't like our saw Richie dollars saying I call them bitchy dollars And you do watch it and Ten Susan Boyle features That have been on that joint And you do talk about it You watch it And you feel bad That you watch it

Oh you've been Listening to my album Yeah You go I heard it I heard it You listen to it All by yourself

Get out of here Are you saying that Because I'm a woman Yes Absolutely No But um No

But I really rock with Empire, though. I think the success of Empire is directly our society or our world, our culture's affinity for the music industry. There's an outright, like, we can make another Empire. And it'll be as successful. You know what I'm saying? Because people want to know the underworkings of the music industry. Right. People want to know, like, even if it's, like, kind of ridiculous.

I'm not gay. Battle rap. Yeah. Like. They got to show another side, though. They got to show. You really just battle rapped and said you sung about your sexual orientation, and that was your. Unrealistic. that would never

happen in real life what can you imagine can you imagine three dollars versus like somebody like yes it'll never happen they're gonna be like what made it great was that he sang talented though man yeah he was a mighty duck. I bet you I didn't know that. He was a mighty duck. He was a mighty duck. But it's ridiculous enough to be talked about in the morning. When I was in middle school, we had New York undercover.

That was our joint. It was Martin and New York undercover, and we'd talk about that. So now everybody, I'm sure the water cooler talk is Empire. And it's ridiculous, but it's very entertaining. And the storylines are a little bit overly done, but again, it's very, very entertaining. That's what you mean when you say it's Tiz. It's the hip-hop guys who actually got talent, and then it's a bunch of...

I wouldn't even say talent because I'm sure they said that the girl from Love Hip Hop plays like a lot of instruments or something like that and I'm not trying to like make this an indictment on her

but like I'm sure there's a like there's producers there that play off the delusions and dreams of some of these people on the show and that right there

is sick to me. I think. You know what I'm saying? I think there's a lot of dangling, like, you know you could be famous if you do this. You know what I'm saying? Some of that stuff is fringe-worthy. Like the Diamond Strawberry Joan,

I was like, yo, is this real? Did she really leave her daughter at home? No, but she was like, yeah, I just come to the club to say hello. Wale really watches this show. Of course. Bro, I've been on a tour bus driving across. Bro, when you're driving from New Mexico to L.A. and you have nothing to do.

Like, I'm on iTunes. I want to find something to watch. Please. When I hear your album, I hear that you got a lot of trust issues with females. Do shows like that reinforce that? Oh, VH1. VH1 saying I'm thinking about these bitches.

I said that on the last album. That's real. I don't with these jones like that. These jones is for everybody. But hey, you guys are pretty untrustworthy as well. Of course. Conversely.

So I mean, you kind of get that energy you put out there. What's the symbolism in white sneakers, man? The vanity in our people. We're vain. You know, it ain't about... To the mic, Wiley. To the mic. It ain't about what you're doing.

It ain't about what you're doing, but how you looking. You know what I'm saying? They love you for your catalog and everybody got a jersey to play along. Back then the hoes checking for your Zappatose, so even dirty niggas had some phones. You know? So that's our life. Like, free lunch for everybody. We all come for a free lunch. Why all my friends got Jordans and stuff? Like, my mother was too proud to get the government checks or government-issued joints. Like, you know, just being African and being in America,

like, that pride is so immense. You know what I'm saying? So that's why we eating hot dogs and cans of corn so immense. You know what I'm saying? So that's why we eating hot dogs and cans of corn at nighttime. You know what I'm saying? But, like, we come from all these poor environments, and all of my peers got Jordans on. The vanity of our people, the pride of our people. The mothers want to put their sons.

Mothers even want to dress their sons up like the man that left them. You know what I'm saying? Or mothers want to put some nice Jordans on to mask what's really happening. The mask, like, there is no food in the refrigerator. To hide the hurt. Absolutely. And that's the core of that song. You know, Jerry, at the beginning of it, he says, I was wearing white shoes.

And it makes me happy. And like that's that's that's sent off like a whole lot of thinking. And I'm just like, wow. You know, you wrote the song after. Yeah, absolutely. I was wondering, did he come up with that? No, he just he just was talking. That was one of the first things, the first things that I took. And I wrote this song last summer. so we keep up appearances to be happy base I mean to we're trying to we're trying to give off an idea about ourselves you know I'm saying and you know it's a vanity and we dine over this shit we had literally dying over to to impress somebody like

if I wear these shoes this you're you're going to perceive me this way. You know what I'm saying? But if I wear these shoes, you're going to, you're automatically putting me in this class of individuals that needs to be respected

or that needs to be admired, adored. You know what I'm saying? That's what these sneakers represent. It's not even sneakers now. It's jewelry,

it's cars. Absolutely. People dress for success sometimes. White sneakers is essentially a symbol, a symbolic for all things that are material. Your record, The Pessimist.

I like that record because people think you're a pessimist. You know what I'm saying? Have you ever tried to power a positive thinking? I really do. Well, I got a number in my mind as well, what this album is doing. I keep trying to tell myself this is going to happen

I'm grateful for the universe every step of the way all the misfires and all the things that happen I pray on it and even if I don't I still want to be thankful that I got an open door policy that I can come and I'm one of hip hop's elite

I like to think so I try to think, you know what I'm saying? So I try to, like, you know, do this whole secret thing. But I don't want to be delusional at the same time. You know what I'm saying? I've seen some delusional people in this very seat. What's the number? I ain't going to put that out there.

Because if I don't, I'm going to be like, aha! You didn't get it. Aha! But what happened get it. Aha! But what happened to F you? Leave me alone. Yeah. You don't even care what people think. I mean, I'm a working prog guy.

Every time I come here, I tell you guys, I'm a working prog guy. People are starting to like you more, and I'm noticing that. But you asked the question. He's a good guy. On that record, he asked the question, who am I to change perception? It's all on you. But he changed his perception. People are liking Wale now now which is good I'm

a good guy I don't know today's only now I heard um you're also doing some Nigerian music I heard a song that you just did recently is this something that has been a long time goal of yours? You see, he's changing that. What is he doing? I want to do a longer interview. I want to stay for a whole shift. Can I do that? You should have a Wale day. Oh, shift.

Who's trying to get you out of here? No, I don't. I'm here. If the first week numbers don't come back the way you want them, you come here and do a whole show. I just want to shoot the shit, man. Well, let's talk about the Nigerian music that you,

I just heard one song that you did. Is it a whole project that you're going to do or what's happening? Well, I have a lot of, you know, like peers that are, you know,

successful artists in that arena. And that's something that I definitely want to experiment with and I definitely want to represent and be a part of. So, like, I could definitely see myself doing that. But, you know, at the same time, I definitely want to do a Go-Go album. That's probably, like, my next thing that I want to do. And essentially, I want to find, like, I want to put together a band

I want to get maybe somebody from New York a couple kids from D.C. I want to have like my N.E.R.D. project whereas like

I don't have to put as much pressure on myself musically and I got people to work with as far as creating the sounds

and stuff like that and providing like that sound to the world to be able to usher in that sound. Because go-go is a dying art. It is.

It's not what it used to be at all. I was going to ask you that. I was going to say, with it dying so bad, do you still incorporate that in all your shows? Because if you don't know what go-go music is, it's big in D.C., Maryland, Virginia. It's more of, how would you describe it? Like call and response.

It's very rich in D.C., Maryland, Virginia. It's more of, how would you describe it? Like call and response. It's very rich in like percussion, you know. It's really like nothing like no other. Like, you know, it's kind of like saying what does orange look like to a blind person. Like you got to kind of be there. You have a lot of songs that are go-go influenced. And the thing is, people don't even know. They try to tell me what's go-go. It's not like, yo, why don't you have go-go on a lot and the thing is people don't even know uh they try to tell me what's go-go it's not like yo why don't you have go-go on your last time i'm like clappers was go-go you know i'm saying or bait they didn't know bait was go-go you know i'm saying it's just bounce

beat that go-go's evolved and it's a bounce beat and other sub genres within that that genre so um it's definitely something that I want to do. And, you know, like, you know, my hat goes off to, like, a lot of the DJs. Even like yourself, like, you put together records that can do a compilation of, you know, you're organizing this guy on that record or two guys that you think would sound dope. But I still do go-go sets. The problem is, like, you know, I'm not familiar with new stuff. There's nothing new.

You're playing backyard junk, y'all. You're playing the older stuff. You're, like, right there in the early 90s, late 80s. DJ Kool. Yeah, it ain't really nothing. So I want to find a way to revolutionize that and also, like, you know, try to get some of these guys some money. Like, you know what I'm saying?

Like, some of the guys that's pioneering, you know, they've been touring the same small area for 20 years. You know what I'm saying? So I just want to, it means a lot to me to be able to execute something like that for the town. Now let's switch gears for a second. You always say white rappers get better opportunities than black rappers.

Is it really that simple? Yeah. No, that's it. Let's hang down. I mean, like, you know, every time I mention this, I get, like, they come from my head. But, like, it's just, it is what it is. Like, Iggy Azalea.

Yeah, Iggy Azalea. She going to get more opportunities than Trina get. They got the same, they rap the same. I mean, I don't know where you get that voice from Australia, but that's next to here and over there. They have the same,

you know, twang. Trina may be insulted right now. Twang. You said what? Trina may be insulted a little bit.

Why is that? No, I'm just saying, obviously, Iggy obviously, Iggy obviously was directly influenced by, like, a Jackie O. Like, even a T.I., like, you know what I'm saying? But those opportunities... I'm sure Katy Perry's not knocking on Trina's door to work.

You know what I'm saying? And that's kind of weird to me. Like, I just don't... Katy did bring out Missy, though, at the Super Bowl. Nostalgia. And Juicy J. Slow clap, Katy Perry. than me like i just don't katie did bring out missy though at the soup nostalgia and juicy jay slow clap take this culture nah it's i mean i just my thing is like i just i and i don't want to get all i got a dream i got it i have a dreamy on. But, like, I just really wish there was more equality in this sport. Because you—

You really believe white rappers are dominating over black rappers, Wiley? Okay, this is what I'm going to tell you right now. And I know I'm going to get in trouble. Please know my heart. Man, talk. Well, it's easy for you to say, motherfucker. He's not selling no albums. Do not play any more of Wiley's record on Top 40, man.

Okay, all I'm trying to say is I am a big fan of Sam Smith. I'm a big fan of his music. Me too, right? But that Stay With Me record, right? Had that been sung by a black person, it would not have reached Top 40. It's not. It's just not. It's too slow.

It's da-da-da-da-da-da. Why do you claim John Legend all of me? I mean, that's... Okay, look at the shooting percentage of Sam Smith. Anything he puts out is top 40 immediately.

That's... It doesn't... Top 40, they'll give you all the reasons as to why a successful song in the urban arena can't cross over to top 40. But as soon as he makes a record, it's top 40. You know what I'm saying?

And to people that don't understand, top 40 is there's a direct correlation between top 40 and iTunes. You know what I'm saying? Or exposure. You know what I'm saying? Like, the casual music fan that doesn't really go to blogs or this, that, and the third, their access is top 40. That's all they know. That's household names. That's why I said, white bitches barely know me up in Greystone.

Damn society, y'all. You know what I'm saying? And that's too bad, Becky, for not knowing who Wale is. It's your damn fault. You know what I'm saying? But at the same time, you guys guys like, well, unfortunately, R&B is dying. But like August Alsina would have sung Stay With Me. It would have been an Urban Radio record.

Period. No ifs, ands, and buts. There's no way that song was going. And people call me crazy, but there's some songs that Sam Smith sounds identical to Tank. I'm talking about exactly like Tank, exactly like him. And I'm sure if Tank would have sung some of them songs, they wouldn't have reached that audience. Urban Radio.

Urban Radio, I mean, Urban Radio has been great to me. And I proudly wear the flag of a guy with the most plays on Urban Radio two times in a row, you know what I'm saying? But at the same time, from a financial standpoint, you would obviously want that top 40 success because that directly

influences your income. Now, I can't speak on Sam Smith because I think he's actually talented. He's very talented. But for the white rappers who I don't feel are as talented as a lot of the black rappers, I think a lot of times they're just novelties. So I'm going to ask you, would you rather have one year like Macklemore

or a 10-year career? Macklemore coming back. He coming back on your ass. He probably got records with Sam Smith right now. He's pretty talented. You know what I'm saying? And it's not...

Yeah, he's been around for a while working. At the same time, if you want to talk about rapping, Royster 5'9 will smoke Macklemore. Without question. And it's not... And the Royster 5'9 will smoke Macklemore. Without question. And it's not, and the Royster 5'9 record will not surface Top 40 radio. No way, no how.

But would you rather have that one year like Macklemore or have a 10-year career? He's going to have a 10-year career. Macklemore has been out longer than that. We haven't seen him. Yeah, but Max Lamar did a lot of stuff independently before. He hasn't because he don't have to. Right. Right.

He doesn't have to. Like, oh, let me just call Kendrick and say, congratulations, sorry I took your award. Let me take it, though. I still got it. You know what I'm saying? Like, he my family thing. And, like, again, like, I don't want to, like,

I'm walking the fine line of telling the truth and somebody saying I'm hating, like, let me, disclaimer, I enjoy Macklemore's music. I was well aware of what he was doing before he blew up. And I think he found a lane. He worked it and he did it. And at the end of the day, that's all any of us could want. You know what I'm saying? But at the same time, it's not the same. I don't want to sound like I'm being a revolutionary, trying to be the new EP of Radio Wars and shit like that.

But it's definitely a black and white situation at times. Do you feel like early on you doing a song with Lady Gaga was your way? But I was already experimenting. I was already doing EDM. I was, you know, I rapped on the Justice. I did Go-Go. I did, you know what I'm saying? Like, I was already experimenting. I was already doing EDM. I was, you know, I rapped on the Justice. I did Go-Go. I did, you know what I'm saying? Like, I was already there.

So are you aware or conscious of trying to do things like crossover into pop? I like music. I like, I like, I like, Christina Aguilera sound like a black girl. Absolutely. She sound like a black, I would love to work with her. You know what I'm saying? Or, or, or, even Katy Perry. You know, she sounds like a white girl.

I would love to work with her. You know what I'm saying? But that's because I like music. I enjoy the actual art of performing music. You know what I'm saying? Now, lastly, I know you got to go to labels trying to get you out. No, we here.

What's up, man? Now, you're a sneakerhead. Huge sneakerhead. Oh, yeah, we did that? The biggest, I would say, influence when it comes to sneakers in this industry. Where's your own sneaker? That's another thing.

Like, the people want a Wale shoe from Nike. I mean, you should. You have broken so many sneakers and so many styles when it comes to sneakers. Would you only want to do it with Nike? Nah, we got some. The head of Nike loves Sam Smith, so he may not. The air Sam Smith is coming out for sure. The Air Sam Smith is coming out.

You can guess the colorway of that, John. It's called the queen. Oh, go ahead. The comments expressed by Charlamagne are not necessarily those. Wiley has all love for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, all that. I'm all for equality and people. Now, where's the Wale sneaker, man? Are we doing it?

What's going on? You know, it's something that we discussed, you know, like towards the end of my stint at Roc Nation, myself and OG Juan and Hov, like we tried to kick that door down. You know, it's an uphill battle, though. But I'd definitely be up to, you know, designing, you know know shoes for other clothing

lines I got a couple offers now to do some some one-ups and one-offs you know something that I want to do but it's something that I like I'm I'm about the culture man like I'm not really about the dollar when it comes to that that's something that I enjoy you know I'm saying like you like Adidas actually I like them Jordan I like them I think it's a, you know, when I went to Paris to work with him, I saw a lot of stuff he's working on. Like, he has a look. He showed me, like, where he was getting his inspiration from. And it's, like, 90s.

I forgot the name of the group. I think the Youngsters or something like that. The Youngsters. It was something. He was, like, and I saw it clear because I saw the lookbook. And I saw, you know, like, you know, the exaggerated like, you know, you know,

Ye and them dudes are like into like the silhouette of how the clothes fit on you and all that stuff. Like they're doing the combat boots

and all that. I'm more of a classic person. Like give me a good foam, get a good Air Force One, get Air Max and I'm Gucci. But like, I'm all for

like the preservation of like the DJ and the sneaker. Like those two things are synonymous with hip hop. Right. Like, and me personally, I was creative at like Nike or something. I'm giving DJs shoe deals the same way I'm giving athletes or rappers like that are, you know, directly into the sneaker world. It seems like Nike's more into giving the athletes the shoes. I mean, obviously, that's what it started on, you know what I'm saying?

But I just think, you know, I saw with my own two eyes how much money Rick Ross made Reebok. You know what I'm saying? Like, New Orleans Noel, God bless him, but he didn't make Reebok that much money. You know what I'm saying? And if not for a misinterpreted lyric or something like that, who knows

where Reebok would have been right now. It kind of killed the momentum. Now, you recently revealed that you suffer from anxiety. Did you have that before the industry? Nope. Damn! Nope. Not at all. I would freaking have a football game run for 250 yards

and be back after the game with all the cheerleaders and the newspaper and all that and no problems. You can sue hip-hop. You can be like them football players who get brain concussions. It's our fault. We're going to play Lior, Kevin Lyles, Julie Greenwald, John Moskowitz, everybody, Jay-Z, everybody.

No, but it comes from, like, and it's like, you know, the thing about it is, like, our people, they look at, like, mental stuff as, like, a weakness. You know what I'm saying? Like, and, like, you know, I grew up with people that have real, like, problems worse than me. Right. people that have real problems worse than me because mine was low compared to the people. I was in juvenile detention center in sixth grade all the way until I graduated high school. So I

literally grew up with people that have real issues. The group home kids to young rapists. All type of wahala was going on when I was in school. You you know i'm saying he said that's so crazy young rapist yeah it was crazy like i i've been i've been there i've seen it i've seen what you know like so like now like it's almost like god playing a little joke on me

like i'm i i'm i get uncomfortable sometimes in in large groups because this is how I break it down. Like, I go somewhere with my men, and it's like four of us. One go to the bathroom, one go in the car to get something, and one step off to use the phone. I'm now standing by myself. I can feel the churning of the thinking of people ready to come ask me for something or try to manipulate me or try to finagle something from Wale. Like, I'm a walking, breathing, living opportunity for people.

And we all are. We all are, bro. Can I get a drop, Charlamagne? All right. Boop. You know what I'm saying? Like, we are walking, living, breathing opportunities. And I don't think people understand that.

I don't think that the world understands what we go through. And I'm not saying to cry for us or nothing like that, because you got carrots all up in your ear, and you're doing good, huh? What the Margella's or something? You doing all right? Yeah. So don't cry for us, but at the same time, nobody know our little struggle.

That shit is deep. If you're not strong enough to deal with it or you don't have a good core, it's really difficult. Have you gone to therapy before? I think my therapy is this, because I actually go away from, we fuck around a lot,

but I go away from every Breakfast Club interview feeling like I got a weight off. Yeah, right. Because, like, you know, y'all are family. You know what I'm saying?

At the end of the day, we go through it. y'all joke, we joke on each other, whatever, but when it's all said and done, I'm sure y'all be like, man,

you know what I'm saying? It's healthy for everybody. Right. You know what I'm saying? Respect the honesty. And that's, ever since I started coming in here being like, just letting it go, I just feel better. Or like, I started my Every Blue Moon thing, where I just write a letter to my fans, and

it's essentially like a journal, and I just, I tell them, like, yo, like, you know what I'm saying? Today was, like, or I'll find a masculine way to say somebody hurt my feelings. Would you be open to going to therapy, though, if somebody was like, you know? I have, though. Like, you know, they bleed the clock a lot, man. We get straight to the motherfucking potatoes

in this joint, short. We appreciate you joining us today, man. Well, I didn't mean to cut you. I had a label cutting us off. Man, f***. Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Almond stores right now.

Make sure you hop about nothing. It's called Tan on, um... That's the hashtag on Twitter, Tan. Yeah, T-A-N. Are you subconsciously encouraging people to be darker? No. Nope.

Nope. We should all be darker, though, Charlamagne. Yeah, Charlamagne. Why you say Charlamagne, huh? He's looking at you. Why you looking at Charlamagne? He's looking at you.

Because I'm currently dealing with bleaching rumors. You wasn't dark while I was there before. I actually not, but I be feeling bad when they do that to that man, dog.

You do? Not me. For him? Yeah, though. What? I mean, but I be feeling bad when they do that to that man, dog. You do? Yeah. Yeah, dog. What? I mean, but he is the same. Exactly. I give the energy out. I got to get it back.

He take it. But I just know. But you know what I'm saying? Like, he like, just trying to have a presentable look. Like, you know what I'm saying? It wasn't presentable before. No. It wasn't Wiley.

No, I'm saying like. Okay. Okay. before. No. No, I'm saying like, okay, okay. You did it. You did it. You did it. You did it for a reason. You did it for a reason. Like, you know what I'm saying?

Maybe somebody got in your ear and MCV was like trying to make a deal. What's up? What's up? What's up? What's up with that guy, MV? No, no, I can do it.

I can do it. No, no, I got it. No, don't call him. I just wanted to even it out. I can get laid. I can be kid and play. Ladies and gentlemen, it's Broadway. It's the breakfast. It's the album about nothing. Good morning.

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakatistan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, guys, I'm Kate Max.

You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best, and you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing.

Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, my undeadly darlings. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on.

So join me, won't you? Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show, Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people.

We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence. And we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.