WALE

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, born September 21, 1984, is an American rapper known professionally as Wale. He gained initial recognition with his 2006 song 'Dig Dug (Shake It)', which was popular in Germantown, Maryland. Following this, he released several follow-up tracks that increased his local profile. In 2007, Wale signed a recording contract with Mark Ronson's Allido Records. After a bidding war among three labels, his contract was part of a joint venture with Interscope Records for $1.3 million in 2008. During this period, Wale's mixtapes and singles attracted attention, and he appeared on MTV and in magazines focused on Black America. His debut studio album, 'Attention Deficit' (2009), received positive critical reviews despite underperforming commercially. The album's lead single, 'Chillin' featuring Lady Gaga, marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Wale's mainstream recognition increased with his guest appearance on Waka Flocka Flame's 2010 single 'No Hands', which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard chart and was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America.