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  1. Tracks
  2. Wale
  3. The Gifted
  4. Simple Man

TRACK

Wale

Simple Man

Release date: 25th June 2013

From The Gifted
Spotify
More on Wale

About This Track

Wale's 'Simple Man' cuts through the posturing of rap excess with a disarming directness. The track finds him caught between material ambition and the weight of where he comes from, his voice moving between boasts and confessions without apology. He wants money, not fame; he's a rider, not a saint. The production stays lean, letting the contradiction sit unresolved: he speaks to God and claims he's alright, but he also knows the millions come with a billion haters. What makes the song work is the specificity of its complaint. Wale doesn't rage against the machine or claim some higher moral ground. Instead, he maps the actual texture of success in his world: the phonies who circle when you blow up, the homies you lose, the women with their own agendas, the friends with their own schemes. He's playing a game with a deep bench, and he knows the rules. The chorus strips it all back to the plainest possible statement of intent, a kind of weary honesty that sounds almost like relief.

"Simple Man" is a track by Wale, from the album The Gifted, released 25th June 2013. Full lyrics are available below.

About the Artist

Wale

Wale

Lyrics

Simple Man

[Produced by Wale]

[Verse 1]

Ayo I’m goin' places, Dior Homme lacin' all occasions

And Lord gave me amazing thinking and short patience

Lay solo, forever flashy though I hate photos

Date four hoes, make her smile and make her moan though

Lady charmer, put armor by your baby mama

I hate to say it a later moment I didn’t warn ya

High roller, big spender

And my intentions to keep her on the sack, you just Saks Fifth her

I’m that different, this cat can react mad pimpish

I gathered a couple hundred thousand, I can’t remember

They keep talkin' and we keep winning

Why niggas never say capisce until police chalk em

Because of my bitch that's talkin', givin' her head, the streets will follow

I come from a place where niggas my age ain't placed to see tomorrow

To each his own but each of them is known to steal or rob you

But jails are overpopulated but know there's seats in college

And those are the least of problems, I speak to God he says I'm alright

My vision funny, though 20/20's my hindsight

Bad bitches with me, real niggas with me

Whole ghetto with me mixin Ketel with the Simply

Like the sweet anguish, find your peace baby

I know the millions you get come with a billion haters, yea

[Chorus]

Forgive me, I’m a rider

Sure I’m just a simple man

All I want is money, fuck the fame

I’m a simple man, lawd

You know that I’m a rider

Tell 'em just a simple man

All I want is money, fuck the fame

I’m a simple man, lawd

[Verse 2]

I’m pickin' apart, my wicked opponents

Get in my zone

Niggas can't join us, so, these niggas done cloned us

Look at me close, see the results you see a nigga a loner

Cause all of the bitches that's giving me grief also be given me boners

Blow up in rap, young and you black

Niggas be blowin' your phone up

Whenever you don’t, lose you a homie, ho

Adult from show cuz

If you get that, then roll up

If you get that, that’s no love

Every move you make they got lip

Every chick you like done got kids

And forget that chick had brought friends

Every jay you hit you need vent

Every friend you got, got M.O's

I’m in a game, even with a deep bench

I'mma ball like small fro Kobe

Without the 8, but all the hate though

Pockets thicker all my niggas, ain't the same though

I just came up, fuck is you sayin' though

Gave the business my heart, it just gave me the finger

Nigga, yeah

[Chorus]

Forgive me, I’m a rider

Sure I’m just a simple man

All I want is money, fuck the fame

I’m a simple man, lawd

You know that I’m a rider

Tell 'em just a simple man

All I want is money, fuck the fame

I’m a simple man, lawd

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From The Gifted

2013
Listen
Album
The Gifted
The Gifted
Wale
Release year
2013
  1. —Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece)
  2. —Gullible
  3. —Heaven’s Afternoon
  4. —LoveHate Thing
  5. —The Curse of the Gifted
  6. —Rotation
  7. —Clappers
  8. —Bricks
  9. —MFS
  10. —One Eye Kitten (Remix)
  11. —Black Heroes / Outro About Nothing
  12. —Sunshine
  13. —Simple Man
  14. —Hella
  15. —Vanity
  16. —Tired of Dreaming
  17. —88

More from Wale

Albums & EPs

Wow... That's Crazy
Wow... That's Crazy
2019
My Love (feat. Major Lazer, WizKid & Dua Lipa) [Remixes] - Single
My Love (feat. Major Lazer, WizKid & Dua Lipa) [Remixes] - Single
2017
Ambition
2011
Free Lunch
Free Lunch
MY PYT
MY PYT
All Star Break Up
All Star Break Up

Explore

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  3. Beverly Blvd
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  6. Blanco
  7. Caramel
  8. City On Fire
  9. Conundrum
  10. Corner Bottles

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Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
No Credit, Wale
Producer
No Credit, Wale
Additional Engineering
Derek Selby
Assistant Recording Engineer
Cody Sciara
Mastering Engineer
Chris Athens
Mixing Engineer
No Credit
Recording Engineer
No Credit
READ MORE ABOUT WALEREAD MORE ABOUT WALE
READ MORE ABOUT WALEREAD MORE ABOUT WALE

No coverage available for Wale yet.