‘So Far Gone’: the album Wale says “changed music”
Wale was one of the DMV’s (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) earliest rap ambassadors to break into the mainstream between the late 2000s and 2010s. First becoming known for his 2006 song ‘Dig Dug (Shake It)’ in the confines of his hometown, Washington DC, Wale gained further recognition as he amassed a number of follow-up records.
He was known for blending the DC-homegrown go-go genre with the rap hip-hop vibe that was becoming increasingly popular. This was a career-defining move from Wale that gave him a niche to follow, making go-go more palatable to the mainstream.
Wale’s debut studio album, Attention Deficit, was released in 2009 and featured Lady Gaga on its lead single ‘Chillin’. It received generally favourable critical reviews; however, it was deemed to not reach the mainstream level it could have done. It wasn’t until 2010 that Wale signed a record deal with Rick Ross’ Maybach Music group and gained access to one of the most distinguished labels at the time.
Recently, the ‘Chillin’ singer has tried his hand at producing movie soundtracks for ‘Free Guy’ in 2021. He also has a brief history of guest appearances on TV shows like ‘Black-ish’ and ‘All American’.
Wale is also somewhat known for his activism and tendency to speak out on issues that affect him. In 2020, he released The Imperfect Storm in conversation with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He raps over a looped beat and talks about the frustration with America’s anti-Blackness, mentioning that his daughter had to witness killings by police whilst scrolling social media.
Also, in ‘June 5th’, Wale includes a sample of activist Tamika Mallory’s speeches from a racial inequality march around the same time: “I don’t give a damn that they burned down Target // Because Target should be on the streets, with us // Calling for the justice that our people deserve.”
In an interview with Complex, Wale said Drake’s mixtape, So Far Gone, “changed music, for real”. He cited that ‘Brand New’ is his favourite song – where Drake wonders if he will ever be good enough for the girl he’s seeing who has high expectations. With its feet heavily placed in R&B, Drake’s soulful voice sings out the lyrics: ‘Feel like I’m in crazy competition with the past // That’s why I gotta ask // Is anything I’m doin’ brand new?’
During the Complex interview, Wale also stated: “Nobody’s been able to balance melody and consistent raps that well since Lauryn Hill.” The tragic and sincere honesty that Drake includes in his songs has been a hallmark for the artist over the years, especially in his 2011 release ‘Marvins Room’. This song also blends the combination of collaborating with singers to create intricate melodies within his rap verses.
Wale recalls that the Canadian rapper and singer was nervous about blending his vocals with rap: “We talked, and I just knew like, ‘Young’n is going to blow up after this mixtape.’ He was like, ‘Man, what do you think people are going to say? I’m singing a lot on there.’ I said, ‘Dog, you’re making good records though. You’re singing, but you’re making good records.’ You can’t deny good records, it doesn’t matter.”
He went on to add: “Fucking Andre 3000 can wear a yarmulke with fireworks on it. If he’s making good songs, nobody says anything.”