Born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin in 1984 in Washington, D.C., Wale is a Nigerian-American rapper and songwriter whose intricate wordplay, D.C. go-go influences, and cultural commentary have made him one of the most respected lyricists of his generation. The son of Nigerian immigrants, he attended multiple colleges on football scholarships before turning his full attention to music in the mid-2000s, building a hometown following through mixtapes that mixed hip-hop with the distinct percussive pulse of D.C.'s go-go scene.

His breakthrough came with the mixtape 100 Miles & Running (2007), followed by The Mixtape About Nothing (2008) — a Seinfeld-themed project that earned widespread critical acclaim and led to his signing with Interscope Records. His major-label debut, Attention Deficit (2009), featured the singles "Chillin'" with Lady Gaga and "Pretty Girls," establishing him as one of hip-hop's most promising new voices.