After a long hiatus, Wale is officially back—and he’s bringing everything fans love about him: introspective bars, vivid storytelling, and undeniable bops.

The Grammy-nominated DMV native is making his highly anticipated return with a fresh perspective, a new label deal, and even a sneaker collab. While he may have stepped out of the public eye, he never stopped creating. Wale recently inked a new deal with Def Jam Records following his time with Maybach Music Group, and he teamed up with Nike to design the DMV Foamposites—featuring a cherry blossom-inspired colorway that pays homage to his roots.

He’s also hitting the stage again, with performances lined up for J. Cole’s final Dreamville Festival and T-Pain’s Wiscansin Fest.

His latest single, “Blanco,” produced by Red Vision, is a raw, bluesy meditation on life’s emotional weight and how he copes with it.

In a conversation with BET.com, Wale opened up about the business of music, what drives him creatively, and the emotional truths behind “Blanco.”

It’s been nearly four years since he released Folarin II, and while he’s been quiet publicly, he’s been grinding behind the scenes—especially on the business side.

“After years of recording, I had to get my business straight. I went through a lot of changes, so I had to get all of that in order for the people who haven’t seen me since the last album,” Wale explained. “I mean, I was still busting my ass with Folarin II. But when the label knows you’re leaving, there’s only so much you can do. It’s been a while since I felt that team energy around me when making a project. But I never stopped recording.”

At this stage of his career, Wale isn’t chasing the trappings of fame. Instead, he’s prioritizing his peace.

“I try to stay out of the way, bro. I'm not very interested in doing too much with anybody. I don’t really have the spirit for that,” he said. “I’m not about sitting around tables talking, having lunch, or doing dinners with everybody. That ain’t my thing—and that’s how I keep my peace.”

Stepping away from the industry also gave Wale a fresh perspective on himself and the world around him.

“I think the main thing is that I don’t want to engage in industry stuff too much because I’ve seen how people really are. During this downtime, I’ve had the chance to watch, to see how fickle the media and fans can be, and how desensitized people are to their own behavior,” he said. “So I’m not willing to talk to too many people—because it’s not real. I’ve had so much time to just sit back and observe.”

Known for crafting songs that explore the highs and lows of relationships, Wale says his creative process always starts with being authentic.

“I just write what I’m feeling, you know? I never really thought I had a specific sound. I make music and people either gravitate to it or they don’t. I think the idea of having a ‘sound’ is kind of outdated,” he said. “With so much music out now, people have more chances to go through your whole discography. And the ones who know, know there’s no box to put me in. I just write honestly and see what happens.”

Now a seasoned rap veteran, Wale believes his success and longevity come from staying true to himself.

“It’s about living your own truth. There are always going to be people in the game who are telling their truth, and others who aren’t—and both sides can be successful. So I don’t think that’ll ever change.”

On “Blanco,” Wale bares his pain and vulnerability. Rhyming over a bluesy backdrop, he explores the emotional weight he carries and the solace he sometimes seeks in drinking.

“It’s really about being alone. People don’t have empathy for those they see as successful or wealthy. Once you hit a certain level, you stop looking for understanding and become content with being by yourself,” he shared. “You’re still living a full life, even while being around people. It’s not like I’m in prison, but it can get lonely in your own little vortex. It’s intense being the center of attention when you can’t really move, and people’s intentions aren’t pure.”

“These are the things you gotta endure when you reach a certain level. So ‘Blanco’ is about having trust issues with everything and everyone around you. It’s about becoming cynical because of everything you’ve been through.”

Alongside “Blanco,” Wale has a new body of work dropping later this year. He hopes both longtime fans and new listeners will experience his music without bias.

“I want them to just listen to the music. Cut the noise and really listen—because that’s what this is all about,” he said. “We started making music so we could be heard. I want people to take it in and not judge it based on anything else.”