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The Evolution of Wale - Wale is set to make some serious noise with his much-anticipated sophomore effort, Ambition, which hits stores today. But he didn't get here overnight; Wale's been building his buzz for years. Click on to see Wale's evolution from D.C. hometown hero to Maybach Musician extraordinaire. (Photo: Allido Records and Interscope Records)

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Wale was born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 21, 1984. His parents, who are from the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria, immigrated to the United States from Austria in 1979. (Shareif Ziyadat/PictureGroup)

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D.C. Can Dig It - Wale broke on the scene in the DMV (that's D.C., Maryland and Virginia for the uninitiated) in 2006 with "Dig Dug (Shake It)," which received heavy airplay on local stations. Like much of Wale's early material, the song was heavily influenced by the local go-go music scene. (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

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Draft Pick - Wale inked his first major label deal in 2007, signing with Grammy-winning producer Mark Ronson's Allido Records and Interscope.(Photos from left: Dave Hogan/Getty Images, Shareif Ziyadat/PictureGroup)

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In the Mix - Wale turned up the buzz with two acclaimed mixtapes, 100 Miles & Running and Mixtape About Nothing, in 2007 and 2008 respectively. (Photo: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup)

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Wale Goes Gaga - Wale landed a huge look when he collaborated with superstar Lady Gaga for "Chillin'," the first single off his 2009 studio debut, Attention Deficit.(Photos from left: Paul Abell/PictureGroup, Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Attention Deficit - Wale dropped his major-debut, Attention Deficit, on November 10, 2009, via Allido and Interscope Records. Though it didn't live up to its expectations commercially, both fans and critics praised the album. (Photo: Allido Records and Interscope Records)

Photo By Photo: Allido Records and Interscope Records

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A New Bawse - On February 5, 2011, Wale announced that he was signing Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group, which already featured promising up-and-comers like Meek Mill and Pills. (Photo: REUTERS/Bill Auth /Landov)

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The Cipher - Wale and his Maybach Music brethren killed it yet again during their "Cipher" segment at the 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Self Made, Vol. 1 - Wale consecrated his new alliance with Maybach Music via several dope contributions on the label's acclaimed compilation, Self-Made Vol. 1, earlier this year. (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Ambition - Wale dropped his second album, Ambition, via Mayback Music Group today, Nov. 1. Featured guests on the album include Ross, Lloyd, Ne-Yo, Big Sean, Miguel, Meek Mill, Kid Cudi and Jeremih. (Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)