He Got Soul: Wale
Wale will be blazing the Soul Train Awards 2013 stage.
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Wale - Topping off a breakthrough year, Washinton D.C. rhyme superstar Wale is up for two trophies—Hip Hop Song of the Year and Best Collaboration—at the 2013 Soul Train Awards. Click on to see his musical journey over the years to becoming the genre's most critically-hailed voices. (Photo: Gary Miller/FilmMagic)
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Rhymes of the Century - The Washington, D.C. raised MC makes his music debut with the independent release of his first single "Rhyme of the Century." Along with becoming a minor hit on local radio, Wale gets featured in the "Unsigned Hype" column of The Source magazine. After signing to the D.C. label Studio 43, he released local, go-go-tinged hits like "Dig Dug (Shake It)" and "Breakdown." (Photo; Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
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Finding Good Girls - After signing to Allido Records in 2007, Wale released another hit track "Good Girls." There, his hip hop profile grows as he puts out critically-hailed mixtapes like 100 Miles & Running and The Mixtape About Nothing. (Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic)
Photo By Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Turned Up - In 2008, Wale signs a joint deal with Allido and Interscope Records for $1.3 million. The following year, his fifth mixtape, Back to the Feature, was released. Guest appearances on the mixtape include Talib Kweli, Joell Ortiz, Curren$y, J. Cole and Bun B. (Photo: MMG)
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Getting Enough Attention - Wale makes his national debut when he puts out his critcally acclaimed debut LP Attention Deficit. The album yields hit singles like "Chillin" featuring Lady Gaga and "Pretty Girl" featuring Gucci Mane. (Photo: Allido Records and Interscope Records)
Photo By Photo: Allido Records and Interscope Records
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From Nothing to Soemthing - Wale releases his sixth mixtape, More About Nothing, a follow-up to his The Mixtape About Nothing on the independent label The Board Administration. The buzz is so strong on the project, it gets 100,000 plus downloads in 90 minutes. (Photo: MMG)
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Put in Work - In 2012, MMG issues volume 2 of its Self Made compilation series, which tops Billboard's rap charts. And, once again, Wale gives stellar performances, this time on the tracks "Power Circle," "This Thing of Ours" and "I Be Puttin On." (Photo: MMG)
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Hip Hop's Gift - Wale's third LP, 2013's The Gifted, debuts at the top of Billboard's Top 200 charts because of hit singles like "Bad" featuring Tiara Thomas and "LoveHat Thing" featuring Sam Dew. (Photo: MMG)