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The Curious Case of Mr. Folarin

By: seandrasimsCategory: Features

It was two years ago when GQ Magazine named Wale, Kid Cudi, and Drake their “Men of the Year.” Dubbed the “Gangster Killers of the Year,” the trio was lauded for their unique brand of Hip-Hop, which appealed to the mainstream. GQ wrote: “Have you been listening to hip-hop this year? If not, we’ve got good news: The gangster persona is finally dead, and these are the kids who killed it. One song at a time, they built a new era in which duct-taped kilos, exotic firearms, and freaky girls are out and real life is the focus.”

And yet, Drake went on to promote plenty of a*s-shaking with Young Money on songs like, “Bedrock,” and Lil Wayne’s “She Will,” and Wale…well, Wale was on “No Hands,” where he decided to cleverly rhyme “motherf*cker” with “motherf*cker.” The likely truth is that a White publication can’t pronounce the death of the gangsters, because gangsters don’t die, they just multiply.

Hip-Hop is an ever-fluid genre, and D.C. native Wale is a rapper who has proven that. Signed originally to Mark Ronson’s Allido Records, then Interscope, and now Maybach Music Group (MMG), every step has been a step forward for Mr. Folarin.

Now, with the release of his second album and highly-anticipated reintroduction, Ambition, Wale is with a label that isn’t trying to label him or categorize him. Ambition was crafted with the help of MMG A&R, Dallas Martin, and recorded primarily in Atlanta – a fact that added to the flavor, which is largely different from Attention Deficit.

Ambition features production by Toomp, Diplo, and Lex Luger, to name a few. The album also features appearances by Miguel on the popular, “Lotus Flower Bomb,” Kid Cudi, MMG signee Meek Mill, and even “The Bawse” Rick Ross himself, stops by twice. A tour-tired, Wale spoke to AllHipHop.com about Ambition, sex appeal, and his thoughts about the direction that Hip-Hop is headed in:

AllHipHop.com: So, how are you?

Wale: I’m good. Just working, touring, stressing, getting ready for the album.

AllHipHop.com: How did you shape Ambition?

Wale: I just went where my heart told me to go. [yawns] Excuse me. We recorded a lot of music, there were certain emotions that I had certain days where I knew I was gonna write certain songs, and we just put it all together, the best ones, and it just kind of shapes itself out. When you are around your people, and you got that energy, you kind of know what’s going where.

AllHipHop.com: I know you recorded a lot of the album here in Atlanta. It seems like every time I turned around, I was running into you somewhere. Did that influence you in any way?

Wale: The energy is good in Atlanta. It has really good energy, so yeah, maybe indirectly.

AllHipHop.com: How did you come to choose the title? I hate that question. It seems cliché, but there is always a good answer. How did you choose Ambition?

Wale: I mean, it’s just the way I’ve been living my life for the past two years now. I’ve been putting it all on me. Putting all my energy back into my project, putting it back into myself, and not waiting on nobody to do it for me. That’s what I did as soon as I left my last situation.

AllHipHop.com: You’ve been in a couple different label situations. Do you feel like you progressed at every step?

Wale: Yeah. I definitely feel like I progressed. I feel like I’m connecting with the urban culture, you know, significantly more than I was two years ago. A career is all about progression. As long as you’re progressing, you winning.

AllHipHop.com: That’s an interesting statement, to say that you feel like you are connecting more with urban culture more than on your last album. Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?

Wale: It’s just, I didn’t know who I was being marketed to. I was just making my songs, submitting them to the label, and thinking it was all going to work like that. [yawns] I was kind of being serviced to the Top 40 crowd the first time around. Now it’s like, the people that are at my shows now, are the people that I’ve always been talking to.

AllHipHop.com: I guess the new album and the new label situation is marketing to those same people?

Wale: It’s just allowing me to speak freely. And allowing my words to be heard by the same people who check in with DJ Khaled to see what’s going on, or the Ross fans. I’m talking to them, and it almost feels like I’m a new artist to them because the label that I was on before. This allows me to fuse them with the people who have been supporting me for the last four, five years.

AllHipHop.com: So do you feel like Ambition is a new direction from Attention Deficit?

Wale: Naw, it’s the same direction. It’s just that the muzzle’s off. I’m doing it my way, as opposed to trying to appease an office. [yawns, interviewer laughs] that wouldn’t understand that you want to put a poem with a rap song; that wouldn’t understand that you want to use a live band or something.

AllHipHop.com: Or make a song about Islam?

Wale: Exactly. It’s different now. It’s just different. I’m making my music. I’m not changing my style up.

AllHipHop.com: You’re very much known for your lyricism. Do you think that that’s something that is being infused a lot more into Hip-Hop?

Wale: Um, yeah. It’s in a different direction, and the direction that it’s in is perfect for lyricists…rhymers, people that really love the sport of lyrics.

AllHipHop.com: That being said, what do you think is missing from Hip-Hop?

Wale: Nothing… I mean, the knowledge is almost there. It’s really hard for me to say because I’m a player in the game. Rather than somebody that’s up in the stands watching. I think that’s up the fans. That’s a fan question.

AllHipHop.com: Getting back to the album, I have a 15-year-old daughter who wears out “That Way.”

Wale: [laughter]

AllHipHop.com: How does it feel to have songs like that, and know that it crosses age ranges and genders? Do you think about that when you’re writing?

Wale: Absolutely. I mean, I kind of slept on it. I just make sure that I talk to the people. For some people, it might go over their head. I think if you are connecting with the people, they are looking to understand what you’re talking about. It’s a process, too. It has a lot to do with the production. It’s just a vibe, too. It has a lot to do with the production and the confidence behind your words. I think a 3-year-old could like “That Way” and not know what it’s about. It’s just a vibe, and that’s the beauty of music right there.

AllHipHop.com: Thinking about that, I was reading the interview that you guys did in XXL, and Meek Mill and Pill were saying that you have this special way with the ladies. Do you think that’s true?

Wale: I don’t think so. They just be saying that. They were probably just teasing me.

AllHipHop.com: I mean, you are kinda popular with the ladies. Do you think you are reaching that sex symbol status?

Wale: Naw, man…I’m too fat to be a sex symbol. I got a gut. Maybe if I get back in the gym. I was in the gym all the time when I did “The Cloud” video. I’m just me, man. I’m just happy to be here. I’m happy the women are enjoying the words that I’m saying.

AllHipHop.com: What do you think about women…in the Hip-Hop industry? There aren’t a lot of female rappers in it, but a lot of records are still being made for women. What’s the role? What’s the place for women in the genre right now, in your opinion?

Wale: Um…I don’t know. It’s an ever-so-evolving genre. You never know. There may not be that many women in this motherf*cka, but the one that’s in it is the baddest motherf*cka in the game, male or female. So, that’s a lot to be proud of. There was a time we had all these women, we had a lot of women, Foxy, Kim, but we never had anybody on a 100% rap album do that.

So, props to Nicki or whatever, she’s definitely having an impact very similar to Lauryn Hill. Obviously, the music is 100 percent completely different, but she is definitely having a Lauryn Hill impact. She very well may win four Grammys. I admire her, everything, her movement, everything. She is just killing the sh*t. It’s something to her hustle and to the evolution of the game and how far women have come in the game. It may not be that many, but she’s the baddest. She’s up there with the Jay-Zs and the Kanyes, as far as how hot she is.

AllHipHop.com: Superstar status.

Wale: Exactly.

AllHipHop.com: So, I just wanna ask you a couple more questions. I’m not gonna hold you; I know you’re tired. I wanna talk about J. Cole and that first week that he had. I know you worked with him on Ambition. How did you feel about that? Do you feel that pressure a little bit, or no?

Wale: Naw… I can’t compete with Cole, man. But, I feel like we excited for each other. And I’m excited for the fans. You know how many people really love our music? Just for them to have those two albums. I remember what it felt like being 14, 15 years old and like, “Yo. I got the new Nas, I got the new Jay, I got the new Big.” It was a vibe.

That’s what it is now. I don’t know who I am to the kids, but I’m somebody they f*ck with… and Cole somebody they f*ck with, Wiz somebody the f*ck with, Drizzy somebody they f*ck with, Sean somebody they f*ck with… so, it’s an exciting time. Let them enjoy it. Let them have their moment so they can be like, ‘Remember 2011? Big Sean dropped, and Cole, and Wale, and Drizzy…’ It’s their time now; this is their run. This is our generation’s time, and we started that. It’s good, I think. You got all young guys with successful albums out. I’m excited for the fans. I’m excited for the culture.

Ambition is in stores now. For more information on Wale, visit: www.walemusic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Wale.

Biba Adams is a Senior Contributing Writer for AllHipHop.com (and a huge Wale fan). Follow her @BibatheDiva.

Rocky Diamonds: The Diamond Life

By: Jake CratesCategory: Breeding Ground

Hailing from the land of frigid winters, Prince, Rhymesayers and a quickly blooming hip-hop scene, Minneapolis, Minnesota native Rocky Diamonds is quickly developing into one of the Internet’s most promising young rising stars.  Just three years removed from high school, this young spitter has already dropped a collaborative mixtape with Diamond Supply Co. and he just recently got off tour with the Sneaker Pimps.  Now Rocky has the majors in a seeming bidding war and its clear that he is primed for a major debut in the future.

With pending songs with Kendrick Lamar, and the who’s who list of up and coming artists right now, Rocky Diamonds is putting the city of Minneapolis on the map for good.  But while some hip-hop heads may not be familiar with what kind of sound to expect from Minnesota, or if Rocky has street cred coming from a relatively obscure Minneapolis, it hasn’t seemed to slow this kid down.  With plans for a several month long Midwest tour and a few select dates around the country. Rocky Diamonds has big plans for 2012. Welcome AllHipHop.com’s newest Breeding Ground Artist, Rocky Diamonds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFvaWO8Bkfg

AllHipHop: So tell me a little bit about where you’re from a little about your upbringing, we don’t have a ton of rappers from Minnesota.

Rocky Diamonds: Well basically I’m from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the worst part of the city, the hood of the city. Ummm…. s###… Its just like any other city, its just real small. Every city got the hood man, and me growing up was just on some normal kid s###. Me growing up – I didn’t know my pops, but I was living with my Mom and played basketball. That’s what I really did for the most of my life, but senior year of high school is when I really started taking the music seriously, and that was like three years ago.

AllHipHop:  Explain to me your role in the Minnesota hip-hop scene and explain to me what the Minnesota hip-hop scene is like.

Rocky Diamonds: There’s definitely talent there and I know a majority of the talented artists and most of them are my friends so…. We all homies and there’s talent there, its not big and exposed to the world yet, and I think that’s my role, and I’m not gonna say who is the best, or nothing like that but I think that’s my role to open up the door to everyone else.  So its like, with that being said, it’s like what I’m really trying to do, is to show that Minnesota is not just a f#####… you know what I mean, whatever they think it is.  My role is to show that there is actually talent here, and be the first n#### to do it.

AllHipHop:  How did your relationship with Diamond Supply develop, and how you linked up with them.

Rocky Diamonds: Well at first, last year my stage name was Young Rocky, and I when I had turned 18, I was like, “I want to drop that s###,” because I wanted to drop the “Young”.  So I didn’t know who my homies was at Diamonds Supply Co. was yet,  Nicky or Brock, so I was just going to the store and buying it and wearing it .  Then one of my friends was just like, “You should be Rocky Diamonds,” and I thought it was cool and so that’s what we ran with.   I had a shirt and it said “Diamond Life” on it and I was like, “Ima name my mixtape that s###.”  But me being blind to who Nicky and Brock was, I didn’t know it was a movement already because I was all the way in Minnesota.  So I got on Twitter and someone asked me if I knew who they were and I kind of freaked out because I didn’t want people to think I was trying to take their stuff and I reached out over Twitter and luckily they liked the music and s### and they told me to hit them up whenever I got to LA.   I flew out to LA a few months ago and I spoke with Nicky and Brock and we just mapped everything out with the mixtape and how its supposed to go and now I am working on the next “Diamond Life” mixtape and it worked out and it just happened and out of all the people that hit him up he hit me back and I just thought that was dope.

AllHipHop:  How do you pick out your beats? Who are some producers that you like to work with?

Rocky Diamonds: I’m a huge J Dilla fan, I think he is the best producer if not the one of the best producers ever.  His beats were a super chill vibe and that what I look for musically. But I find when I really go in, I rap on those types of beats and then you have the “Ballin Track”, then you got “Number One”, then “Get Yo Ass Out” and its all about how I might be feeling and its all a vibe about how I’m feeling that day and when I record a song an s###.

AllHipHop:  Since your success with this “Diamond Life” mixtape, explain how this has brought on more work with other artists and how it has helped your music.

Rocky Diamonds: It definitely was a steppingstone for me, just because it was kind of out of nowhere.  I put out mixtapes back home, but I never put them out nationally and when we put this out, we promo’d it to a different crowd, like a larger crowd I would say. And kind of built up respect through other artists and being a part of Diamond Supply, its really serious though and now I’m working with hella producers and artists and on the second one, its going to be bigger than the first one. We put this one out just as a stepping-stone and its great and exactly how we planned it to go.

AllHipHop:  Any tour plans coming up for the winter?

Rocky Diamonds: I just got off tour with the Sneaker Pimps and I did a few dates with them and I’m setting up this Midwest tour with this booking agency called Moodswing, they do work for LMFAO, Travie McCoy, Kevin Rudolph and a whole bunch of other pop artists.  We had a meeting with them and we got everything set up right around when my next project drops and we are just setting that up and I’m just doing small dates here and there that I am posting on my Twitter and Tumbler.

AllHipHop:  What can we expect from the next project?

Rocky Diamonds: Man! The next project is just more complete songs and better production and just taking more time to work on the mastering, really going in on the quality of the song and just better music I would say. Same feel just an upgrade of that, more professional and I think fans can expect a better quality of production.

AllHipHop:  Def looking forward to seeing how the sound evolves, who you working with going forward…. Any talks with labels at this point?

Rocky Diamonds: I had a meeting with Jive, a meeting with Def Jam, Atlantic, Sony in a couple of weeks, my managers met with Universal.  Now we got them all watching and we have had some deals tossed out there, but we are just taking out time and we are good just chilling, making music, doing shows and we aren’t anti-major or anything like that but we are just waiting for the right deal.

AllHipHop:  Do you think that you will stick on the independent route or major?

Rocky Diamonds: I don’t want to remain independent, because I don’t feel like independent artists are put on the same stage as the major artists and I want to be one of the greats. All of the greats are major artists, so I don’t want to just be ….. I want to get as big as possible and I want to keep doing what we do on a commercial scale. If you are a true artist you can stay yourself and still put out commercial music. Look at Jay-Z… we def aren’t trying to be small.

AllHipHop:  Where do you get inspiration? Who have you been listening to recently?

Rocky Diamonds: I listen to a lot of Meek Mill and Kendrick Lamar. I listened to Watch the Throne recently and I get inspiration from all of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s albums.  I listened to all those albums, Section.80, Kendrick Lamar.  That’s what I have been listening to recently.

AllHipHop:  How about Prince and Purple Rain?

Rocky Diamonds: Hahahaha, people always ask about that… hahaha

AllHipHop:  What kind of presence does Prince have on the hip hop scene out there?

Rocky Diamonds: Not only on hip-hop, but the state period.

AllHipHop:  And what about Rhymesayers?

Rocky Diamonds: They are huge out here, underground indie, out here doing their thing, they have one of the largest outdoor festivals in the country, I think now called the Minnnesota Soundset Festival, but they are huge.

Contact Rocky Diamonds here @RockyDiamonds

Lil Scrappy Lands New Deal

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) Atlanta rapper Lil’ Scrappy has inked a new deal to release his upcoming album The Grustle.

According to reps for Lil Scrappy, the rapper has partnered his G-Sup label with a company named S–Line, which is owned by his manager, Kevin Clark.

G –Sup and S–Line have created a joint venture with Bonzi Records, a label that label is owned by platinum Chicago producer Jay Wells, who has worked with Keyshia Cole, Snoop Dogg,  Goodie Mob and others.

The deal will allow Lil Scrappy to release The Grustle, which will be distributed by Universal/Fontana in early 2012.

Reps for Lil Scrappy told AllHipHop.com that The Grustle will feature guest appearances from Twista, Bun B, 2 Chainz and others.

The first single from the album is titled “Helicopter” featuring 2 Chainz and Twista and is currently on sale now on iTunes.

Piers Morgan Goes Hip-Hop With 50 Cent

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) Queens, New York rapper 50 Cent made a high-profile appearance last night (October 31) on CNN’s talk show “Piers Morgan Tonight.”

Piers Morgan, who took over for legendary journalist/personality Larry King, made a shocking revelation during a lengthy interview with 5o Cent.

Piers Morgan revealed that he’s a fan of hip-hop music, and that he works out to 50s hit single “In Da Club.”

“No one is going to believe me when I say this, but I work out to that song,” Piers Morgan told 50 Cent. “Literally it’s on my iPod. It’s the top of my gym collection. It never fails to get me going. It’s one of the great workout songs ever.”

50 Cent agreed with Piers Morgan and stated that the hit single, which is the most played song on radio in history, is obviously a staple of his performance catalog.

“The problem with that kind of song, Piers, is you got to create something that’s equivalent to it… every day, it’s someone’s birthday, so it’s relevant all over again,” 50 Cent said. “That’s the old reliable. I can’t move the crowd, put it on. It’s going to work.”

50 touched on a number of topics during the interview, including his new anti-bullying book “Playground” and his efforts with his Street King energy shot, which has a program designed to provide meals for 1 billion people who are starving.

In one of the more interesting parts of the interview, Piers Morgan questioned  50 Cent about his father.

According to 50, he has no desire to meet the man who fathered him.

“I never knew my father,” 50 Cent said adding that he was “grateful” that the man has never attempted to contact him, especially since he has become a world famous star.

During the interview 50 also stated that he still has bullet shrapnel in his tongue from a 2000 incident, when the rapper was shot nine times.

“I slur a little bit from time to time. But this is the new voice, the voice that works,” 50 Cent said. “The one that I had before I actually got shot and went through that actual altercation was only strong enough to make people aware of me in the ten-block radius that I grew up in musically. And this voice is the one the world embraces.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LzjBAKM-D74