Nov 4 - Wale Says He’s No Pop Act, Even With The Lady Gaga Collabo

**Hunedz|M** · 11-04-2009, 06:08 PM

DC rapper Wale landed a hit when he collaborated with pop sensation Lady Gaga for his single, "Chilin'," but he wants to make sure people don't expect a poppy-sounding album when they cop his debut.

In a recent sit down with Canadian publication, Peace Magazine, the rapper explained why the Gaga assist took place and why you won't see too many more of those.

"I'm not here to be a pop act," Wale said. " 'Chillin' is a pop song and I'm not here to be a pop act. I enjoyed what Gaga brings to the table and I wanted to make something that could be a lot of fun, but I don't think I'll be going back down that road ever."

Wale's debut, Attention Deficit, is slated for November 10th, and it will be more a personal reflection of himself as an artist, rather than a pop album tailor-made for the Billboard charts.

His personal favorite from the album is a track called "Shades." It's about the negative feelings he had toward those with lighter skin than his while growing up.

" 'Shades' isn't necessarily about my resentfulness," Wale explained. "At one point I thought I was resenting them, but it was a lack of confidence in myself that led me to behave the way I did at that time in my life."
The track barely made the cut, according to Wale, so he fought for it and won.

"I had to fight to get that on the album because I don't think a lot of people at the label understood it," he said.

Aside from the "Shades" track, other songs dealing with similiar themes didn't. Wale says some of the "higher-ups" at the labels just didn't get them, so he compromised as long as "Shades" did make it.

"There's not a lot of ethnicity in the industry, as far as the higher-ups go, and those guys are great at marketing and doing what they do, but a lot of times, records like 'Ice & Rain,' 'Family Affair,' these are all records that I wanted to get on the album, but I couldn't. 'Shades' was one where I was going to refuse to do anything if it didn't come out," Wale said.

You can pre-order Wale's Attention Deficit album on Amazon.com for just $10.99. It drops November 10th.

BallerStatus.com » Wale Says He’s No Pop Act, Even With The Lady Gaga Collabo

**wtr1906** · 11-04-2009, 06:36 PM

Lady Gaga nigg@, and you ain't pop???? ........ SERIOUSLY????? Okay

BTW that song sucks

**cledee23** · 11-04-2009, 06:49 PM

actually i heard the whole album, only that song is pop, trust me he's not pop,

**2D....** · 11-04-2009, 07:07 PM

yeah it was a stab at gettin exposed to the mainstream

id recommend you give his album a chance though, its quality hip hop, he a true lyricist

**wtr1906** · 11-04-2009, 07:30 PM

Im gonna go and listen to it cause I thought Wale had a lot of promise but after he dropped that Lady Gaga joint, I quit listening cause I thought he crossed over but I will give it a chance

**Rowe** · 11-04-2009, 08:10 PM

wale is god awful.

**darulersback** · 11-04-2009, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Rowe

wale is god awful.

how ?

**Ra-da-god** · 11-04-2009, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by wtr1906

Im gonna go and listen to it cause I thought Wale had a lot of promise but after he dropped that Lady Gaga joint, I quit listening cause I thought he crossed over but I will give it a chance

why do cats think like this? music is living and breathing, its a nice party record, why does hip-hop has to be all boxed in? I saw wale in concert dude is dope and he has a different style

**NorthNorthReppa** · 11-04-2009, 09:20 PM

Yeah album is tight. Definitely buying it.

**shush456** · 11-04-2009, 10:18 PM

ok nicca.. and wat other hip hop artist did she tracks.... just ur ass (no homo)... lol u goota do better job convincing me

**Luca Brasi** · 11-04-2009, 11:03 PM

mainstream hip hop is nothing more then a pop act

**Poloi3eai2** · 11-05-2009, 06:05 AM

his mixtapes have been my favorite the past few years but it seems like he let the major label boss him around. I was disappointed to hear him with Gaga. Pretty Girls was my favorite track until the album version came out with Gucci Mane.

He's my favorite new school rapper but his album lacks the artistic integrity that he preaches in his mixtape. I guess its a different story when the label is paying you advances.

**80sbabyent** · 11-05-2009, 08:15 AM

This album is really good for a freshman, I got the same feeling I got when I bought Im Serious even tho its two different styles, I think wale is here to stay

**Hardkore** · 11-05-2009, 08:40 AM

i haven't been a fan of wale since "nike boots." i listened to some of his music and i was not truly impressed. i hope everything works out for him and i hope his album sells well. i am simply not a fan. i just don't see it.

**FINAO** · 11-05-2009, 09:04 AM

Hardkore... the problem about "HIS" (notice the quotations), NIKE BOOTS song, is that it wasnt his to begin with!! His song was a remix to "NIKE BOOTS & 992's", originally created several months before his september release date on myspace.

PG/DC's own EXIT 4B (Bulletproof Records was supposed to be the monicre but it was already taken and copyrightin) did the originial track which was FIRE, sent it to him and asked him to collaborate a remix with us. No response, but several months later, (flyer than the rest of em, still got my Nike Boots... then an even less relevant remix with lil wayne, where Wayne did his thang but obviously didn't stick to the topic at all.

Anyway, we roasted his ass several times since then, including my man Copykat using the Wale "Nike Boots" beat. "Dis aint da Takeover dog, it's more like a REPOSSESSION"... then he goes in on ur boy!!

Wish the best for any D.C. artist period, cuz if u can make it here u can make it anywhere, but no honor among theives should'a been his album title. Should'a stuck with Lady Gaga and them over in Europe since thats where his success derived from

**Hardkore** · 11-05-2009, 09:19 AM

^ that's some crazy sh*t, man.

i'm not even judging wale entirely off of "nike boots." i'm just sayin' i haven't been a fan of him since that song and i listened to probably 5-6 more songs of his and just couldn't get into him.

**FINAO** · 11-05-2009, 09:31 AM

appreantly from the interview the higher-ups weren't feeling a good majority of the sh*t he produced either... (he prolly heard a lot of... "uummm, yeah, we'll consider that one, what else ya got?)

**Myworld82** · 11-05-2009, 09:38 AM

I'm happy he fought for "Shades" to be on the album...it's between that and "Prescription" for my favorite song actually.

**RonniexRamen** · 11-05-2009, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Rowe

wale is god awful.

i gotta agree with him on this. homies trash. it seems like they give anyone a deal now.

**darulersback** · 11-05-2009, 01:30 PM

wale is the truth. some of yall need to expand your horizons. there is some new talent in hip hop that is worth listening to and wale is one of them. its like wwe...ull never see or understand them unless the triple h's (jay z, Eminem’s) give the younger talent that push (wale, kudi, j.cole,corey gunz)

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Nov 4 - Wale Says He’s No Pop Act, Even With The Lady Gaga Collabo

" DC rapper Wale landed a hit when he collaborated with pop sensation Lady Gaga for his single, "Chilin'," but he ... "