And his life journey is still providing him with insight and inspiration. As Wale prepares to hit the road with J. Cole, the exploits of another famed Generation Y rapper has kept hip-hop fans buzzing for weeks. Kendrick Lamar’s infamous verse on Big Sean’s track “Control,” featured the West Coast upstart name-dropping several other hip-hop stars and generated tremendous controversy and commentary among artists, fans and media. But Wale doesn’t understand why people expect him to be angry because he was among the names mentioned.
“What, you just find out about Kendrick Lamar? He gave you a … good a– Kendrick Lamar verse and said n—as’ names,” Wale says.
“That’s what they call ‘bragging.’ You just said n—as’ names. It’s an analogy. ‘Whoever is standing in my way better do something.’ And that goes for everybody.”
While lesser rappers took offense, Wale knows there’s respect in Kendrick’s challenge. Wale has put in enough work to know the difference between a put-down and “put up or shut up.” And he’s welcoming the respect from one of his most esteemed rivals.
“Thank you for mentioning me in that category,” he says to Kendrick Lamar, before adding, “I may have felt a [certain] way if he didn’t mention me.”
