Music Industry Needs to Take Wale 101

September 19, 2007

WALe + Paris

This post was originally going to be about the new single from Wale, “Nike Boots”. I will post it at the end. I been observing the anomaly that is Wale or better yet the marketing behind him. Wale is a marketing genius. Without any major label support, he has been able to create such huge buzz, that within a year he has appeared on MTV VMAs, become a prodigy of Mark Ronson, written up in the latest Rolling Stone Magazine, and basically got music blog world on lock.

So what can the slow, and incompetent music industry can learn from this?

One. Have a passion and a belief in what you are making. Major labels don’t take the time to put the real effort in backing releases that they release. It takes groundwork. They hope ringtones, and paid apperances on MTV will help an artist.

Two. Take some damn chances for once. Wale has done this from incorporating the live sound of GO-GO, to working only with local producers instead of getting the big names to sell a record. You know what, it is paying off. Major Labels very rarely take chances on artists that are not easy to market (i.e J*Davey) or to sell a record, they just get a hot producer to produce the track and look instant hit.

Three. If you truly in believe in your music (and its good), give it away for free. The rest will fall into place. Wale released his mixtape 100 Miles and Running for a free download, and it spread like wildfire. On the other hand, the industry went after DJ Drama for distributing mixtapes which help promote artists. You know what? I like shooting myself in my foot too.

Four. What the hell. Why bother? Before the industry even enrolls in Wale 101, they have already flunked. I am going to take a page from Donald Rumsfeld playbook. The major labels and RIAA are part of the old music industry which is irrelevant and tired. We are just waiting for someone to pull the life support.

Oh yeah, that ringle idea that you came up with brilliant. I am going to shell out $7.00 for a cd with a single and a ringtone. Damn. Your marketing department must be filled with Havard graduates (on crack). If this is what you can do to help save the industry, just stick to suing little kids for illegal downloading (your good at it).

Without further due, here is the latest Wale track, ‘Nike Boots’

wale nike

A Little Trivia: How many of you know that there is city in this country that does not have voting representation in congress or senate? We are trying to provide democracy in another country, but can’t give it to our own citizens. Find out more here.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Netvouz
  • NewsVine
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music 

Comments

12 Responses to “Music Industry Needs to Take Wale 101”

  1. Daniel Weisman on September 19th, 2007 11:42 am

    thanks for the love. we work hard and when people appreciate it, it feels good.

    best,
    dan
    wale’s manager

  2. Wale'sBiggeStFan on September 19th, 2007 7:23 pm

    Yo, thats real dope!! Wale is finally startin to get the props he deserves. DC is on the map and we aint goin No where!! WALE is truly the Ambassador of the Capital!!! WE LOVE U WALE!!!

  3. Wale'sBiggeStFan on September 19th, 2007 7:26 pm

    Yo, thats real dope!! Wale is finally gettin the props he deserves. DC is on the map and we aint goin NO WHERE!! WALE is truly the ambassador of the capital. WE LOVE YOU WALE!!!

  4. Louis Hawkins on September 19th, 2007 7:26 pm

    Wale is the Truth… Ive been listening to his music since I even knew what big brother looked like… his MCing is dope. nike boots relays a message that only a DC resident can understand, but, it is still a dope song with a message… that EVERYONE can listen to!!!
    Lou

  5. Jamie on September 19th, 2007 7:32 pm

    WALE!!!

    Somebody better pay attention…

    Dude is that REAL!

  6. Mello the DJ on September 20th, 2007 2:58 pm

    Props to Wale!!!!

    From the city where your dreams get hated on by your “friends” and “enemies”, Wale has shown that talent + passion + originality = success. Even when you’re from DC!!!!

    He’s makin it simply because he wouldn’t let NOBODY put him in a box, or tell him how to BE HIM. Keep doing you, Waleeeeeeee!!

  7. Steve Sanders on September 20th, 2007 9:08 pm

    Wale is the shit, period. This song is dope and comes off as being real even though it has a corporate sponsor. This guy has the potential to blow up with huge crossover appeal like Kanye.

  8. Greg on September 21st, 2007 5:35 pm

    Wale ain’t nothing but the truth. my man been holding DC down for the longest from Paint a Picture to 100 Miles & Running. WALE IS A BEAST ON THE MIC

  9. Vahn on September 23rd, 2007 3:00 am

    The truth is that the rap game has been looking for solid artist..simply put..theres a few of them..but not enough..wale is a solid artist…he’s been doing it big for a good 3 yrs..better than most..sure he couldve blown up by now..but he’s doin it the right way..wale represents clarity for dc..cuz errybody hatin talkin bout we only do gogo…trust we gon “learn em”( bama expression)..

  10. Ice the Villain on September 30th, 2007 12:43 pm

    Yerp, Wale is THE TRUTH! Once the game gets a good enough whiff of the kid, it’s CURTAINS! Plus when you meet him he’s not like the one-hit-wonders you meet that think they’re the “ish”, he’s a down-to-earth cat. Support TRUE Hip-Hop, and follow his moves before its too late then you just hop on the bandwagon like everybody else will… jerks… lol

  11. john jones on November 5th, 2007 12:04 am

    Wale!!!
    “i sag it like dan tanner”
    i read your article in the washington post and now i understand what that line means….
    stuff like that is why the music industry namely the hip hop world needs you to make it…youre the ambassador of rap for the cap but you got the lyrics of a rap deity….

  12. Wale signed to Interscope, Ronson to Produce Album « RadioMilwaukee’s Diggin’ with the Architect on March 13th, 2008 8:02 pm

    [...] check out the article I wrote on how the music industry could learn from Wale over at the Rhythm Lab blog. Posted by Tarik Filed in [...]

Got something to say?