In Which I Call Wale a Sell Out for the Last Time

(A picture's worth a thousand words.)

First off, this is the last time I'm addressing the Wale "Sell Out" issue. At this point both sides have hunkered down and no one's going to convince anyone else to budge, so I'm mostly inclined to just let it be. It is what it is at this point. But....I've gotten so many emails/comments/tweets asking for a follow-up response - along with a fair amount of hate mail - that I've decided to go one more round.

One fine gentlemen in particular from DopeMusicBlog.com was particularly upset, and I think he makes all the standard arguments, so I'll use his post to respond to. I abbreviated the post to cut to the chase but the specific working is untouched. Leggooo:

DopeMusic Blog: "...I came across a post questioning did Wale sell out. Being a Wale fan for 6+ years now I had to read.. They stated that since joining MMG Wale has sold out. There definition of being a sell out was "willingly sacrificing artistic integrity and social benefit in the pursuit of cash and money" I agree with the definition but I cant agree with there thought that Wale joining MMG was selling out. (the word Sell Out is bullshit in itself, its entirely opinion based and has no real credibility). I had to disagree, yes Wale most likely joined up with MMG for the money and lifestyle, but that is by no means selling out!"

RefinedHype: So you agree that the definition of "selling out" is the pursuit of fame and money above art, and you agree that Wale joined MMG primarily for the fame and money, but you don't agree that he sold out? Hmmmm......I'm interested to see where you go with this. Continue."

DopeMusicBlog: "Did the dude who wrote the article listen to Ambition, Eleven One Eleven Theroy, or any of the freestyles/songs Wales put out since joining MMG? Id say most likely not, dude probably heard Lotus Flower Bomb, That Way and No Hands."

RefinedHype: If by "listen" you mean "wrote a 750 word album review on 'Ambition' and have been posting Wale's work regularly both before and after the MMG signing", then yes, I did listen.

DopeMusicBlog: "Let me start by saying No Hands is easily Wales most commercial record to date and id consider that selling out since the track was with Waka and Roscoe but Wale had a pretty dope verse on it. "A young handsome mothafucka i swing that wood i just nunchuck em" that line is damn creative! That being the only song i would almost admit to him selling out on, he deserves finally getting a lot of radio play and some national attention."

RefinedHype: Agreed and agreed. Wale can go get that "No Hands" money, good for him, but as you said it's a sell out joint. And I'd argue that it was actually an epiphany for Wale. After years of struggling to break through to radio he blows up on "No Hands". Wale's an incredibly smart guy, but it doesn't take a genius to realize that the shortest path to the widespread fame and radio hits that had no so far alluded him was more Southern-styled tracks about women, money and women who strip for money.

DopeMusicBlog: "I would assume whoever wrote the article didnt bother listening to Eleven One Eleven Theory, the tape before Ambition. There was absolutely NO artistic intgerity sacrificed in that."

RefinedHype: You assume wrong, and I'd agree that's a dope mixtape, which is the entire point. When he released a free project he really tackled a broad range of subjects. When it came time to drop an album he was going to sell, those tracks were nowhere to be found.

DopeMusicBlog: "Wales always had dope sports references, what artist who "Sells Out" even speaks on subjects like sports. Barry Sanders, Underdog, & Varsity Blues are real dope songs with good sports references!"

RefinedHype: I have no idea what sports references have to do with selling out, but ok fine. Here's a quick list of rappers who have made sports references in their rhymes: Chingy, J-Kwon, Mims, Waka, Gucci Mane, MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, etc. etc. etc. Let's just move on to the more important stuff.

DopeMusicBlog: "Also what person who sells out puts on for local producers/artists. He put a GoGo band on a hit like Bait, that in itself says A LOT. Hes also kept local artist Tre (of UCB) by his side through it all. Artists who sell out in my opinion compromise there artistic integrity and leave there city or state in the dust and just make hits for the money and Billboard 100."

RefinedHype: Dope, I applaud him. I can see why so many DMV residents defend him so strongly.

DopeMusicBlog: "Wale put out a slew of dope freestyles this year, none i would say he sold out on. His lyrics may have slightly got more about materialistic things but can you blame him? Thats all he sees now! Back in the 100 Miles And Running/Paint A Picture days he didnt have any money or fame of course he had to be more lyrical and wasnt talking about his material possesions cause he didnt have much!"

RefinedHype: Dumb rappers may only be able to see what's in front of them, but great artists have a larger vision that transcends their immediate surroundings. For example, Common's got way more money than Wale and he's still making music for the corner and the people. Wale's too good and too smart to play the "I just rap about what I see" card.

DopeMusicBlog: "Im On One, Mass Appeal (so dope and lyrical on this one), Ambitionz (what artist thats sold out would even THINK of touching Mass Appeal or Pacs -Ambitionz az a Rider), What More Can I Say, Jump."

RefinedHype: I can actually think of a few artists who have thought of touching "Ambitionz Az a Rider".

DopeMusicBlog: "Artists who have sold out talk bullshit on tracks like this, not Wale, his lyrics are intact and still dope. No matter your opinion on him as a person or artist you have to agree that he has not compromised his artistic intergrity by joining MMG and has not sold out! I rest my case."

RefinedHype: Lyrics from that "I'm On One" joint you mentioned above: "I make her kitten moist / This is why her nigga mad / I just give her bigger O’s / He just get her bigger bags / I’m an asshole, so what my bitches like it?" It's going to take me a while to digest the artistry and depth in that, I'll have to get back to you.

Listen, Wale's a really talented rapper, obviously a smart guy and, as far as I can tell, a reasonably good person. I even thought "Ambition" was a good album. But it was tracks like "Shades" that made him more than a dope rapper. It made him an artist, someone willing to take chances, to truly connect with the lives of his listeners. But, at least for now, those days seem gone, replaced by the "Bad Girls Club". And I'm sure he's making a lot more money because of it.

And......we're done. Feel free to slam me in the comments below, send me angry Tweets and hate mail, write your own rebuttal on your own site - on the real the more discussion about topics like this the better. But I've said everything I could possible say.

See Also: The Great Debate: Did Wale Sell Out? Oh Hells Yes