In the words of his mentor Jay Z, “Men lie, Women lie. Numbers don’t.” And, today, Wale’s number is 1. After over 150,000 units sold in its first week, this MMG superstar’s third studio album, “The Gifted,” is the number one album in the country.
Early on, the project showed signs of being a smash hit. With singles like “BAD,” maintaining its #1 position on the charts for 7 consecutive weeks and now resting comfortably at gold, “Clappers” featuring: Nicki Minaj and Juicy J being crowned the summer club anthem by the zealous blog world and the soulful “LoveHate Thing” featuring soul singer and new comer, Sam Dew, defining the era of an emerging “New Black Soul,” music aficionados have inspired both fans and critics alike to call Wale a “genius” for this latest offering.
With rap artists rarely seen on the bill, this year, Essence Music Festival has invited Wale to perform during this Saturday’s Family Picnic. Wale will entertain thousands this weekend at one of the country’s largest summer gatherings. Essence had this to say about his attendance: “We are so excited Wale’s joining our official Essence Festival Day Party. He’s an extraordinary talent and definitely a fan favorite and I’m sure the Day Party is going to be rocking with him on the stage,” says Cori Murray, Essence Entertainment Director.
With an artist as complex and multi-talented as Wale, it’s often difficult to capture their essence in just one interview. With this in mind, MMG/Atlantic Records has developed the first artist centric digital magazine. “The Beat of Atlantic,” is a web based publication that explores the inner workings of the talented Mr. Folarin and provides fans an inside view. “The Gifted Issue” can be downloaded via: http://beat.atlanticrecords.com/ NOW!
For more information, please visit www.walemusic.com, www.facebook.com/waleofficial, www.twitter.com/wale, www.youtube.com/walemusic.
For press related inquires, contact: Jana Fleishman -Roc Nation, email: jf@rocnation.com or, Nakia Hicks -Atlantic Records, Email: nakia.hicks@atlanticrecords.com.
