Wale Says Being Dark Skinned Hurt His Rap Career

[keone]

Wale speaks his mind about his place in the rap game.
Wale has never shied away from introspection, especially when it comes to his Twitter feed. It seems that Wale doesn't think his career is in the place it should be, and during an impromptu Twitter Q&A session, he offered a potential reason why.

When asked by a fan whether his "expressive passion for the music hurt/prevented you from being mentioned with the rest of your class?," Wale handily agreed. He also mentions that "being a dark skinned (not half white) rapper direct decent from Africa" also hurt him greatly in his career.

Wale is clearly referring to the ever expanding group of bi-racial or light skinned rappers who have been taking over the rap game, with obvious examples being Drake, J. Cole, or Logic, who have all found incredible amounts of success in the rap game. The amount of successful white rappers has increased as well, with artists like Post Malone dominating the rap and Billboard charts, and others like Iggy Azalea who have to be taught about white privilege.

That being said, there are still plenty of dark skinned rap artists who have found a place in the rap game, historically and currently. Wale's MMG label mates Rick Ross and Meek Mill are both perfect examples.

Wale may just be over the rap game in general, as during his Q&A he also suggested going back to school, finding a new job, and crowd sourcing the promotion for his new music.

What do you think about Wale's comments about skin color in rap?

 

[Dr. Truth]

Amajorcupof come get your boy lmbaooo

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wale_(rapper)#Awards_and_nominations



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wale_(rapper)#Discography

 

[LSN]

well he acting real light skinned right now so maybe he should hurry up and drop a new album

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

• Attention Deficit (2009)
• Ambition (2011)
• The Gifted (2013)
• The Album About Nothing (2015)
• Shine (2017)

 

[chitownsfinest]

well he acting real light skinned right now so maybe he should hurry up and drop a new album

 

[REDLINE]

He’s wrong on this one.

 

[peterlongshort]

He's kinda wrong. Kendrick ain't exactly Beige and seems to be doing ok.

 

[THE DRIZZY]

The rap industry has changed for the worse ever since Bill Clinton killed local/regional radio stations and made them all under the federal umbrella. This legislation alone stopped the DJ from playing the records they wanted to play. Prior to that if you had a nice song you got put on. It amazes me how rappers and consumers always overlook this.

 

[therealjondoe]

Nah lol
He can rap but he doesn't have that thing
Like Drake is the "rapper for women"
2 chainz is the trap dude
Curren$y is the smoker
Ross is the boss
Etc
What's Wales thing?

 

[peterlongshort]

The rap industry has changed for the worse ever since Bill Clinton killed local/regional radio stations and made them all under the federal umbrella. This legislation alone stopped the DJ from playing the records they wanted to play. Prior to that if you had a nice song you got put on. It amazes me how rappers and consumers always overlook this.

That's true, but alot of this is on us. I remember when Wale was just starting out in DC, PGC, KYS wouldn't play his shit or no local artists. He broke his record overseas with Lady Gaga before DC radio would play it.

 

[Grand Verbalizer!!!]

So I guess Ace Hood should be hollering the same thing!!!

 

[Dr. Truth]

Biggie was loved for his skinny body and light skin.

 

[REDLINE]

So I guess Ace Hood should be hollering the same thing!!!

That’s actually a very good comparison and not just because of the complexion.

 

[SKATTA]

What,did he run out of darkskin hyper masculinity that's associated with rappers.

 

[THE DRIZZY]

Biggie was loved for his skinny body and light skin.

/Thread

 

[Grand Verbalizer!!!]

Every Failing rapper somehow uses Drake as their scapegoat!!!
Some people have the talent but not that "It Thing" and some have the "It Thing" but not much talent!!!
And for some... They just can't touch the people in that way or the people just not feeling them and can't connect!!!

 

[Ballatician]

Nonsense!

 

[Amajorfucup]

Amajorcupof come get your boy lmbaooo

This gonna be a hard battle for him to win but there's some truth there as it pertains to mass appeal.

 

[tallblacknyc]

Biggie was loved for his skinny body and light skin.

Dmx was albino

 

[tallblacknyc]

This gonna be a hard battle for him to win but there's some truth there as it pertains to mass appeal.

Hard battle for him to win... Pee wee Herman had a better chance at knocking Tyson out in his prime than wale winning this battle

Hell migos ain't a bunch of pale euro motherfuckers

 

[THE DRIZZY]

The Prince of Lightness

 

[34real]

Biggie was loved for his skinny body and light skin.

Biggie was loved for being him and how he was,if he would of tried to change himself they wouldn't love the same.

This is something the record business can't buy no matter who they hire or use.....in the 1990's people who got on,got on for looking how they look,sounding how they sound and having talent and it comes in all shapes,color and sizes.

Now the music business....yeah they don't like or accept alot of shit unless your making them money.

Wale,needs to just stick to what he does and stop chasing radio and doing corny things on the internet for attention....it's not for everyone

 

[roots69]

The rap industry has changed for the worse ever since Bill Clinton killed local/regional radio stations and made them all under the federal umbrella. This legislation alone stopped the DJ from playing the records they wanted to play. Prior to that if you had a nice song you got put on. It amazes me how rappers and consumers always overlook this.

Right on, bruh!!! The sedative consumers are overlooking too many things these days!! This isnt the place for it, but I can show how those 3 bills the real cocaine kingpin "clinton" signed in 1996 all worked and fed off each other!! Anyway, good reply..

 

[leonartist]

being dark and growing up with a light brother I felt it too even from family. as I child I couldn't put my finger on it but it was real.

 

[Amajorfucup]

Hard battle for him to win... Pee wee Herman had a better chance at knocking Tyson out in his prime than wale winning this battle

Hell migos ain't a bunch of pale euro motherfuckers

Yea... but Migos living down to stereotypes. Mumble rapping bullshit and trap music. Theres a difference. Like i said, he gonna have trouble winning this one. But i know where hes coming from and what hes referring to.

 

[mcguyver]

Some talented rappers just don't know how to capitalize on their talents. Jhe is definitely one

Matrimony was the shit.

 

[stretchwallz]

He has a minor point ....only because the fan base has changed drastically in last 10 years

 

[REDLINE]

being dark and growing up with a light brother I felt it too even from family. as I child I couldn't put my finger on it but it was real.

You and your brother were childhood rappers?

Is this you two?

 

[Hey Julian!]

J. Cole looking like a prophet these days.

 

[keone]

So I guess Ace Hood should be hollering the same thing!!!

That’s actually a very good comparison and not just because of the complexion.

to be fair he never really popped off neither .

But I think it's wale's subject matter more than it is his skin. All the other rappers rap gangsta shit while wale is more positive

 

[tallblacknyc]

Yea... but Migos living down to stereotypes. Mumble rapping bullshit and trap music. Theres a difference. Like i said, he gonna have trouble winning this one. But i know where hes coming from and what hes referring to.

Could do with shitty marketing, music not catchy enough, music has no replay value to some, music good enough to listen to it but not buy, lot of diff variables could come into play outside of the darkskin excuse

 

[shaddyvillethug]

Really tired of these darkskin nigga problems threads.

 

[THE DRIZZY]

Really tired of these darkskin nigga problems threads.

 

[thismybgolname]

This cat is a cornball

 

[roots69]

Wale speaks his mind about his place in the rap game.
Wale has never shied away from introspection, especially when it comes to his Twitter feed. It seems that Wale doesn't think his career is in the place it should be, and during an impromptu Twitter Q&A session, he offered a potential reason why.

When asked by a fan whether his "expressive passion for the music hurt/prevented you from being mentioned with the rest of your class?," Wale handily agreed. He also mentions that "being a dark skinned (not half white) rapper direct decent from Africa" also hurt him greatly in his career.

Wale is clearly referring to the ever expanding group of bi-racial or light skinned rappers who have been taking over the rap game, with obvious examples being Drake, J. Cole, or Logic, who have all found incredible amounts of success in the rap game. The amount of successful white rappers has increased as well, with artists like Post Malone dominating the rap and Billboard charts, and others like Iggy Azalea who have to be taught about white privilege.

That being said, there are still plenty of dark skinned rap artists who have found a place in the rap game, historically and currently. Wale's MMG label mates Rick Ross and Meek Mill are both perfect examples.

Wale may just be over the rap game in general, as during his Q&A he also suggested going back to school, finding a new job, and crowd sourcing the promotion for his new music.

What do you think about Wale's comments about skin color in rap?

His rap career isnt hurting because of his dark skin, He need to work on his own style.. His flow and sound is just like rick ross, thats his problem.