When most musicians become famous, it is common for them to lose touch with their culture, family and become obsessed with money. Many come in with a certain style of singing or rapping but change what makes them unique for a record deal. In the hip-hop scene, rappers are starting to dress in many expensive designer clothing brands and diamond accessories. However, for Nigerian-American hip-hop MC Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, stage name Wale, it's a different story. Unlike many rappers, Wale is notable and respected for the exact opposite: he embraces his culture and wants to become famous simply for being himself. Wale was born in Northwest Washington, D.C., on September 21, 1984, to Nigerian immigrants who arrived for the first time in five years. Before. After 10 years, their family then moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland, where Wale found himself attending seven different high schools in the Washington DC and Maryland area. "My first high school was a predominantly black school, [and] then I went to a predominantly white school and then came back. I think that helped me cultivate an open mind about most things in the world. life… I somehow understand the plight of all people, through their understanding of all these different environments,” he says in his biography on his official website www.ralphfolarin.com. In 2001, Wale graduated from Quince Orchard High School and later attended Robert Morris and Virginia State University on football scholarships. However, after transferring a third time to Bowie State University, Wale decided to abandon his studies and aspire to a potential recording career. In 2003-2004, Wale got his first airplay with his song "Rhyme of the Century", on a record. local radio station that placed him in the "Unsigned Hype" column......middle of newspaper......azine-said-he-likes-dark-skin-pretty-girls-0http: //dimewars. com/Video/Wale-Talks-Nigerian-Pride---Fear-Of-Lightskinned-Girls.aspx?bcmediaid=2d817e9c-5618-42a5-9f65-e7402c28b65chttp://www.jprotege.com/wale-nigerian-day- parade/http://www.getmusic.com.au/wale/biographyhttp://questionmarkmag.com/2011/08/wale-works-with-african-artistes-for-charity-gig/http://www. rap-up.com/2009/08/08/wales-attention-gets-sidetracked/http://afrofusionlounge.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/bunny-mack-interview-no-qualms-about-wales- sample-of-his-classic-song/http://killerboombox.com/6485/audio/heaters/wale-no-one-be-like-youhttp://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm? ID=788http://www.census.gov/population/international/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/ sub-saharan africa/nigeria?profile=intRelations&pg=4