Why isn't Wale bigger/more popular than he is?

[Biscayne]

My girl said because he's too ugly for the type of music he makes.

I'm not exactly sure why he's not more popular. He's the nicest of is class to me.

That was my theory. While Kanye, Kendrick, and Wayne all are dark skinned and somewhat short, they don't make "sensitive" music like Wale does. Wale just might not fit the description for the type of music he puts out. Honestly, what makes him worse than Jermaine or Aubrey? He's a dark skinned, short, Nigerian dude with dreads, making music that only gets mass consumed when its coming from taller light skinned dudes. Since Wale is a Naija, he might get better play from the masses if he had some one hit wonder type OMI joint, with an Afro-Rhythm. America would eat that up.

 

[#1 pick]

Honestly, has there ever been a mainstream label that sold less music to Whites than MMG?

 

[loyola llothta]

Wale is better off going the J.Cole route, stray away from the media/mainstream/radio/gossip lane and just stay working on his core fanbase.

Him and Cole got practically the same fanbase.(College educated, young people,women,conscious etc)

Only difference is, every once in a while Wale tries to hit mainstream and get on that Drake/Big Sean lane, while Cole stays underground and always treats his core.
(1 dollar concerts, direct consumer interaction, visiting the fans, college runs etc)

stop it jcole start to get his urge fan base after that Ferguson stuff and house rent shyt he did on twitter, that how he build his little core fan to a mountain if kdot did the same he would be plat 2x in the usa easily(also if he didn't release that god awful hotep album)

 

[#1 pick]

I think if Wale was a singer, he would be huge with the ladies with his poet nature and wordplay. I rarely hear any good poets who can sing. Stevie Wonder? Babyface? It's not that many. Most of the great writers can't sing.

 

[#1 pick]

stop it jcole start to get his urge fan base after that Ferguson stuff and house rent shyt he did on twitter, that how he build his little core fan to a mountain if kdot did the same he would be plat 2x in the usa easily(also if he didn't release that god awful hotep album)

The dollar and a dream concerts for a dollar. It's clearly not about money for Cole. It's all about the core of his music. He don't even put out songs like "Can't get though" anymore.

I can say, this is the best crop of new gen rappers we had in along long time in Hip Hop. I know Drake is annoying but when has a pop rapper not been annoying.

 

[Giselle]

He's basically Cole if Cole hadn't found a way to "Crossover" and I dont meanthat in a bad way. He's got a solid black fanbase but not too many Cacs fukk with him, but you know what? It's cool because he's actually talented, he writes his own shyt, and he's got a unique style.

He's a bit too overly emotional but you can tell he really has a passion for his work.

Spoiler

J.Cole would probably be right with him had he not gotten a lot of attention by going to Ferguson. I pay attention to him all throughout the year, but many others were not really paying attention to him in 2014 until he did that, then his album came out and many people supported it. Google his name in the news in 2014 and see if you can find anything before the Ferguson stuff (other than dollar and a dream tour). Search twitter too.

That Ferguson trip helped him out a lot. It made a lot more people like and pay attention to him. "He's so real" they say. I am a fan, but Idc what anyone else says. I think he does care, but that trip was also part a marketing/pr thing. I think lots a people forget that he was a communications major and they learn about stuff like that.

jcole 2014 - Google Search

Wale does have ok music, better radio songs than people like jcole had on his last album. He just needs to be promoted better and to go on more tours
.
Idk why Jcole invited yg on tour with him instead of Wale.

@loyola llothta

 

[Biscayne]

Big Sean?

It's because he's good, but not outstanding. He's a diva on social media in spite of having decent (not outstanding music).

...but the most noticeable difference between him and his peers is that he doesn't really have a big crossover co-sign & backing.

Kendrick has Dre.
Drake has Wayne.
Big Sean has Kanye.
Keef had Kanye.
Cudi had Kanye.
Cole had Jay-Z.
To some degree, Wiz has Snoop.

Wale has Ross...and while Ross is popular, he's not crossover popular.

His co-sign works more for Meek than it does for Wale.

Lowkey MMG might be the "Blackest" mainstream label out there. None of the MMG artist have real crossover potential for White America to consume. MMG are the ones who show up to EVERY BET Awards. The others artist you named have crossed over that threshold, where they don't really need BET. MMG might keep it the most palatable for Black audiences I guess. Or maybe I'm underplaying MMG's popularity...

 

[#1 pick]

He just doesn't have that "it", that "it" is crossover appeal. What's the ONE song he has that people would know or ask the DJ to play? He doesn't really have one.

That's not a knock on him, he has a solid fan base and can sell out shows. Plus, he has a Jerry Seinfeld co-sign. Not many rappers have an actor or actress who aren't directly linked to rap who have this. (Toronto politicians just do it for attention, so they don't count).

But he's more known for his emotional outbursts. And that's his weakness.

He has the "it" factor or else he wouldn't get play on Black stations. His songs do come on in the clubs and on the radio, wtf are you talking about?

 

[Biscayne]

Spoiler

J.Cole would probably be right with him had he not gotten a lot of attention by going to Ferguson. I pay attention to him all throughout the year, but many others were not really paying attention to him in 2014 until he did that, then his album came out and many people supported it. Google his name in the news in 2014 and see if you can find anything before the Ferguson stuff (other than dollar and a dream tour). Search twitter too.

That Ferguson trip helped him out a lot. It made a lot more people like and pay attention to him. "He's so real" they say. I am a fan, but Idc what anyone else says. I think he does care, but that trip was also part a marketing/pr thing. I think lots a people forget that he was a communications major and they learn about stuff like that.

jcole 2014 - Google Search

Wale does have ok music, better radio songs than people like jcole had on his last album. He just needs to be promoted better and to go on more tours
.
Idk why Jcole invited yg on tour with him instead of Wale.

I guess Cole invited YG because he wanted to diversify his crowds. Cole and Wale would bring in the same crowd. YG and Cole are drastically different draws.

 

[Giselle]

I guess Cole invited YG because he wanted to diversify his crowds. Cole and Wale would bring in the same crowd. YG and Cole are drastically different draws.

I get it, but that would've helped wale out a lot. They're supposed to be friends. I saw jcole on wale's snapchat not too long ago riding one of those handle less scooter things and was wondering did they talk about it. Hopefully wale will be invited on the tour for his next album, which might be the one he's doing with Kendrick.

 

[loyola llothta]

The dollar and a dream concerts for a dollar. It's clearly not about money for Cole. It's all about the core of his music. He don't even put out songs like "Can't get though" anymore.

I can say, this is the best crop of new gen rappers we had in along long time in Hip Hop. I know Drake is annoying but when has a pop rapper not been annoying.

you're a cole fan im a fan too but nikkas get finesse everyday b and it worked out for cole/his label

everything is about money , simple and plain. i dont know what his intention was im just saying ppl from young college crowd, hotep, afro -centric, white liberal, regular joeys took a liking to cole after that.


i don't remember all these cole fans from a year ago

 

[#1 pick]

Regardless if he "ugly" or not the radio hits that are catered to the females are only catchy because of the hook and/or featured artist. His verses are generally lackluster and forgettable

That Way- Jeremih ft Wale
Loutus Flower Bomb- Miguel ft Wale
Bad- Tiara Thomas/Rihanna ft Wale
Matrimony- Usher ft Wale
The Body- Jeremih ft Wale

All of those songs could easily be hits without him unfortunately and the female demographic that it's directed to are black females like op stated. The white demographic of females don't accept because he's too "rough", "emotional" , and probably just not handsome enough sadly. It don't matter how much he loves Seinfeld and yoga, if white america don't love you then you can't truly become that superstar he's aspiring to be. Which is probably why he is always changing his motto/theme in every album since he's trying to reach or cater to a fan base he doesn't have yet.

I don't know about that. The Body was Jeremih reintroduction back into mainstream and the reason of the Jeremih stimulus package. What was TT before and after Wale's Bad? Usher has been featured on a ton of songs this year and why is Matrimony the only good song so far even out of his singles? You underrate Wale too much. The man is easy to ride on a track with. Good lyrics, witty wordplay that keeps the listener wondering what they missed last time and is the ability to ride all types of beats makes him an easy catch for singers who do the hook to succeed with.

 

[#1 pick]

you're a cole fan im a fan too but nikkas get finesse everyday b and it worked out for cole/his label

everything is about money , simple and plain. i dont know what his intention was im just saying ppl from young college crowd, hotep, afro -centric, white liberal, regular joeys took a liking to cole after that.


i don't remember all these cole fans from a year ago

I didn't know know Cole had such a fanbase till I seen Letterman. Middle aged cacs and Blacks knew all of his lyrics, not teenagers but middle age cacs and Blacks. That blew my mind. I knew he was a superstar at that point.

 

[#1 pick]

Lowkey MMG might be the "Blackest" mainstream label out there. None of the MMG artist have real crossover potential for White America to consume. MMG are the ones who show up to EVERY BET Awards. The others artist you named have crossed over that threshold, where they don't really need BET. MMG might keep it the most palatable for Black audiences I guess. Or maybe I'm underplaying MMG's popularity...

Might be the only label that don't give a fukk about a White reach that's mainstream.

 

[Biscayne]

Wale had a a lot of hype and i was a big fan and idk what happened. His debut album was kind;ve a flop, he had Lady Gaga on a song too early.


Me personally i just lost interest once he got to MMG. And got into all these weak ass twitter beefs and shyt. Even he tried to act tough to some Wizards commentator......its all corny. Plus he can't make a great project unless its Seinfeld inspired which is weird.

His Seinfeld inspired tracks seem like they'd be a huge hit in White America.