Wale has inked a new deal with Warner Bros. Records.
Wednesday morning, Wale—whose sixth studio full-length is due later this year—said he was "thrilled" to join the Warner Bros. team. "I felt their passion, commitment, and enthusiasm from day one," he said in a statement to Complex. "They believed in my vision whole heartedly, and I am ready to show and prove." The new deal, he added, will help him showcase both his artistry and "entrepreneurial spirit."
"I'm finally an executive," Wale toldDJBooth shortly after the announcement. "A real exec. Watch it all unfold. Once I get myself settled in I’m changing the industry the way I see fit and working vigorously to create, sign and promote DOPE SHIT."
Tom Corson, label co-chairman, touted Wale as a "pillar in the hip-hop community and beyond" and said the team was "delighted" to welcome him. "With his cultural relevance and lyrical prose, he continues to elevate the game," he said Wednesday. "Wale is truly a force to be reckoned with and we look forward to a successful partnership for years to come."
It’s worth noting that Warner Bros. Records is part of Warner Music Group, the same conglomerate that also includes Wale's former home Atlantic. Other members of the Warner Bros. Records family include Lil Pump, Green Day, Mac Miller, and the Regrettes.
Earlier this month, Wale surprise-released a new four-track EP titled Self Promotion. The EP arrived just two short months after his It's Complicated EP, featuring the Jacquees collab "Black Bonnie." Wale's most recent studio album was last year's Shine, featuring the Lil Wayne collab "Running Back" and the Travis Scott–assisted "Fish N Grits."
In April, Wale penned a message of support for Meek Mill during his widely criticized jail sentence. "The silver lining in this fucked up situation is the clarity and wisdom he has gained," Wale said in a since-deleted Instagram post. "The silver lining for me is realizing what (or who) is real."
