Via:Boombox.com
After a few weeks of speculation, D.C. rapper Wale confirmed on Saturday (Feb. 5) that he has officially inked a new deal with Rick Ross‘ Maybach Music imprint.
Wale was previously signed to Interscope Records, where he released his debut album ‘Attention Deficit” in November 2009. Despite heavy promotion and a lead single featuring Lady Gaga, the album debuted to poor sales, after claims that Interscope had undershipped it.
During Wale’s stint on Interscope, he was also open about the pressures to generate radio-friendly songs that he didn’t stand behind artistically. “Now I can do songs like shades, ambitious girl and not fear a ‘man in a chair’ saying, ‘This aint what black people wanna hear,'” Wale wrote on Twitter, Sunday (Feb. 6) referring to his favorite tracks on ‘Attention Deficit.’
During a December interview with The Source, Rick Ross openly admitted that he had set his sights on recruiting Wale for his MMB imprint, in addition to Philly rapper Meek Millz. “Wale is a hustler. I feel he’s one record away from being the next n—-,” Ross explained. “He’s just a naturally fly n—-. Slick talking n—-. That’s right up my alley. I just think that comradery, riding with Rozay, it’ll mean that much more. I feel he’s one record away. As well as Meek Millz.”
Despite his contract with Maybach Music, Wale will retain his current management deal with Roc Nation. His signing comes in the midst of rumors that several major labels are embroiled in a bidding war for Maybach Music, including Sony, Warner Bros. and Interscope Records.
Wale’s most recent release was his August 2009 mixtape ‘More About Nothing,’ which became a trending topic on Twitter.
