Wale was born on September 21, 1984 to Yoruba Nigerian parents in Washington, D.C.. He grew up in Northwest DC and moved to Largo, Maryland.[1] He graduated from Quince Orchard High School in 2001. He also played tailback on his high school football team. As Wale grew into his own as a rapper/producer in Maryland, he became close with much of the Go-Go music scene as his interests and influences grew.