PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. —Nearly two decades ago, before Wale became one of the Washington metropolitan area’s most recognizable hip-hop artists, students at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale were already shouting his name.
It was fall 2007. Wale had not released his debut studio album or signed a major-label record deal. Still, when he appeared at the school’s homecoming pep rally, students welcomed him like a hometown star. A Washington Post profile published that October captured the moment. Sonya Osei, then a 15-year-old sophomore, told the newspaper that watching someone from her community pursue fame made the possibility seem more attainable.
Nineteen years later, Wale is helping another generation explore its ambitions. The rapper and his management company, EQT, are bringing Gifted Week back for its third year, with events scheduled for Nov. 17-20 in Washington, D.C. The celebration will feature youth sports, creative workshops, professional networking and community service, drawing on Wale’s connection to Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, collectively known as the DMV.
Wale’s Prince George’s County Connection
Born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin to Nigerian parents, Wale spent his childhood in Washington and Maryland. His family lived in Northwest Washington before moving to Maryland, where he spent significant portions of his youth in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties…