Bright lights and passion illuminated the room last Tuesday (Mar. 31) as Wale stood center stage at iHeartRadio Theater, ready to celebrate the proud release of The Album About Nothing. The 16-song concert—hosted by Power 105.1’s own Angie Martinez—may have kicked off lightheartedly with an intimate performance of “Lotus Flower Bomb,” but it quickly dove into noticeably emotional territory.
The MMG rapper is no stranger to wearing his heart on his sleeve and it showed in his performance. He felt every beat, clenching the mic with love to each bar he delivered. TAAN served as a symbolic moment in Wale’s life, a moment he needed to think for himself to gather his thoughts, ideas, and the mission he’s on.
SEE ALSO: Stream Wale’s ‘The Album About Nothing’
“I just needed a moment of clarity,” he told the crowd. He continued to speak on his collaboration with funny man-slash-life-coach Jerry Seinfeld. “His wife kind of helped me bridge the gap and she was always a fan of my music. I had a lot of references to the show early on in the mixtape called 100 Miles Running, and it kinda started unraveling after that.”
In light of releasing TAAN the same day, Wale performed “The Matrimony,” “The Girls On Drugs” and “The Body.” Although Jeremih was M.I.A. from last night’s concert, Wale’s band and long-time backup singer filled the melodic void very well. When it comes to songs like “The Body” that focus on word play and entendres, Wale explained, “I’m a fan of poetry, I’m a fan of words. I wanted to write a song and make it how I felt, it’s a flirty song. It’s a very playful song and Jeremih has the vibe for that.”
In between performing older fan favorites like “Ambition,” “Pretty Girls” and “Chain Music,” the newly appointed Washington Wizards Ambassador spoke on his relationship with his label mates as he proudly rocked his MMG chain. “Rick Ross was the one that got me off the plantation and got me here and lets me do my own stuff and make the music I wanna make,” he said. “So props always go to Rozay. And Meek Mill rocked with me last night at SOBs. We a clique. “I like to think of myself as the heartbeat of MMG, because I feel twice as much and I’m sensitive. You have to feel to be felt.”
Wale bought his energy to fans and love for the music out to iHeartRadio, and to close out the show, he performed “Loyalty,” “Money Keep Callin” and “No Hands” with the help of his crew and a few lucky ladies.
See more clips of the show below.
SET LIST
“Lotus Flower Bomb”
“Bomb”
“The Body”
“The Matrimony”
“Bad”
“Clappers”
“The Girls On Drugs”
“Chain Music”
“Pretty Girls”
“Slight Work”
“Ambition”
“Rotation”
“Loyalty”
“Bait”
“Money Keep Callin’”
“No Hands”
Photo Credit: Epiphany Cole