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Wale

From an ethnic Yoruba family who'd emigrated to the US from Nigeria, Wale was born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin on September 21, 1984, in Washington D.C. He won a football scholarship and dreamed of playing for the Washington Redskins, but was diverted by music when his track "Dig Dug (Shake It)" - a tribute to Robert "Dig Dug" Dixon of local band Northeast Groovers - caused a stir with a raw funky rhythmic style known as "go-go." His mixtapes were eagerly awaited and Mark Ronson recruited him to appear on his celebrated remix of Lily Allen's "Smile," later touring with Ronson an...