Wale Victor Folarin ( born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin ; September 21 , 1984 in Washington D.C. ) is an American rapper better known by his stage name , Wale . Wale Victor Folarin ( born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin on September 21 , 1984 ) , better known by his stage name Wale ( ( pronounced - Wall-Lay ) ) , is an American rapper from Washington , D.C. Wale was born to Nigerian immigrant parents .