As of May 3, seven out of the top ten songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 belonged to biracial or white rappers, including Drake holding down the No. 1 and 2 spots with “Nice for What” and “God's Plan.” Number five belongs to Post Malone for “Psycho,” and J. Cole claims numbers six, eight and 10 with “ATM,” “Kevin’s Heart,” and “KOD.” Although a widely recognized rapper, Wale has not held the No. 1 spot since 2015, and he thinks his skin color has something to do with it.
When one of his fans commented on the stagnation in his music career, asking, “Do you think your expressive passion for music hurt/prevent you from being mentioned with the rest in your class?” Wale tweeted that race could actually be a factor in his popularity.
“It hurt me greatly,” Wale wrote. “Also me being a dark skinned (not half white) rapper direct decent [sic] from Africa did too.. but let’s not go there.”
Do you think your expressive passion for the music hurt/prevent you from being mentioned with the rest in your class? @Wale— Mayneo…. (@Realeec) May 3, 2018
It hurt me greatly . Also me being a dark skinned (not half white) rapper direct decent from Africa did too .. but let’s not go there ???? https://t.co/L0V4NQFfpg— Wale (@Wale) May 3, 2018
Though Wale was born in Washington, D.C., he is the son of Nigerian immigrants.
Some fans rushed to Wale’s side in defense of his claim.
I know they you don't want to go there but colorism is real in hip hop, rap music, and pop culture in general.
Speak your truth. We need to hear from brothers like you in the rap music industry and what you've dealt with.— La Femme Negrita (@LaFemme_Negrita) May 3, 2018
While others think he may be pushing it.
There have been/are plenty artists that are your color that have killed. I think you complaining about everything plays a role in your lack of spins, streams, etc. You're dope, but ppl are seemingly not listening to you because of your complaints about them not listening to you.— Jesse D. Jones (@JonesJesseD) May 3, 2018
You not being in the position you want to be in the rap game has nothing to do with your skin color… There has and still ismany successful darkskin rappers. It can just be your personality tbh and not everyone has longevity— Kylah Tyndall (@kylah_tyndall) May 3, 2018
Does the rapper have a point?
