I strongly believe Wale is next in line to really blow up this year once his debut albums hits shelves this April and he emerges into the mainstream.  This show was a strong indication of his rising popularity, selling out the Highline Ballroom without an official album released and attracting the likes of Jay-Z and Leonardo DiCaprio to attend the concert.  Backed by the incredible go-go band, UCB, here’s Wale performing “The Artistic Integrity”.  The beat switch mid song to Jay-Z’s “Can I Live”, blaring horns and all, is a fantastic surprise and reminds me a lot of something The Roots would do.

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