Today, Grammy-nominated prolific rapper Wale announced the release of his highly anticipated, eighth studio album everything is a lot. arriving on November 14th via Def Jam Recordings. Spanning 16 tracks, the project dives into themes of mental health, self-discovery, and personal growth, peeling back the layers of Wale’s inner world with striking honesty.
The album’s title, everything is a lot. (EIA) captures the heavy weight of life’s challenges and the emotional complexities that come with it. In a statement about the project, Wale shared, “EIA is one of my most personal and honest projects to date. It touches on the weight of life’s struggles and growth, and finding light through it all. EIA is about culture, it’s about resilience, and it’s about finding a way forward even when everything feels like a lot.”
Wale has offered a glimpse of what’s to come through the album’s singles thus far. His first release from the upcoming album, “Blanco,” is a somber, bluesy record unveiling a new layer of vulnerability and honesty from Wale. Wale’s following single, “Where to Start,” samples the 1992 R&B/Soul classic “I’m So Into You” by American R&B vocal trio SWV, embracing nostalgia alongside Wale’s unmistakable lyrical prowess.
A cornerstone of the DMV rap scene, Wale returns with EIA at a pivotal moment for hip-hop, defined by a renewed hunger for authenticity and unfiltered expression. As a seasoned player in the game with more than a decade of cultural influence behind him, Wale channels his personal evolution and emotional journey into the upcoming project. Concurrently, he honors his Nigerian heritage through collaboration with global artists to create a body of work that bridges continents and cultures. Fusing international sounds, a dynamic lineup of artists across genres and Wale’s signature lyrical depth, EIA is poised to make a lasting imprint on music while offering a profoundly human perspective on growth, resilience, and self-discovery.
everything is a lot. Tracklist
- Conundrum
- Belly
- Where to Start
- Blanco
- Michael Fredo
- Power and Problems
- Mirroronnabenz
- YSF
- Tomorrow Today
- Big Head
- City On Fire
- Fly Away
- Corner Bottles
- Like I
- Survive
- Lonely
Wale has been one of rap’s most versatile and enduring artists since his breakout 2008 mixtape, A Mixtape About Nothing. Blending striking social commentary, confident lyricism, Seinfeld-inspired irony, and anthemic storytelling, he helped merge backpack rap with mainstream success, earning Platinum and Gold plaques along the way. Born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin to Nigerian immigrant parents in Washington, D.C., he pursued football in college before shifting to music, scoring his first local hit with 2006’s “Dig Dug (Shake It).” His critically acclaimed A Mixtape About Nothing solidified his reputation for tackling complex themes with nuance, paving the way for a major-label debut, Attention Deficit (2009), and later success with Ambition (2011), The Gifted (2013), The Album About Nothing (2015), and more. Aligning with Rick Ross’ MMG, he delivered Platinum hits like “Lotus Flower Bomb” and “My P.Y.T.,” proving his staying power. After a brief hiatus following Folarin II (2019), Wale returned in 2023 with a new deal at Def Jam, a #1 Nigerian hit, and a Kennedy Center headline show celebrating The Gifted. Now, with his highly anticipated eighth album on the horizon, he’s ready to begin his next chapter as one of hip-hop’s greatest writers.