Back to the Block: D.C. Rapper Wale

Native D.C. rapper Wale (full name: Olubowale Victor Akintimehin) gave a surprise concert at Café Asia on June 9, part of the Back to the Block concert series presented by 1800 Tequila and Billboard Magazine. The series brings renowned hip-hop talent back to their hometowns to perform in an intimate setting for the fans who supported them from the beginning.

Wale enjoyed 1800 Tequila while performing his latest summer hit “My PYT.” He performed songs from each of his studio albums, including the track “They Need To Know” from “The Album about Nothing,” featuring clips from Jerry Seinfeld. The audience sang along, line by line, to Wale’s popular songs, such as “Lotus Flower Bomb,” “Bad” and “Pretty Girls.”

Along with a photo booth, Back to the Block provided guests with signature cocktails and a “swag bag” with fitted baseball caps, pillows and LED stirrers in the VIP lounge. The floor was packed with more than 100 guests who had won the sweepstakes to attend this concert.

Wale’s appearance was the third installment of a three-part series. The previous Back to the Block artists were G-Eazy, who performed in his hometown of Oakland, California, and Travis Scott, who performed in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Showing his love for his city, Wale will return to D.C. to headline his annual New Year’s concert at the Fillmore in Silver Spring.