Drake
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

As we predicted back in January, Wale, Kid Cudi and Drake have had a huge impact on hip-hop this year. They've not only built a buzz for themselves, but they've found themselves standing alongside the likes of Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West and 50 Cent. And, as GQ magazine points out, they've helped to quell hip-hop's gangster persona and usher in a real-life focus. The three MCs are featured in the GQ's Men of the Year issue in an article titled "Gangsta Killers."

"Anybody from Cleveland will tell you, I wasn't in the street," Kid Cudi said. "Ask them, they'll say, 'Scotty was the goofy class clown.' "

The article points out the contrast between songs about "duct-taped kilos, exotic firearms, and freaky girls" and the lyrics of this up-and-coming generation of rappers. Cudi's introspective raps have helped secure him a dedicated following that propelled his single, "Day N' Nite," into a top-five hit and stoner anthem, and his debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, sold over 100,000 thousand copies in its first week. Wale's attention to lyrical detail has established him as D.C.'s first major hip-hop artist, and his live show earned him a spot as the leader of this year's VMA house band and touring with Jay-Z. And Drake, whose So Far Gone mixtape and "Best I Ever Had" single made him the object of a label bidding war this summer, stood verse-for-verse with Eminem, Lil Wayne and Kanye West on "Forever."

While they have each helped to establish a new aesthetic for rap, they aren't too keen on being called "Gangsta Killers."

"The dope boy is going to be a fixture of black culture as long as 'thug' is a legitimate option alongside 'job,' " Drake told GQ. "But I'm not going to rap about how much crack I sold."

• MTV.com Exclusive: Kid Cudi

• Kid Cudi
• Wale
• Drake

Wale
Photo: MTV News

Wale released his debut album, Attention Deficit, this past Tuesday, but the new MC has also had the benefit of touring with the Hottest MC in the Game for the past two months. He joined Jay-Z on tour, along with N.E.R.D. and J.Cole, for 24 dates, hitting up college campuses and arenas.

Wale said he got a chance to learn from the best.

"He's like the godfather of Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation and Roc everything," he said. "He leads by example. Everything that he does, he makes good decisions. One thing that people don't understand is that he's like the hardest-working person in music, period. Not black music, not white music — the hardest-working person in music, period!"

Wale said he's glad Jay-Z has had success critically and commercially with The Blueprint 3. He's seen Jay's hard work take him from Yankee Stadium to Canada to Berlin and not miss a beat.

Wale, who is signed to Jay's Roc Nation, said he realizes he isn't the label's "go-to guy," but he's willing to play his position and make quality music. He thinks his grind is similar to Jay's when he first broke onto the scene.

"I told [Jay-Z], 'I feel like you in '94,' " Wale recalled. "Everybody's not screaming my name like they were for 'Pac and Biggie at that time, but I got a strong fanbase that's growing slowly and people know that my time is coming."

• Wale
• Jay-Z
• N.E.R.D.
• J. Cole

Wale
Photo: MTV News

After a series of critically acclaimed mixtapes and well-received awards-show performances, Wale finally dropped his long-awaited debut album Attention Deficit this week. The Washington, D.C.-based MC told MTV News that although his roots like in his hometown's go-go scene, the album is meant to express the energy of the title and the cover artwork (which depicts a kid wearing headphones staring at dozens of television monitors).

"It's supposed to be all over the place," Wale — who performed with his group as the house band at the 2009 Video Music Awards — explained. "It's just like channel surfing: There's no one sound. I couldn't go with one sound."

Of the 14 tracks on Attention Deficit, Wale calls out "Mirrors" — a funky, jazzy, old-school jam with a guest verse from Bun B — as one of his favorites.

" 'Mirrors' is cool to perform," he told MTV News' Tim Kash. "It's about the climate. I'm analyzing the psyche of a lot of people in this business. There's a belief that in order to have success you have to sound a certain way or look a certain way. But a lot of these things aren't real. In the end, you can only perform for the person in the mirror."

Though the release of Attention Deficit has been an uphill struggle at times, Wale is proud of his debut and hopes that his enthusiasm comes through the speakers.

"I think when you put your blood, sweat and tears behind something and keep it honest, I think it always comes out," he says. "It's like a child to me. This album is closer to me than any artist has felt about their debut album. It's so symbolic. We never thought this day was gonna come. It's got a bar code and artwork!"

• Wale

Tim Kash and Wale
Photo: MTV News

Tuesday marked the release of Wale's debut album, Attention Deficit, and the D.C. MC has built enough of a Twitter following that he's been able to stand toe-to-toe with the release of the "Call of Duty" video game and the Twilight sequel, "New Moon", in terms of trending topics. Wale has over 100,000 followers with whom he regularly engages.

Every day millions of Twitter users tweet about a variety of topics from sports to music to current events. But every now and then, enough users jump behind a certain topic to cause it to trend, otherwise known as Trending Topics. Mixed amongst those topics Tuesday — and ranked above them in many instances — was #attentiondeficit.

Despite Wale's popularity on Twitter, his album's release has confronted some obstacles. Fans have been tweeting that their local retailers don't have the album in stock. But in terms of record sales, Wale told MTV News that the first week's numbers aren't everything.

"It's about the music and the message. It's about the impact. It's not even about the first-week numbers, it's about the impact. The fact that Twitter is going crazy about people not being able to find it — it means a lot."

Wale appreciates all the support he's receiving and said the album is like a child to him. He remembers creating many of the songs on the album when he had a 9-to-5 job, before he had a record deal. He said that his label would try to meet fan demand soon.

"I appreciate y'all supporting it. We're restocking it very soon. We're tearing it up on iTunes right now, and I appreciate it. It's not going to stop off one week. We're going to tour, we're going to keep doing it and we're going to push this thing all the way to the limit."

• Wale

Wale and Shaheem Reid
Photo: MTV News

Wale has been a sought-after live performer lately, with high-profile spots at this year's VMAs, VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" and the BET Hip-Hop Awards. Now the MC with the unorthodox delivery is joining Jay-Z on his latest tour.

"I'm excited. We're just trying to bring our A game," Wale told us recently in New York. "A lot of people been praising the live show, so I don't want to disappoint. And it's a good rollout for my album — [which drops on November 10]. And to be able to connect with a lot of different markets that might not be familiar with my music, like, that is just incredible."

Wale, who's managed by Jay's Roc Nation, says Hov's rollout for Blueprint 3 has been impeccable.

"He's the best to do it on the rap level and business side," Wale said about Hov. "I saw it coming, I'm around that office a lot. But the fact he can pull it off so easily — he's the best to do it."

Wale was part of the VH1 celebration for the Jiggaman's former recording home, Def Jam Records. Wale covered Roc-A-Fella staple Kanye West at "Hip Hop Honors."

"It was cool," Wale said of performing West's "Touch the Sky." "I remember being a freshman in college, listening to Kanye. It was one of those moments, like the first time seeing myself on '[MTV] Jams,' like, 'Wow, I really used to watch this.' It was a great, great look for me. I had a little bit of fun with it; I got to play dress-up."

Wale's Attention Deficit drops on November 10. Other openers on the Jay-Z tour include N.E.R.D. and J. Cole.

• 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors' 2009

• Jay-Z
• Wale

N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ Getty Images

After Jay-Z put in road time with Mary J. Blige last summer and Ciara earlier this year, it'll be a strictly boys night out when he takes the stage on October 9 to kick off a 24-date tour of college campuses and arenas. Joining him in the first sustained tour in support of the near-platinum The Blueprint 3 will be N.E.R.D., VMA house band leader Wale and Jigga protégé J. Cole.

The tour launches at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania, on the Penn State University campus on October 9 and will take the crew to arenas in Canada, Seattle, Baltimore and Providence. Along the way, it will stop at campuses in Champaign, Illinois, Ypsilanti, Columbus, Amherst, El Paso and Austin, where the tour is currently scheduled to wrap up on November 22.

North Carolina native Cole, 24, the first signing to Jay's new Roc Nation label, appears on the Blueprint 3 track "A Star Is Born," and the tour will be his first major exposure to life on the road. Cole, who was trying to hustle tracks to Jay just a few years ago, is slowly getting used to life in the spotlight. He recently told MTV News that the session for the "Star" was the first time he'd ever been in the studio with his new boss, an experience that was understandably nerve-wracking.

"[Jay-Z] was on the couch at first, right there," Cole said. "It was the first time I was in the studio with Jay. And Beyoncé was there, to make it 10 times worse. Half my thoughts are trying to think of a verse, and then Jay-Z is there watching you write a verse. So, I'm soaking it up."

Jay-Z tour dates:

» October 9 - University Park, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center
» October 10 - Highland Heights, KY @ The Bank of Kentucky Center
» October 13 - Edmonton, Alberta @ Rexall Place
» October 14 - Calgary, Alberta @ Pengrowth Saddledome
» October 15 - Kelowna, British Columbia @ Prospera Place
» October 16 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ General Motors Place
» October 17 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
» October 21 - Ypsilanti, MI @ Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center
» October 23 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
» October 24 - Providence, RI @ Dunkin Donuts Center
» October 25 - Amherst, MA @ University of Massachusetts Mullins Center
» October 27 - Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
» October 28 - Columbus, OH @ Ohio State Value City Arena the Schottenstein Center
» October 29 - London, Ontario @ John Labatt Centre
» October 30 - Montreal, Quebec @ Bell Centre
» October 31 - Toronto, Ontario @ Air Canada Centre
» November 1 - Ottawa, Ontario @ Scotiabank Place
» November 7 - Fresno, CA @ Fresno State Save Mart Center
» November 12 - Champaign, IL @ University of Illinois Assembly Hall
» November 19 - Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum
» November 20 - El Paso, TX @ University of Texas at El Paso Don Haskins Center
» November 21 - Lubbock, TX @ United Spirit Arena
» November 22 - Austin, TX @ University of Texas at Austin Frank Erwin Center Arena

• N.E.R.D.
• Jay-Z
• Wale
• J. Cole

Wale
Photo: MTV News

As the VMA weekend approaches, Eminem and Kanye West's battle for Moonman dominance is picking up.

Jay-Z said he expects Kanye to win 'em all. (He also said wife Beyoncé will sweep her categories — even though West and B are competing for Video of the Year!) 50 Cent said Kanye can't compete with Em because he racks up all the awards. Eminem does have the historical advantage, winning nine Moonmen to West's two. 'Ye has scored more attention for his VMA dramatics in the past than actual trophies, although Slim Shady has had a run-in or two during the big show as well.

But just because they're squaring off doesn't mean there has to be a winner or loser — right?

VMA house-band MC Wale is more democratic about his prediction, saying they'll split the ticket. The iconic rappers are up for Video of the Year, Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video for their "We Made You" and "Love Lockdown" clips. Em's "We Made You" and West's "Paranoid" are also up for Best Special Effects.

"They'll go two-two," Wale told MTV News, saying the rappers will each take home some hardware.

Either way, Wale said Eminem's Relapse and West's 808s & Heartbreak were impressive. He said both projects were a step away from the MCs' past work.

"It's interesting, because both of them kind of went a little left with their recent albums," he said.

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards air live this Sunday, September 13, at 9 p.m. ET, but New York is celebrating the VMAs all week long! Stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

• The 2009 VMAs Are Taking Over NYC!

• 2009 VMA Nominees

• Wale
• Eminem
• Kanye West
• Jay-Z

Wale at his VMA rehearsal on Thursday
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — "This one's for the good people who are setting up the show for MTV!" Wale announced during rehearsals on Thursday (September 10). "We're gonna have some fun now, because you guys could use some good music."

And with that, he launched into a cracking version of his hit "Chillin' " backed by his group, the fabulously funky UCB; the team will be serving as the house band for the VMAs on Sunday. And the stagehands hammering away on the Video Music Awards' set bobbed their heads. It seems like Wale's already got this house band gig down.

But, of course, practice makes perfect, and, over the course of 90 or so minutes, Wale and UCB worked their way through their presumptive set for Sunday night, a series of originals and covers that'll definitely keep the VMA crowd rocking all night.

Like, for example, their funky takes on Britney Spears' "Womanizer" and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" or a sultry version of the Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody," which featured a newly shorn Solange Knowles on vocals.

Then, as camera operators practiced their movements and stagehands milled about them, Wale and UCB welcomed Pitbull (looking resplendent in a black tracksuit and shades) to the stage for a raucous run through of the rapper's hit "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)," then followed that by teaming with 3OH!3 on their breakout single "Don't Trust Me."

And even though the workers didn't stop their hammering, you could swear they all paused for a split second as UCB's conga drums skittered around the room. Now that's the sign of a great band.

Watch the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Preshow this Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the big event, airing live at 9 p.m. New York is celebrating the VMAs all week long, so stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

• The 2009 VMAs Are Taking Over NYC!

• VMA 2009: Behind The Scenes

• Wale

Wale and Tim Kash
Photo: MTV News

Lady Gaga has been the talk of the pop world this past year, from her spectacular outfits to her impossibly catchy tunes. Now, as she leads the pack at this year's 2009 MTV Video Music Awards with nine nominations, the "Poker Face" singer is a safe bet to be the breakout star of the show on Sunday.

New jack rapper Wale, who collaborated with Gaga on his hit "Chillin'," thinks his label mate has the same "It" factor as another ambitious blonde who has quite the VMA track record, Madonna.

"I think she's the Madonna of today," Wale told MTV News. "That's what I think, because of what she represents. Because I think what she's doing is the same thing Madonna did in the '80s: pushing the envelope on sex appeal, making aggressive music and making it popular."

Wale and his group UCB will serve as the official VMA house band this year, and they'll have a front-row seat when Gaga hits the stage — to perform, and possibly to start her Moonman collection.

Gaga is tied with Beyoncé for most nominations, and folks have been making predictions about which pop star will take home the most awards. Aubrey O'Day and Russell Brand are leaning toward B, while Ashlee Simpson said Gaga's songs are pretty impressive.

Either way, according to Wale, Gaga's rise to stardom has been something to behold.

"Everybody [talks about her] as far as what she has on her head to what she's wearing to her songs," he said. "It's the topic of discussion."

Watch the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Preshow this Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the big event, airing live at 9 p.m. New York is celebrating the VMAs all week long, so stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

• Wale

Wale gets quizzed by Tim Kash
Photo: MTV News

It's a little-known fact that before MTV hires anyone to serve as the house band at the Video Music Awards, they must pass a rigid, Kurt Loder-proctored VMA quiz (just kidding). And this year was no exception.

And while we were all huge fans of up-and-coming Washington, D.C., MC Wale (and his cracking live band, UCB), we weren't about to just let them serve as the 2009 house band without first making the grade.

So, we had Tim Kash give Wale a grilling, hitting him with a host of VMA questions that would test his knowledge and see if he really was worthy. Oh, and for added pressure we decided to quiz him right in the heart of Times Square.

Clearly, the pressure was on ... and, as it turned out, Wale was more than up for the challenge. You can watch his full VMA quiz in the video that accompanies this story, but let's just say he aced it, nailing questions like, "What comedian earned a lifetime ban after his 1989 VMA performance?" (Andrew Dice Clay) and "Who was the first hip-hop artist to win the Video Vanguard Award?" (LL Cool J) with, as he put it, "the smoothness of Mark Price on free throws."

And since he passed with flying colors, we're happy to announce that Wale and UCB will officially serve as the house band at the 2009 VMAs (you know, even though we already announced it last week). They'll collaborate on versions of today's biggest hits with the likes of the All-American Rejects, Pitbull and 3OH!3, and Wale promises that there's also gonna be a few surprises too.

"We're gonna bring a lot of that funk, we're gonna bring a lot of that D.C. go-go," he laughed. "We're gonna wild-out and have some fun. It's gonna be huge."

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards will take place September 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Additional celebrity presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks. To be the first to find out the inside scoop, follow the Inside MTV Twitter account at Twitter.com/InsideMTV.

• The 2009 VMAs Are Taking Over NYC!

• Wale

Woodie Awards 2009 Nominees

• 3Oh!3
• Alicia Keys
• Amanda Blank
• Animal Collective
• Anjulie

Who Should Replace Steven Tyler In Aerosmith?

• Aerosmith
• Eminem
• Kelly Clarkson
• Adam Lambert
• Kid Rock

Which Of These Artists Is The Hottest MC In The Game?

• Wale
• Jay-Z
• Asher Roth
• Kid Cudi
• Cam'ron

Wale, Keri Hilson, The-Dream, More At A BET/Grey Goose Party

• Christina Milian
• Kristinia DeBarge
• Wale
• The-Dream
• Ryan Leslie

Young Jeezy's "Presidential Status" Inaugural Ball

• Young Jeezy
• Jay-Z
• T.I.
• Wale
• Bow Wow