Nigerian parents are difficult to impress, says Wale, US rapper

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, the US rapper better known as Wale, says Nigerian parents are difficult to impress.

The 36-year-old ‘Dig Dug’ crooner spoke about parenting on his Twitter page on Tuesday, where he noted that his parents, who are Nigerians, are the “toughest”.

Wale said his parents were not impressed after he signed his first deal with Interscope Records, a music label in the US.

In 2008, after an infamous attempt by three record labels to sign the ‘Chillin’ singer, Interscope Records eventually signed him for a fee of $1.3 million.

Wale proceeded to release ‘Attention Deficit’, his debut album, with the label in 2009, which attracted positive critical acclaim.

In 2011, he signed with Maybach Music Group (MMG), a record label owned by Rick Ross, the US rapper.

Reminiscing on his journey so far, the ‘Pretty Girls’ rapper said even with his groundbreaking achievement at the age of 24, his Nigerian parents were far from impressed.

Wale also recounted how his parents asked him to get a job — barely a week after he signed with Interscope.

“Nigerian parents…. The toughest,” he said.

“Remembering when I signed with Interscope and a week later they asked me to get a job. They never impressed and that’s maybe why I’m like this.”

Wale first rose to prominence in 2006, when his song ‘Dig Dug (Shake It)’ became popular in his US hometown.