Maybach Music Group rapper Wale returned home to the DMV for a private listening event a Heist to unveil his latest project “The Gifted” set to be released June 25.

The Venue

Heist is a cute and quaint little lounge in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Northwest Washington, DC. I remember when it was Fly Lounge and setup inside like an airplane. I’m not sure who owns it now, but Heist is set up like a bank with gold security bars for some walls, so it seems related. Other walls feature surveillance footage of real crimes! I thought that was a nice touch to the interior design. I’d like to see it on an average night though.

Anway, DJ Reddz of WPGC 95.5FM kicked off the night spinning 90’s jams during the complimentary Ciroc open bar from 7-8pm. I enjoyed my fair share of Ciroc Peach and tonic. DTLR and King Flexxa made sure that we wouldn’t be drinking on an empty stomach and had catered platters of chicken and beef kabobs, BBQ chicken wings that fell right off the bone, salmon bites and the best mimi crab cakes ever! I was sure to give my compliments to the chef personally.

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DC’s Who’s Who

The city’s most influential taste makers were invited to celebrate Wale’s third studio album. Attendees included DJ Heat (WPGC,) Prince Aladin (WPGC,) Shawn Caesar (DTLR / Unruly,) Kysha (Mylstone,) DJ MIM, Renzi (DMV Nation,) Monique Cary (Atlantic Records,) DJ Analyze (WKYS,) Ashley Silva (Supergorge.com,) Community Leader Tony Lewis, Jr., Sunni And The City (WPGC,) and Wale’s Board of Administration family including Tre of UCB.

Wale’s Description of “The Gifted”

Wale arrived at the venue promptly at 8:15 and made his way to the DJ booth with DJ Money to kick things off.

He thanked everyone for coming out and started narrating the event by describing the sound of “The Gifted” as “New Black Soul.”  This album’s sound is supposed to be reminiscent of  Michael Jackson, Neyo and go-go band EU– best known for “Da’ Butt” from the soundtrack of Spike Lee’s School Daze.

He says he decided to write this work like a book. “You can tell by how the songs transition,” he told us.

Wale chose this title because he was inspired by “the gifted” in entertainment citing the greats like Micheal Jackson, Micheal Jordan and EU, and wanted to experiment with production much like the greats tweaked existing concepts in their respective fields to become legendary.

Wale announced to the crowd that he tried to “put on” the DMV really hard this time around because he didn’t like hearing feedback that he didn’t love home. He says he put producers and artists on his tracks from home whether they are signed or not– just as long as they are good, like Slutty Boyz’s Fat Trel on “MFS.”

Track “Sunshine” is produced by LG of Board of Administration, and Wale describes this one as a “commercial for a good day.” (Check out this Vine post of Wale describing the song.)

[http://youtu.be/QpmmH3jfdNY]

Other tracks on the album feature artists like Rick Ross, 2 Chainz and production by Just Blaze and Sunny Norway.

Be sure to go out and support Wale by buying “The Gifted” on Tuesday, June 25th!