Washington D.C.-based rapper Wale will be teaming up with Michelle Obama for a new initiative committed to helping American teens succeed in college. The MC met with Ms. Obama during a "beating the odds" summit hosted at the White House Thursday, which was also attended by over 100 current students.
The AP reports that Wale and the First Lady were part of a panel discussion on education issues in America Thursday, and that Wale shared stories of landing on academic probation while in college, before finally learning to "take the training wheels off" in his approach to life. Wale also reportedly performed for the students gathered at the White House during the summit.
The entire day's events were kicked off by an especially auspicious surprise opening act: President Barack Obama himself. "My rapping skills are terrible," the President reportedly told the crowd of gathered teens before Wale made his appearance. "That's one thing I can't do is rap. I like rap but I cannot rap."
“I believe that the youth are the first step in creating a better country, so to be involved in a program that aims to enrich their lives is truly the greatest reward,” Wale stated in a press release ahead of Thursday's event. “Having grown up in Washington, D.C., being invited to the White House by the first lady is a dream come true. Thank you to Mrs. Obama and her entire staff for this opportunity.” Earlier this spring, Wale visited a Baltimore school in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray. Now, it appears his commitment to encouraging schoolchildren is alive and very well indeed.
