Olawale Fatola, popularly known as Wallz, is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter, who spent his developmental years in Ibadan, Nigeria before relocating to the United States. He categorizes his music as “soulful” rap, with his extended playlist, “Big Bad” released in 2020, featuring interesting personalities in the music scene, including Oxlade, Blaqbonez, Mojo and Fresh L. Wallz hints on the probable release of more content soonest, as he says in this interview, “I’m working on songs right now, and I have this one detty december jam that I am saving, so there is content. We just have to wait and hear from the bosses.”
4th Street: Tell us a bit about yourself. Besides the music, behind the camera, lights and loud sounds—Who is Wallz? Who are you on a Sunday evening?
Wallz: Without music, I’m just another young man with a degree looking to make change in the world. Crazy arsenal fan, amazing chess player and probably the most dramatic person in the world.
49th Street: When did you decide to go into music? When was that pivotal moment for you?
Wallz: I always knew I was gonna go into music. I was always an intelligent kid, but I never thought my purpose in life was in a corporate profession. Pops always wanted me to be a doctor/lawyer, and I probably would be badass at it, but omo na rap I come do for this life. I think my pivotal moment must have been SS2. I think that’s when I realized no one is really touching me.
49th Street: How long have you been in the industry?
Wallz: I’ve been in and out. Mostly for personal reasons and to find inner peace, but I came in the game in 2017 fully after I bagged my degree, and that was when I dropped my first full project
49th Street: What is music to you? Why do you wake up every day and keep going to the studio?
Wallz: Well, I wake up everyday and go to the studio because I record in the best studio in the world, get to work with some mad men and women daily, and because the vibes are simply untouched. (s/o to The Music Company, my famlee) Music is a message to me. There’s a message in every song or musical piece, and it is up the listener to decipher how it applies to them. That’s incredible.
49th Street: What’s it like being a Nigerian new school rapper based in the U.S? The ups and downs—tell us everything about it.
Wallz: It’s hard man. Connecting with creatives in Nigeria is hard, being able to implement your culture in visuals is harder and expensive. Everything is hard, but God gives his strongest soldiers the toughest battles. Also, yankee-nigerian creatives focus on being the “best in their city” in a foreign man’s land, that they forget the real mission is to bring Africa to the world. Thankfully, me and my guys no de compete with anybody, but if they want smoke we de their door. (word to Tobby Drillz)
49th Street: How can you describe your whole musical journey so far?
Wallz: I thank God that I am still here. I’ve tried to quit a couple times but my support system keeps drawing me back in. Music is definitely what I’m supposed to be doing, and I am thankful I can do it.
49th Street: What do you love the most about your sound? What do you think makes it unique?
Wallz: “Can’t no nigga rap like me, ABJ LAG or even IB. Yoruba, English or Pidgin sef G” If you have listened to PSA off the BIG BAD project, you’ll understand. I’m different. I’m special. It’s only 1 Wallz, ko le pe meji.
49th Street: Who are the artistes that inspire your style of music?
Wallz: Stormzy, BlackMagic, BurnaBoy, Sinzu, Naeto C (abeg come back and do a feature with me) and I listen to a lot of Meek Mill because I like telling stories and I think he is an amazing storyteller.
49th Street: You dropped a project last in 2017 titled ‘AFROʼ. 2017 till now, we haven’t heard a song from you. Why haven’t you put out new music since then?
Wallz: Life man, life happened. But we’re back. Bigger, Badder, Better. It’s time now, and that’s all that matters. I’m just happy (for me) that I’m doing music again.
49th Street: Can you tell us about your latest EP ‘Big Bad’? How did the whole project come together?
Wallz: This project found me tbh. I remember when the coronavirus pandemic started, I was down bad. I wasn’t home then, so I didn’t have access to a studio and I needed to let something out. I did a freestyle titled WICKED, and when I heard that, I knew it was time. Like what? I de rap. And then I went back to The Music Company, linked with Bunie, Bobby, Denzel and Lelo and it was GO time at that point.
49th Street: In your latest project, you featured a lot of Nigerian artistes—the likes of Oxlade, Blaqbonez, Mojo & Fresh L. How was it like working with each of them?
Wallz: Every single person I worked with is amazing. They’re all gonna be superstars. s/o to Fresh L, amazing guy to work with, insanely incredible rapper. s/o to Lamii, that guy is a menace. s/o to Oxlade, Blaqbonez and Mojo for delivering top tier content, and of course s/o to Tobby Drillz. Been rocking since time, and everytime we link, it’s a madness.
49th Street: You seem to have a good chemistry with Tobby Drillz. Are there plans for a collaboration project in the future?
Wallz: You can never tell. We have enough tracks together to drop, but the only problem is we keep getting better everyday. So it depends. Y’all just have to wait and see about that one.
49th Street: Are we to expect more music from you before the year runs out?
Wallz: That depends on my team. I’m working on songs right now, and I have this one detty december jam that I am saving, so there is content. We just have to wait and hear from the bosses.
49th Street: Are there people in the industry today you’d really love to work with? If yes, can you mention a few?
Wallz: Amaarae, Dremo, Ladipoe, I’d love to be on a SDC song, Kida, Mayorkun, BlackMagic, Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Wizkid, Naeto C and anyone who has vibes for me to hop on. I get plenty of 16 bars for my back pocket to go around.
49th Street: How far do you plan to take your music too? Any major plans coming soon?
Wallz: Man proposes, God disposes. I know God has major plans for me. When it happens, I’ll definitely share with the world. For now, I’m working with my guys and we are coming to take over the world.
49th Street: If you weren’t rapping today, what would you be doing right now?
Wallz: Probably an entertainment lawyer or an artiste manager.
49th Street: What kind of impact will you like to have in the industry when it comes to an end?
Wallz: I want young creatives to realize your big blessing does not come from waiting for a cosign. Go out, work hard, and be the cosigner. I want to encourage creatives in the diaspora to not forget their sound to adapt to westernized standards. Africa is beautiful, our sound is beautiful. They wanna be us. We don’t have to move like them. I also wanna bring a new generation of afro infused sound along with me, but like I said, na baba God get the final say.
