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Maybach Music Group/Atlantic Records artist Wale has announced plans for a major U.S. headline tour, “THE SHINE TOUR.” The dates begin Friday, May 5th at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA and continue through mid the month (see attached itinerary). Spotify pre-sale begins Wednesday, March 8; general ticket on sale this Friday, March 10 at 10:00 AM local time. Complete details for “THE SHINE TOUR,” including ticket information are available here.

“THE SHINE TOUR” heralds the GRAMMY-nominated rapper’s hugely anticipated fifth studio album, “SHINE,” slated to arrive later this year. The album is preceded by a series of song releases including the RIAA Gold-certified “My PYT,” “Groundhog Day,” “Running Back (Feat. Lil Wayne),” and “Fashion Week (Feat. G-Eazy).” All tracks are available now everywhere and streaming services nationwide.

Wale and Lil Wayne unveiled their collaboration, “Running Back (Feat. Lil Wayne),” in early January with a joint performance on ESPN’s First Take. The track is now accompanied by a fast-paced companion video, directed by ACRS. Watch here. “Fashion Week (Feat. G-Eazy)” arrived soon thereafter to critical acclaim, with Complex praising the track’s “infectious hook and danceable production.” XXL agreed, noting the track “sounds like it was tailor-made for the runway.”

Hailed by Hot New Hip Hop as “a genuine banger from the mastermind lyricist,” “Groundhog Day” first dropped late last year and was then joined by an extended companion video that earned wide-ranging media attention from such outlets as Rolling Stone and Billboard, among others.

Wale first trumpeted “SHINE” last year with the now Gold-certified smash single, “My P.Y.T.” The track earned more than 10 million Spotify streams following its every-hour-on-the-hour world premiere across all iHeart Media Urban Mainstream stations and their respective websites. Produced by The Dope Boyz, “My P.Y.T.” received a tidal wave of critical acclaim upon its spring arrival, with attention paid from Billboard, VIBE, and Hot New Hip Hop, which raved, “‘My P.Y.T.’ is a catchy, feel-good summer anthem… From production to its easy-sing along lyrics, this single has some serious potential to do work on the airwaves and charts.” Furthermore, Wale celebrated the single with a spectacular performance of “My P.Y.T.” on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, backed by the one and only Roots.

Summer 2016 saw Wale treat fans to the blazing 17-track mixtape, “SUMMER ON SUNSET,” featuring Cam’ron, Joe Moses, Ty Dolla $ign, Raheem DeVaughn, Jazz Cartier, Phil Ade, Eric Bellinger, and more, earning instant applause from outlets including Rolling Stone, Billboard, and FADER.

Wale made an extraordinary chart entry with 2015’s “THE ALBUM ABOUT NOTHING,” debuting at #1 on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 as well as Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” and “Top Rap Albums” charts. The album – which includes the hit singles, “The Matrimony (Feat. Usher)” and “The Body (Feat. Jeremih)” – marked the most eclectic, entertaining, and extraordinary release in Wale’s famed “ABOUT NOTHING” mixtape trilogy, showcasing the inspiration of his favorite TV show, Seinfeld, with Jerry Seinfeld himself prominently featured on skits and segments.

Wale is one of the most idiosyncratic talents in hip-hop after unleashing his distinctive mixtapes in 2005, ultimately releasing his debut album, “ATTENTION DEFECIT,” in 2009. He signed with Maybach Music Group in 2011 and soon unveiled his breakthrough second album, “AMBITION.” Highlighted by such singles as the RIAA gold certified “Lotus Flower Bomb (Feat. Miguel),” the album debuted at #1 on both Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” and “Top Rap Albums” charts while also entering at #2 on the overall Billboard “Top 200 Albums” chart. High profile appearances on a variety of MMG releases followed, including label founder Rick Ross’ RIAA gold certified, GRAMMY®-nominated “GOD FORGIVE, I DON’T,” as well as all three volumes of the massively popular “MMG PRESENTS: SELF MADE” series.

The rapper’s third studio album, “THE GIFTED,” was released in June 2013 and proved a milestone, exploding to the #1 spot on the Billboard “Top 200 Albums” chart after its first week of release. What’s more, the album’s lead single, “Bad (Feat. Tiara Thomas),” achieved RIAA platinum certification for sales in excess of 1 million after ascending to the upper reaches of Billboard’s “Hot 100.”

In addition to the release of “THE ALBUM ABOUT NOTHING,” Wale partook in several high-profiled events at The White House, including First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Reach Higher” initiative for higher education, as well as becoming the first rapper to open the State Of The Union, performing right before President Obama’s final State Of The Union Address. Wale also joined forces with sneaker boutique, Villa, to release a limited edition collection of sneakers including the Asics “Bottle Rocket,” the Timberland “Gift Box Set” and the VILLA x Wale x ASIC Gel Lyte III “IC Champion.” He continues to develop and expand his EVERY BLUE MOON brand that includes musicians, comedians, screenwriters, as well as plans to launch a festival.

WALE “THE SHINE TOUR”

MAY

5               Atlanta, GA                            The Tabernacle

6               Raleigh, NC                            The Ritz

9               Houston, TX                          House of Blues

11            Scottsdale, AZ                     Livewire

12            Los Angeles, CA                                    The Novo

13            San Francisco, CA              The Fillmore

16            Denver, CO                            Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom

18            Chicago, IL                             House of Blues

19            Milwaukee, WI                   The Rave

20            Minneapolis, MN              Skyway Theatre

22            Detroit, MI                             St. Andrew’s Hall

24            Pittsburgh, PA                     Stage AE

25            New York, NY                        Irving Plaza

26            Philadelphia, PA                Theatre of Living Arts

27            Boston, MA                            House of Blues