Wale brings his D.C. beats to Philly

Despite the freezing temperatures outside the TLA on Friday, the venue is hot with the steam of fandom. Through the blue moon-like lighting D.C. rapper Wale struts across the stage, rapping to his "moonz," as he calls his most devoted fans. Somehow, in little more than an hour, the 30-year-old rapper managed to perform many highlights of his more than 10-year-old discography, from his debut album, Attention Deficit, to his mixtape Festivus, released two weeks ago.

The Simply Nothing Tour, like Festivus, works as a preview for his Seinfeld-inspired fourth studio album, The Album About Nothing. He says it's his most personal project yet.

Wale brings D.C. to Philly as he goes straight into a go-go beat launching into "The Deep End" featuring Pusha-T from Festivus. Suddenly, the crowd begins to shift to the left, and phones light up. Philly rapper Meek Mill and rapper/founder of Maybach Music Group Rick Ross, dressed in mink, have entered the building, and Wale walks over to acknowledge his labelmates as the crowd swarms.

Wale leads into "Pretty Girls" from Attention Deficit, occasionally switching the hook to "Philly girls," which invites squeals and stomps. Next up is "Girls on Drugs" from Festivus, a strong, dreamy track and the mixtape's standout.

Next, a high-energy "Loyalty" featuring Dew Baby and Fat Trel. Locs are shaken and faces twisted into tough-guy grimaces as Wale demands to know where the loyalty is. Ironically, half the crowd is still turned toward Mill and Ross, snapping shots. Where the loyalty at?

Wale shows off his poetic lyricism with "Friendship Heights" featuring Chance the Rapper, and then "Ambition," which features Mill. The crowd seems to expect Mill to join in; he just smiles.

As Wale switches among albums and mixtapes, the crowd suffers from slight whiplash. But once he launches into "Clappers," some move out of the way as some move in the way. Not only did Wale perform his own songs, he includes songs he was featured on, like "In My Bag" by Fat Trel and Waka Flaka's "No Hands," and ends with an encore of "Girls on Drugs" for a crowd still trying to familiarize itself with the mixtape but content to savor its contagious vibe and well-woven story line.

Wale's performing his rap portfolio is a reminder of how long he's been at this. He says he's "one of the most misunderstood artists in the game," and though "Give it up for Wale!!" briefly circulates as he leaves the stage, the crowd shifts to Meek Mill. Proving that Philly loves its own - and Wale may be right.

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