Friday, January 15, 2010

Not My Typical Thursday: Hanging With Wale

Everyone once in a while I take an assignment from the DC entertainment blog Brightest Young Things, I don't often shoot entertainment but sometimes there are things too good to pass up. Case in point, the filming of the "Pretty Girls" music video for the newest big star to come out of DC, rap artist Wale. Of course stars travel in packs; and on this particular night NFL players Ray Rice and Clinton Portis were in attendance doing cameos for the video; DJ Khaled was also there. Toss in plenty of camera men, a big green screen, and some big bootied women looking for their shining moment... and you have yourself a party.

A note on Wale though, because he does seem to mean a lot to his home town of Washington; I found him to be down to earth, fun loving, and not the least bit Kanye-esque. One moment he'd be goofing around with his friends, a minute later he'd going over notes with the director. Talking to some of his childhood friends, one spoke of his love of the city... evident in the stars and fashion styles he brought to this video in particular. He seemed young and ambitious, and I look forward to being a Wale fan well into the future. Enjoy the photos, and a video of the set.

**Update: Featured on the Washington Post Sports Blog**




Ray Rice and Wale








DJ Khaled and Wale

Clinton Portis