Wake Self

In the video for “Still Love Her,” Albuquerque, New Mexico MC Wake Self incorporates touchstones that any Head will appreciate. With a beautiful visual homage to A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory album cover, a conceptual foundation built on the artwork for Common’s Resurrection, a nod to De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, a spoken introduction from J Dilla’s mother Ma Dukes, and some high-quality bars mentioning the likes of Cormega and Nas, the lyric video goes above and beyond that particular canon of music videos. Fans will also recognize the song’s title, a reference to Common’s classic 1994 joint “I Used to Love H.E.R.”

Also featuring DJ Young Native and Emilio Semihazah, “Still Love Her” will appear on Wake Self’s forthcoming LP, Malala, a project which seems to be named after the Nobel Peace Prize winning social activist Malala Yousafzai. According to him, the song’s meaning is both deeply personal and universal. “I’m not one of those people who is stuck in the so called ‘Golden Era’ because I do believe great music has been, will be and is still being made,” he says. “I feel a deep attachment, however, to classic Hip-Hop music. I feel like we as a culture need to start recognizing our heroes and teachers like other cultures and music genres do.” With a flip of Hiatus Kaiyote’s “Nakamarra” and some similarities to Erykah Badu’s video for “Honey,” “Still Love Her” is a thoughtful snapshot of yesterday and today. - Ambrosia for Heads

Albuquerque Hip Hop staple Wake Self has joined forces with the legendary Gift of Gab from Oakland duo, Blackalicious, to deliver one of his most important songs to date, “Change the World.” Produced by SmokeM2D6 of Oldominion, “Change the World” was a dream collaboration for the budding yet confident emcee.

“It’s a great feeling for me to work with both Smoke and Gab, two artists I’ve looked up to for a long time,” Wake tells The Source. “I appreciate both of their contributions to Hip Hop and have always been impressed by the dedication they put into their craft.”

The song is aimed at various culture trends in society Wake believes hold us back, including social media, entertainment, celebrity worship, and other things that cloud our lives with mass distraction.

“I think about all the time we spend as a human race being distracted with all those thing and how it keeps us from getting to the root of our own problems,” he says. “If we can see the bigger picture and really examine our reality, and how our thinking patterns relate to it, maybe we can have a chance to change the world.”

In conjunction with the unveiling of “Change the World,” Wake is proud to announce his sophomore album, Malala, which is coming August 24, 2016.

“August 24 is my mom’s birthday,” he explains. “My main focus with music is to share my ideas with the world, to bring awareness, help heal and inspire people with music, and make my mom proud.”

As the follow-up to 2014’s Good Things Happen to Those Who Wake, Wake has been working on Malala for the past two years and it’s an album he can’t wait to share with the world.

“I’ve never been more proud of something I created,” he says. “I love this album. Growing as a person and an artist is painful and beautiful, but the journey up to this point has been amazing. I really feel like making this album has already changed my life. I healed and found myself again in this music that I created.” - The Source Magazine

Considering Mac Miller just released an album titled The Divine Feminine, which really focused more on the female gender as an array of sexual objects more than anything else, Wake Self’s video for “Malala” comes at the perfect time.

Overflowing with insightful social commentary and distinctive rhyme patterns, “Malala” (named after Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai), breaks the mold with its message against misogyny, a brave venture for a genre that so often glorifies objectification. The single comes from Wake’s full-length of the same name, which was released in August of this year.

“To me, real Hip Hop respects women,” Wake Self tells DX. “The world is out of balance. We are all affected by a history of objectification and gender inequality. Our pop culture and entertainment industries have accepted the degrading of women, and it’s marketed and sold to us. For anything to change, we must respect life. The lack of respect for women is an issue for all humankind, not just women. Our mothers, daughters, sisters and earth are sacred.

“We need to create an open dialogue, and begin to change our belief structures,” he adds. “Then our world will follow. This song was made in faith that we can and will change, we can and will create brighter days. Hip Hop music is for all people and is about being free—freedom from oppression, hate, and limitation. We must break the walls and be the ones to save us.”

From the call-to-action of “Change the World” featuring Blackalicious’ Gift of Gab to the undeniably powerful title track, Malala retains its original content throughout the 15-song effort. The album also boasts production by Oldominion’s SmokeM2D6 (excluding “Keep On” produced by Bles Infinite), which lends it a sonically consistent feel.

Paired with sizable contributions from New Mexico-based multi-instrumentalist Miles Bonny, Belgium artist Blu Samu, partner-in-crime Def-i, vocalist Alia Lucero, Dre Z, and of course, Gift of Gab, Wake’s atypical observations on the world prove Malala is precisely what is missing in Hip Hop’s often vacuous landscape. - Hip Hop DX

Featuring an official co-sign and intro from Ma Dukes herself, Albuquerque, NM’s Wake Self formally introduces himself to the DopeHouse denizens with an interesting conceptual video for his new single, “I Still Love Her.”
Using graphics and art that many a Hip-Hop connoisseur will instantly recognize, Wake dives head first into familiar waters as he explores the many generations of classic Hip-Hop albums – from the Native Tongues era to Common, Big Daddy Kane, JAY Z, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube.
It’s a fresh take on a rap video and one that has been sorely missing from the game. If you consider yourself a b-boy in any sense of the word, then you know what time it is. Press play up top.
Sample provided by Hiatus Kayote, trumpet by Miles Bonny, produced by DJ Young Native, live drums by Emilio, mixed & Mastered by Per C Wells and written by Wake Self. Video by Concept Flux. - 2DopeBoyz.com

Albuquerque, New Mexico emcee, Wake Self, wowed the hip-hop community with his latest video for the track, “I Still Love Her,” his beautifully constructed ode to hip-hop culture. Released in January 2016, it showed hip-hop fans the love and appreciation Wake Self has for his predecessors.

Although his name is not as well known as the Drakes, Ice Cubes or Kendrick Lamars of the world, he’s slowly (but surely) changing that. With his atypical rhymes revolving around community betterment, spirituality and staying healthy, Wake Self’s bars stand out among a sea of generic lyrics that are way too common these days.

Currently on tour with legendary Brooklyn emcee, Masta Ace, Wake Self had a few moments in between shows to talk about his upcoming album Malala, touring with a legend and why New Mexico would be the ideal place for KRS-One‘s vision for a “Hip Hop City.”

Check out what Wake Self had to say about touring with Masta Ace, Phife Dawg and more.

RESPECT.: What inspired you to become an emcee?

I feel like I have something to say other rappers and emcees aren’t saying. And I love the art of rhyme; it’s how I reflect who I am. All the greats before me who ever spit a verse that hit me in the heart and my best friend, Def-i, too.

RESPECT.: What is one of the most important messages you want to get across to the world through your music?

There are so many. Every day I become aware of new struggles happening on this planet that need awareness brought to them. In short, I want to raise the overall awareness of humanity, so we can pay attention to what is really important; to inspire creative solutions to jumpstart the removal of limitations blocking our collective evolution; making suggestions for the average human to be more eco-friendly and health conscious; to show our pain, embarrassment, faults, imperfections, and differences need to be embraced, and we need to be patient and supportive of our personal growth and individual journeys.

RESPECT.: You’re currently on tour with legendary emcee, Masta Ace. How did you make this happen?

Shout out to Ace. A mutual friend connected us and we started chopping it up. He’s a really cool genuine person. I’m thankful for the opportunity.

RESPECT.: Your last video “I Still Love Her” got a lot of positive attention. Were you happy with how it was received?

I am grateful for the love and thanks to everyone who shares the music. Support from the listeners is everything. That’s a no brainer.

RESPECT.: You have a new album coming out, Malala. First why name it after her and second what’s different about this one?

She’s an incredible human and we need more of those. I believe we all need archetypes in the form of examples outside of ourselves to help motivate us to facilitate change in our own realities. It’s a connection musically to a movement of consciousness and social awareness she embodies. To be honest, it’s better in all aspects than anything I’ve released so far. I’m more experienced now. I’m happy with it. The feel and the concepts are more of what I’ve always wanted my music to get across.

RESPECT.: What do you want to accomplish this year?

Just to become me, more and more. I want to become the person who I truly know I’m capable of being, pushing past every limit that holds me back. As I find myself and understand my own individuality, and how to unlock, I truly believe everything will fall or maybe rise into place.

RESPECT.: KRS one once said he would start a “Hip Hop city” in New Mexico. What about growing up in the Zia state has influenced your music?

It made me different that the rest of the world. We have a different flavor out here. We just wanna show the world what we got. As far as Hip Hop goes, we have a deep love for it. We practice the elements and respect the craft and culture in a very honest, real way.

RESPECT.: What did you think of the news of Phife’s passing?

No words. I know the heart of Hip Hop broke into pieces and we all will be forever waiting to see that A Tribe Called Quest reunion tour. - RESPECT magazine

Wake Self’s name already gives us some foreshadowing into what kind of music he creates, and his third album Malala, displays how conscious the MC really is. Very unlike many of his peers in the rap game, he not only treats others with respect, he also takes care to maintain his health. After an interview we did with the MC earlier this year, we learned more about why he speaks up while others remain quiet.

Malala, named for the young Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize winner, touches on topics that are generally off limits in hip-hop, including misogyny. Wake Self, speaks on the hypocrisy and the outcomes of bigotry without coming across patronizing. Beyond speaking out on issues, unlike most, he offers solutions, solace and a shoulder. Using his gruff and monotone rapping voice, he effortlessly links important topics with a fully relatable sound.

The 15-track project has a logical flow from start to finish, telling a story that is equal parts political and eye-opening, but definitely boasts some highlights. “No Price Tags” groups a quicker spit from the MC over an engaging electronic beat, complemented by an ideal hook proclaiming, “My soul it has no price tag.” The track “Questions” ponders those hard to answer and sometimes impossible inquiries. Poking at 9/11 and contemplating reincarnation, he seems to be posing the questions to spark thought. The track, “Change The World” featuring Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious) pairs two like minds and pointed concepts. Gab’s well-timed cadence kick off the track piquing intrigue while Wake Self pulls it all together.

The title track on the album is an easy focal point. The delicate production and not so gentle rapping takes jabs at the double standards and violence saddled on women all over the world. Hip-hop being one of the major offenders in the music world, Wake Self is both brave an eloquent in his attack of the ingrained institutions. One of his more poignant observations is perfectly articulated in the verse, “Our economy has turned misogyny into a revenue stream.”

Malala as an album contributes something to the rap game that has never before been presented and the fact that its packaged in a such an authentic way, from a cultural bastion, may allow the message to be actually heard.

Stream and download Malala at www.wakeself.com. - AXS.com

MCing is about more that just moving the crowd. It’s method and content. Message and connections. Mastering consciousness. Until we have more people focusing on the words they’re putting into the listening space of the world, we’re gonna be relegated to our single word mantras. Let’s extend our collective vocabulary in this culture and create more ideas worth meditating on. Thanks for doing that, Wake Self. Easily one of the top 10 projects to drop this year

full review here:
http://thekitchenmix.com/wake-self-raising-consciousness-with-malala/ - The Kitchen Mix

While the collective consciousness comes to fruition, hip-hop MC Wake Self is doing his part to spread that good knowledge with his latest album, Malala.


Wake Self‘s new work is chock-full of finely-crafted verses over slick beats and rhymes that flow seamlessly. All of this not only pleasures the ear, but his social commentary speaking truth to power throughout each track is exactly what we need right now. Malala empowers us all to keep it real and see through the veil of distraction put in place to keep us down and out.

“There are concepts inside of every song,” Wake explains. “Each song has its own mood, atmosphere, and anatomy. The way I feel about life and my experiences, beliefs, perception, and emotion is everything. As humans we are not the boxes and generalizations or short description we are forced to fit in. Everything we are is constantly expanding and deepening. Malala is an illustrated soundtrack to my journey and faith for a brighter future.”

“Making this album has already changed my life,” he says. “I am deeply connected to every word, syllable, rhyme pattern, feeling, concept, and idea that came through me on this project. I try to make music that can heal, inspire, bring love, awareness, happiness, and clarity. I want people to feel alive, and clear—to not only envision a new world, but to also start materializing it with our actions, and continue cleansing ourselves from the wounds of our past social patterns.”

With contributions from Miles Bonny, Belgian artist Blu Samu, partner-in-crime Def-i, vocalist Alia Lucero, Dre Z, and Gift of Gab of Blackalicious, Malala is a hip-hop masterpiece from beginning to end. - RPM.com

Fresh off a tour with Masta Ace, Wake Self is going places. Check out our June issue of Tattoo Marque for his full interview. For now here is an excerpt from his website:

Packed with flawless production by PH8, Percy Wells and DJ Young Native, Martinez effortlessly ebbs and flows over each beat with the fluidity of a master. With atypical lyrical content ranging from yoga, energy cleansing and eating organic food to population control, wearing matching flannels with his older brother and social media dumbing down America, Good Things Happen to Those Who Wake is truly one-of-a-kind. He bravely addresses his happiness and depression as a child, self-mutilation, self-empowerment, and starting over. - Tattoo Marque

Hip-hop artist Wake Self comes out of the Albuquerque, NM hip-hop scene with a strong belief in the power of music to change hearts and minds. His career with the band Zoology and more recent solo projects has taken him around the U.S. and Europe, including performances with such acts as Blackalicious, KRS-ONE, and De La Soul. Wake Self’s latest album is entitled Malala, after the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai. Inspired by people like Malala, Gandhi, and Malcolm X, Wake Self believes “if you’re speaking the truth … the music will do its work”. His lyrics challenge the misogyny that has become common to hip-hop culture and society as a whole. When Wake Self is not on tour, he is conducting inspirational music workshops for youth in the southwestern U.S. - Earthsongs.net