Concerts & Catches: Wale Put On For His City During MLB All-Star Week
From free concerts on D.C.’s waterfront to highlight-reel catches in the Celebrity Softball Game, rapper Wale was probably the best ambassador of Washington, D.C. during MLB All-Star Week.
Bryce Harper did a great job representing Washington, D.C. during MLB All-Star Week. His performance in the 2018 Home Run Derby captivated the city in a way that’s rarely seen. Had the Washington Capitals not won the Stanley Cup a few months ago, I’d say it was the best D.C. sports moment of 2018. Besides Harper, the events of MLB All-Star Week also put on display some of the city’s most well-known celebrities: Bill Nye the Science Guy and John Wall both played in the Celebrity Softball Game, and Nye also sat in the Statcast booth during the Home Run Derby. One D.C. legend who stood out on another level, though, was Grammy-nominated rapper Wale.
Wale, a D.C. native who rose to fame with a Seinfeld-inspired mixtape in 2008, was everywhere during MLB All-Star Week. On Friday night, he appeared in concert at The Wharf in D.C. as part of the MLB Assembly event. The show was totally free and people showed up in droves.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlN9DDmnhGG/?tagged=mlbassembly
Not surprisingly, Wale popped up again (free of charge) on D.C.’s waterfront during the weekend. This time, Folarin was draped in a No.2 Washington Nationals jersey and chose to rock with fans up close instead of on stage. This particular affair was in conjunction with New Balance.
Besides being an elite rapper, Wale is also an above-average athlete. In fact, he earned a Division-1 football scholarship to Robert Morris University out of high school. So it’s not surprising that, like John Wall and Bill Nye, he was included in the Celebrity Softball Game. Unlike Wall and Nye, though, Wale put on a show during the game.
In the second inning, ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza hit a fly ball down the right-field line. Not only did Wale catch it, but he did it in style — much to the delight of the crowd, John Wall, and ESPN’s play-by-play man Adnan Virk.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlVO_31lwl-/?taken-by=slackiebrown
As of this post, All-Star Week isn’t quite finished. There is still the main event — the MLB All-Star Game — tonight on FOX. Maybe we get one more Wale appearance, maybe not. Either way, he made his mark during the MLB All-Star festivities and absolutely put on a show for his hometown. Hats off to you, Folarin. You love The District, and we love you back.