Wallie the Sensei
via publicist
The Opener is The FADER’s short-form profile series of casual conversations with exciting new artists.
Compton rapper-singer Wallie The Sensei has a voice like silk thanks to his childhood years singing in the church choir. Though he’s been recording music since 2019, when he lost a bet with a friend and was forced to drop a mixtape, he’s ascended from local stardom to a regional name over the past 18 months, thanks in no small part to major cosigns by Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott.
In late 2024, Kendrick featured Wallie on “Dodger Blue” off GNX and Travis signed the Compton artist to his Cactus Jack label early last summer. Wallie’s vocal tone brings to mind 03 Greedo and Roddy Ricch, but his music is calmer than the former and rougher-edged than the latter. And Wallie the Sensei is determined to hold his own apart from the comparisons and connections, whether sparring with artists like Future and Don Toliver on “CAN'T STOP” or putting up reps solo, as on recent single “Fed Up.”
Wallie’s forthcoming album MaDD DOGG largely pulls from melodic trap music (think Loe Shimmy and NoCap), but equally cribs from the rising rapper’s thickening Rolodex, tapping rage producers from the Cactus Jack stable and more traditional West Coast names alike. Sometimes you even get all of that on the same song, like “Dip” with Ty Dolla $ign and Blxst, a late night jam that would work just as well at Magic or Starlets as it would Crazy Girls. Or “BEAM” with Roddy Ricch, where Wallie skates across a skittering bed of glissandos, smirking, “I’m mixing Baccarat with Bond No. 9” (Sensei, please drop the layering combo).
The FADER caught up with Wallie the Sensei to find out how he spends his free time, his favorite tattoo, and the child actor Wallie calls, “a genius at his young age.”
What’s the coolest thing to do in your hometown?
Basketball, the gym and the swimming pool always been lit!
Tell us about the first album you bought and why.
Tha Carter III on CD. All I listened to was Wayne!
What’s a song you’d want to cover and why?
“Love” by Musiq Soulchild
Best advice you’ve gotten
“It’s your dream, don’t rely on anybody else to make it come true”
Worst advice you’ve gotten
“Blow your money, you can’t take it with you when you die”
Show us the last meme you saved to your phone
It says “burn bridges for peace of mind”
Describe the best concert you’ve attended.
Kendrick Lamar’s GNX tour, I never seen nothing like that in person before
What’s the last thing you wrote in your notes app?
Margaritaville lol
Explain a lyric of yours that people misunderstand.
“It’s suicide, not a homicide / Before I let em take me, I rather take my own life," from "03 Flow." I wasn’t talking about killing myself – I’m saying I understand that our lifestyle can be suicide sometimes, but we won’t change the way we live
What was the last movie you watched?
Home Alone. That shit was well put-together. Macaulay Caulkin was a genius at his young age
When you’re not making music, how do you spend your free time?
Either with my kids or at the bowling alley
What’s a motto you think everyone should live by?
Be to other people who you needed in your worst times
What’s the best thing you’ve bought for $100 or less?
Nike Cortez shoes
Tell us about your favorite tattoo.
My favorite tattoo is a portrait of Dora Baker (my granny), she was my favorite person
What’s the ideal level of fame and why?
I don’t care about fame –– as long as my music helps to heal somebody, I’m good
