Wale And Odeal Ignite Global Connection With Soulful New Single “City On Fire”
by That Eric Alper
Wale - YouTube snapshot
Multi-platinum D.C. rapper Wale has set the world ablaze with his powerful new single “City on Fire,” featuring British-Nigerian R&B artist Odeal. Out now via Def Jam Recordings, the song serves as the final preview of Wale’s upcoming album everything is a lot. arriving November 14 and you can pre-save it here. The track fuses Wale’s introspective storytelling with Odeal’s soulful vocals, bridging American and Nigerian artistry in a deeply emotional reflection on love, loss, and vulnerability.
Produced by P2J (Beyoncé, WizKid, Doja Cat) and Cole YoursTruly (Blxst, Odeal, FLO), “City on Fire” balances lush Afrobeats rhythms with R&B smoothness and hip-hop grit. Wale’s lyrical honesty takes center stage as he intertwines his trademark poetic flow with Nigerian Pidgin phrases like “wahalla,” capturing a universal sense of emotional chaos. The collaboration follows Wale’s “Mirrorronnabenz” with BNYX, both signaling a more open, reflective era ahead of EIA.
Earlier this month, Wale surprised fans at Odeal’s sold-out D.C. show at the 930 Club, joining him onstage to perform “Lotus Flower Bomb” before debuting “City on Fire” live at the afterparty. The moment celebrated both artists’ shared roots and marked a symbolic passing of creative energy between continents.
To mark the release of everything is a lot., Wale will headline a special one-night-only homecoming concert at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. on November 14. As Wale continues to redefine what global hip-hop sounds like, “City on Fire” stands as a glowing bridge between his heritage and his future — a love letter to authenticity, evolution, and the power of connection.
