Silk: Wale's Dive into D.C.'s Crime Lore

Silk: Wale's Dive into D.C.'s Crime Lore

Grammy-nominated rapper Wale is collaborating with his management company EQT on a new project called Silk, a movie that will delve into the life of notorious hitman Wayne “Silk” Perry during the early 1990s in Washington, D.C. The film will focus on Perry's role as the enforcer for drug dealer Alpo Martinez and the crime world during a tumultuous period in the city's history. Wale has also invested in Perry Industries, a D.C.-based production company that holds the life rights to Perry, now known as Nkosi Shaka Zulu El. The rapper is serving as an executive producer for Silk, along with Kazz Laidlaw and C. Edwards.

Set between 1989-1993, a time when Washington, D.C., was plagued by high crime rates, Silk aims to showcase a different side of the city's history beyond politics. Wale emphasizes the rich Black history of D.C. and the need to tell more stories rooted in the region. The film will explore the era when the city faced challenges like high homicide rates, political scandals, and the thriving go-go music scene. Laidlaw highlights the authenticity of Perry's story in Black crime lore, promising to reveal a world that has not been fully explored in previous movies or online discussions.

Wale, a native of D.C., is a well-known hip-hop artist with hits like “My P.Y.T.” and the Grammy-nominated “Lotus Flower Bomb.” His recent album, Folarin II, was released in 2022, and he is gearing up for the launch of his eighth studio album this fall under Def Jam. In addition to his music career, Wale has ventured into acting, appearing in projects like Ambulance and American Gods. The upcoming film Silk represents a significant step for Wale in expanding his creative endeavors and shedding light on a lesser-known chapter of Washington, D.C.'s history.