9 Questions with Wallie the Sensei

Straight outta Compton, Wallie the Sensei has been making a name for himself in LA’s underground Hip Hop scene. Wallie dropped his EP 'No Love' in the beginning of 2020 with “Scandalous ft. Mar & Yaahl” becoming a fan-favorite. It reached a following among LA artists (AD, Rucci, HittaJ3) in addition to the likes of Mozzy, DJ Carisma, and even Nick Cannon.  The record was also added in rotation at LA’s Power 106.1.

Wallie’s musicality stems from growing up singing in church choirs. He only started recording a few years ago and now is ready take his Compton roots to new heights. Tune into Wallie the Sensei's exclusive interview below for an inside look into his life and rise to the top. Then follow that up with 'No Love' for more dope vibes. Right now and only on Hype Off Life 👊🏾

Photo credit: Zuri Cannon

How did growing up in Compton influence your sound and outlook on life?

Compton influenced my family almost completely, and affected the way we speak. I have grown to adapt those elements, and they’ve helped to develop my sound and much more. Compton also showed me that life is short, and I have to see things a lot deeper than the average person.

When did you discover music was your calling?

Honestly, last year (2019). I was getting tired of what I was doing before, and got tired of how things were going for me. I just decided then to get into music and see what happens.

What is the meaning behind your stage name, Wallie the Sensei?

“Wallie” was given to me by one of my friends as he kept calling that so much that it stuck to me. “The Sensei” part came from my younger days of going to Karate classes. I exercise patience, timing, and I’m able to see the positive outcome of a challenge. “The Sensei” was also derived from my personality as I tend to be a voice of reason or an overseer of things and situations.

So, you dropped your ‘No Love’ EP at the top of the year to much success. How has life been different for you since then?

It has been changing at a considerable pace since then. I’m learning to get a grip on it actually as I was just going with the flow. The EP gave me a lot of looks, but I still have to keep it moving.

What type of vibe were you going for while making the project?

I was really making those songs for myself in a way. I made a bunch of songs just for me. For example, I didn’t plan on releasing “Tarzan”, but for the rest of the songs that are out, I just wanted to show people the type of person I am in music form.

Working on anything new we should look forward to?

I’m currently working on a mixtape to drop before the end of the year. I also have a couple more music videos lined up for release, along with some new singles. 

Where do you want to take your career in the next 3 years?

I just want to push myself and see how far I can reach as an individual, and as an artist. I’m in a competition with myself at times, so my goal is to see how many more people I can touch, and how much more of an impact I’ll be making moving forward.

How do you define success?

Being at peace.

Anything else we should know before you go?

Stay tuned for some new videos, new music, and I’m working on some merch to release very soon.