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Wale is hopping into the producer’s chair. Alongside his management company EQT, Folarin is set to executive produce the upcoming crime series Silk, which is based on infamous ’90s hitman Wayne Perry.
The project is still in the early stages of development without a release date or streaming home.
Set in Washington, D.C. from about 1989 to 1993, the crime drama series will follow Wayne “Silk” Perry, who served as an enforcer for notorious NYC drug-dealing kingpin Alpo Martinez. Martinez’s story was brought to life through 2002’s Paid in Full film.
With Silk, Wale wants to focus on properly telling the stories that shaped Washington, D.C. culture. He also acquired ownership in Perry Industries, a production company, which owns the life rights to Wayne Perry.
“D.C. is more than just politics,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “We have a rich, Black history that’s inspired audiences around the world, and it’s time to tell more stories that are based here. That era in D.C. was internationally famous. The Redskins were winning Super Bowls, the mayor was indicted by the FBI, Joe Biden passed the crime bill, and D.C. had 482 homicides — the highest in the country.”
Wale added: “At the same time, our regional genre of go-go was thriving, and Def Jam, the label I’m signed to now, was the first major label to sign a go-go band with a song on the Hot 100 produced by Rick Rubin. There was a lot going on, and we want to weave all of these stories together.”
It’s Wale’s debut as a producer, but he’s previously starred in 2022’s Ambulance and Starz’s American Gods series. The D.C. rapper is also gearing up to release his eighth studio album this fall, which is his first LP with Def Jam.