Grammy-nominated rap star, actor and advocate Wale will perform in concert at Wichita State University at 8 p.m. Friday, April 15, in Charles Koch Arena.

Advanced tickets prices are $10 WSU students, $18 for faculty/staff and $25 for the general public. All day-of tickets are $25. 

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Koch Arena Box Office or online at wichita.edu/concert.

This concert is for those 18 and older.

Since arriving in 2006, Wale has consistently gone against the grain. An old school lyricist with new school energy, otherworldly hooks and a sense of irony tailor-made for its own Seinfeld episode, he instantly set himself apart. “For his latest Warner Records album, Wale flips between sounds and moods, dipping into flirty wordplay and mid-2000s R&B samples one moment (“Poke It Out” with J. Cole and “Angles” with Chris Brown) and triumphant, yet reflective tracks the next (“Tiffany Nike” and “Light Years” with Rick Ross). On “Poke It Out,” he cruises over a sample of Q-Tip’s “Vivrant Thing” for a playful single, trading slick bars with Cole. Wale’s album-length balancing act is a testament to his skills as a writer and to his well-honed taste as a curator, qualities that helped him elevate to his place as one of rap’s premier tastemakers.“ Listen to his music here

Wale also made history as “the first rapper to open the State Of The Union,” gracing the stage with an unforgettable performance before President Obama’s final State of The Union Address. A regular guest of the First Family, he participated in First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Reach Higher” initiative for higher education as well. Expanding his cultural influence, Wale teamed up with Villa for a limited-edition line of sneakers. These included the Asics “Bottle Rocket,” the Timberland “Gift Box Set” and the VILLA x Wale x ASIC Gel Lyte III "IC Champion.” Wale’s label imprint, Every Blue Moon, encompasses the scope of his creative vision with musicians, comedians and screenwriters under its umbrella.

This concert is coordinated by WSU’s Student Activities Council, a student-led group charged with shaping campus culture through hosting unique experiences and memorable events. Student leaders gain transferable skills that prepare them for their future career pursuits. Sponsors include the WSU Division of Student Affairs and Alumni Association.

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Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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