Triumph
by Wale

Album: Attention Deficit (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track from Attention Deficit, American rapper Wale's debut album.
  • This track is a collaboration with Dave Sitek, it being the TV on the Radio musician's first foray into hip-hop production. Sitek also helmed the punning track "TV In The Radio" on the album. Wale told MTV News about the unusual pairing between himself and the Brooklyn rock/ soul/ space-funker. "It feels like, if Fela Kuti was around and met Just Blaze and they had a conversation and woke up at 4 a.m., called each other simultaneously and said, 'Let's go to the studio, I have an idea.' One [song] specifically - called 'Triumph' - that's how it sounds. It's about breaking the barriers of music. TV on the Radio is... if you know, you know," he continued. "It ain't like they're highly publicized, Grammy-winning, 10 million-sold rock stars... but this is some freaky, freaked-out music. And I wanted to be one of the first hip-hop acts to really go in-depth and use them."
  • The track name checks Kanye West with the line: "I asked Mr. West for some help/ But I realized us new ni--as gotta do for ourselves."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.