Remember back before Wale was an international hip-hop star, when he was just a dude who was taking liberties with Northeast Groovers samples? The rapper is signed to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group now, but he got his start on Studio 43, the Kenny Burns imprint that is the current label home of XO, Gordo Brega, Ra the MC, and AB the Pro, among others.

Studio 43 has just released a greatest hits package featuring some of the best-known tracks from the artists on its roster, past and present—including some early Wale tracks. 

In the best press release ever, label founder Burns talks about signing Wale in the early aughts, and takes credit for coining the region's DMV nickname (its origin is a great a point of contention).

I'm proud to be one of the Fore Fathers for the Washington DC and DMV Music Movement. When I started with Wale, I wanted to open up the base. All my OG partners weren't feeling a Maryland dude representing Washington DC, but I told them if we open up the market and include Maryland and Virginia, we could finally get the sound off the ground.

Wale and I then created the term DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) to accomplish that goal.

Since then we have had the pleasure of getting Wale to the mainstream with his first commercial release "Attention Deficit" and working with some of DC's Brightest Stars. AB The Producer, Top Notch Teamsters, Marky, Uptown XO, Gordo Brega, Ra The MC and our latest discovery Jayne Kennedi, putting out countless mixtapes and videos.

Our commitment to the DC and DMV Music movement is pure and endless.

We All We Got.

Download the compilation here.