All the rappers my age are getting Audemars and Rolexes. I want

Wale, the poet of rhythm and rhyme, once declared with striking honesty: “All the rappers my age are getting Audemars and Rolexes. I want to find my own thing. That’s why I travel the world—for me, that’s my B-side, why we go places. I have a Hublot on from time to time but I want a home base watch—something that’s elegant but has got a little pizzazz to it.” At first glance, these words seem to speak merely of watches, of luxury, of possessions. Yet beneath the glitter lies a deeper longing: the hunger to break free from imitation, to find individuality, and to anchor identity not in what everyone else wears, but in the journey of self-discovery.

When he observes that “all the rappers my age are getting Audemars and Rolexes,” Wale is not simply critiquing material wealth; he is pointing to the trap of conformity. The glitter of the same jewels upon every wrist is a symbol of sameness, of chasing trends instead of forging paths. He desires not to be one more voice in a crowded chorus, but to be unique, to stand apart. His yearning for a “home base watch” is less about timepieces and more about finding a symbol of authenticity, a reflection of who he is, not of what the world demands.

It is in his confession—“that’s why I travel the world”—that the greater truth emerges. For him, travel is not just movement, but exploration of self. He calls it his “B-side”, the hidden track, the deeper cut that true listeners seek out. Where others settle for outward display, Wale seeks inward growth through journeying across lands and cultures. He understands that authenticity is not purchased in stores of luxury but discovered in the richness of life’s experiences, in the wisdom gathered from seeing, tasting, and learning across the world.

History offers echoes of this pursuit. Consider Alexander the Great, who though born a Macedonian king, traveled to Egypt, Persia, and India, not merely to conquer but to absorb. He wore Persian robes, honored Egyptian gods, and blended cultures into one great vision. Where others sought to impose, he sought to learn, and in that quest, he became larger than any crown could contain. Or think of the Japanese practice of wabi-sabi, which treasures the unique imperfection of each crafted object, valuing individuality above uniform perfection. Wale’s words belong to this lineage: the refusal to conform, the pursuit of something uniquely one’s own.

The mention of Hublot, of elegance with “a little pizzazz,” speaks to the balance he seeks: style that is not dull, but also not gaudy; expression that is authentic, not overbearing. His vision is a parable for life itself—each person must find their “watch,” their symbol, their rhythm that reflects who they truly are. It is not wrong to enjoy what others enjoy, but to only imitate is to lose the flame of individuality. To find one’s own piece of elegance, one’s own identity infused with vitality, is the true treasure.

The deeper lesson here is that life offers us two paths: to follow trends blindly, or to carve out our own journey. The first is easy, comfortable, celebrated by crowds. The second is harder, lonelier, but infinitely more rewarding. To travel the world—whether in body, in mind, or in spirit—is to seek beyond the glittering display, to find that “B-side” of life that speaks to the soul. Wale reminds us that true value lies not in what adorns us, but in what shapes us.

So, O listener, learn from these words: do not be content to wear the same crown as all others, nor to chase the same prize. Seek instead your “home base,” that symbol or practice that reflects your soul. Travel—not only across seas, but across ideas, friendships, and experiences—until you find that which is yours alone. Let it be elegant, let it carry pizzazz, but above all, let it be true. For in a world of endless imitation, authenticity is the rarest jewel, the most timeless watch, the treasure that no time can tarnish.