Video: Wale – Poke It Out feat. J. Cole

Wale recently released the music video for his most recent track, “Poke It Out.” The song, which was released on September 30 and features J. Cole, samples “Vivrant Thing,” a 1999 hip-hop classic by Q-Tip and Jay Dee (J Dilla). The music video also pays respect to the two hip-hop legends. The song, which was produced by Cool & Dre, is the first collaboration between the two rappers from the mixtape era since they worked together on “My Boy” (Freestyle) off Wale’s 2018 EP, Free Lunch.

Wale performs Q-Tip’s trademark head bob in the “Poke It Out” music video as he raps along while driving a jeep full of women. The beach location and the sparkly outfit worn by a woman in the pink-lit sequence, which is similar to the two-piece worn by a model in Q-Tip’s 1999 black-and-white visual, are further parallels between the original and the new video.

The hip-hop export from Washington, D.C., expressed gratitude for J Dilla and Q-Tip on Twitter and offered his perspective on the genre’s significance while using samples to show respect. God bless J Dilla and his family, and one time for my man @QtipTheAbstract. This is the essence of hip hop. Adding two single rose emojis to his message, Wale. “Eternal gratitude to who brought us here.”

Check out the music video for “Poke it out“.