In the new three-part docu-series My Area, REVOLT TV and Under Armour partner with Wale to discuss the failures and triumphs of his career and why giving back to the community that helped him along his journey is so important. Joined by UA Ambassadors Matt Green and Ashlee Lawson from the District Running Collective, Wale also dives into why there’s a need to lead an active lifestyle as he helps prepare the neighborhood for a 5K run.

Born in an apartment in Bladensburg, Maryland—”We couldn’t make it to the hospital, I was ready to go!”—to a mother and father who met in Washington, D.C., the rapper born Olubowale Akintimehin and his family later moved to Montgomery County where he says, “I really learned a lot about how the things I was seeing was a little bit worse than what I was seeing when I lived uptown. But that all made me who I am.”

REVOLT and Under Armour present ‘MY AREA’ with Wale (Part 1)

Once a recipient of a Division 1 football scholarship, Wale understands the physical, social, and mental benefits that can come from healthy living, revealing, “Sports saved my life ’cause I don’t know what I’d be doing after school. I had issues. I had personal issues. I kept screwing up, but…football is my heart and soul. Being amongst the team, it made me who I am. Football taught me to be a better person, a teammate, to be more selfless. I enjoy all sports—even if I’m not good at it. It’s really about being active, kids going out, getting into sports, running; it’s about understanding what your body can do on a physical level.”

Upon heading to Baltimore’s Benjamin Franklin High School to surprise students with lunch and Under Armour gear, Wale said, “To donate and do something positive for the community and those kids, I feel like it’s my duty. DMV is a location that I just wanna always give back. Just being able to show the kids the benefits of being active; you elevate your body, you elevate your brain. And you elevate your brain, you elevate the world.”

REVOLT and Under Armour present ‘MY AREA’ with Wale (Part 2)

Doubling down on his encouragement, Wale added, “Rain or shine, you gotta figure out how to activate your mind, activate the chemicals in your brain and your body, they work hand in hand.” And he himself stuck to his word as rain began to hit D.C. just as participants were about to embark upon their 5K run, and just as he took the stage to get them motivated.

Undeterred, he said, “I’ma be active when I go out there and show love to the people. We got people of all ages doing the 5K run, having a good time. Hopefully I can send them home happy.”

REVOLT and Under Armour present ‘MY AREA’ with Wale (Part 3)