Paul Wall Says He Did Not Know He Was White Until Middle School

For most people reading this, you probably think Paul Wall sounds crazy. Or that Paul Wall is being hyperbolic when he says that until middle school, he didn't have the slightest clue that his family lineage could be traced back to the Caucasus (except for 3% of his mom's side). But what you have to understand is that Paul Wall is from Houston. He grew up in the historically black Acres Home neighborhood. Where mirrors don't exist.

I don't have the proper credentials to tell Paul Wall what race he is. Nobody does. You might think someone's race is an objective fact determined by things like DNA. But that's a dated way of thinking. We're merely years, if not months, away from people legally being able to change their race on their license depending on how they identify. Soon enough the world will be forced to respect me as the Chinese man I've always been on the inside. Paul Wall was simply ahead of his time. 

Thankfully, Paul didn't let his eyes-having friends deter him from chasing his rap dreams. Many people would have hung up the mic right then and there and pursued a career in dentistry. But the iceman Paul Wall persevered though the white privilege and went on to a long illustrious career as a black rapper. He invented grillz.

Julia Beverly. Getty Images.

Paul Wall's verse on Drive Slow is still one my favorite features on any Kanye West song. 

Glad to see Paul Wall is still alive and well. Still iced out and making appearances on the Breakfast Club to speak his truth. He didn't stay at the top of the rap game for especially long. But he shined brighter than a majority of his counterparts. Metaphorically speaking.