Listen to Wale, “MVP (Bryce Harper)”

Wale, the embattled Maybach Music Group rapper from Washington, D.C., returns with his latest single, the Washington Nationals-nodding "MVP (Bryce Harper)." Produced by Cheeze Beats, the song hears Wale in a stripped-down, more minimalist mode, where in recent years his albums have erred on the side of fuller, lusher instrumentation.

"MVP (Bryce Harper)" derives its name from the Nationals' 23-year-old right fielder, who was recently named the National League MVP by unanimous decision. Wale is both fiercely loyal to his hometown and an outspoken sports fan, having woven references to athletes into his music as far back as the breakthrough 2007 mixtape 100 Miles & Runnin'.

Earlier this year, Wale's The Album About Nothing became his second consecutive record to top the Billboard charts in its first week of release. Nothing features a series of guest spots from Jerry Seinfeld, the star of the massively successful NBC sitcom Seinfeld. Wale first rose to prominence in the online in 2008 with The Mixtape About Nothing, which repurposed clips of dialogue and musical cues from the show.

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