Wale Joins CapSole As Co-Owner & Creative Chief

Wale took an ownership stake in CapSole and became its chief creative officer, bringing his sneaker obsession into the preservation business.

Footwear News revealed the Washington, D.C., rapper’s new role on Wednesday, October 14. CapSole’s website now lists him as an owner and CCO, placing him at a company that sells sneaker preservation kits.

His work will cover the brand’s creative direction, cultural partnerships and growth. Wale told FN he wanted a stake in the company and a voice in how it develops. He said he believed in founder Darren Lee’s work and wanted to help build it.

For Lee, bringing the rapper aboard connects the products to the meaning people attach to their collections.

“It’s about preserving the stories, culture and memories attached to them,” Lee said.

Lee started CapSole in 2019 after looking for a way to keep his own sneakers from breaking down. The company says it worked with chemical engineers and preservation specialists to develop its system, aiming to protect shoes that hold both personal and financial value for collectors.

Its kits pair a reusable, airtight pod with a preservative.

The brand markets the system for use between wears, so owners can take their sneakers out and then seal them away again. Its website also ties the business to a broader mission of teaching collectors about preservation and sustainability.

That focus fits a long-running part of Wale’s life. In a GQ interview, he explained why Air Jordan 3s held a place among his essentials.

“I’ve always been a Nike person. The shoes represent so much more to me,” he said.

His ties to footwear have since moved beyond his own closet. In 2025, Wale and basketball prospect AJ Dybantsa first debuted Nike’s G.T. Future during NBA All-Star Weekend. Nike used the new model to pair performance basketball technology with a futuristic look, making Wale the face of its introduction to sneaker fans.

He has also brought that culture into his music and retail partnerships. In 2022, he teamed with NTWRK on a raffle for retro Tiffany Nike SB Dunks tied to his “Tiffany Nikes” video. The rollout included a limited-edition sneaker pillow that linked the song to collectible merchandise.

The deal’s financial terms and the size of Wale’s ownership stake have not been disclosed.