More than 150 kids get a chance to learn from local rapper Wale during special football camp

GREATER LANDOVER, Md. — More than 150 DC, Maryland and Virginia kids were given the opportunity of a lifetime to learn from the Commanders and some other local legends.

“I’m pretty excited,” 11-year-old participant, Wyatt Phillips said. “I get to make these new friends and like play with my buddies. And we get to practice, I never felt so much emotion in my life.”

Wyatt is honing in on this once in a life time opportunity. He gets to join the Washington Commanders for a youth football camp at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex, next-door to Northwest Stadium.

“I've never seen so many people that are in the Commanders in my life like right now,” Wyatt said.

“It feels good especially as a girl because not a lot of girls play football,” 12-year-old Amir Gray said. “So trying something new was kind of good for me.”

Gray said it’s nice to work with Commander’s legends like Fred Smoot and Santana Moss on some of things she’s been messing up on.

“They’re telling me what to do so I’ll fix it for the next one,” Amir said. “So, I’ve been doing a lot better.”

She said this allows her to really compete when it comes to flag football.

“Me just juking a lot of these boys,” Amir said was the best part.

“I think this is something these kids can take with them forever just knowing -- Hey man, I remember being a child and the Commanders always came up and showed up," former Washington player, Santana Moss said.

Meanwhile, the man behind this event and who chose this location was DMV rapper Wale, who said that events like this one is where everything started for him.

“It’s beautiful man, you know. Football gave me my start to everything, DC gave me my start to everything,” Grammy-nominated artist Wale said. “I remember when I was a youngin’, like learning the game and stuff like this and I think it shaped me to be who I am right now. It’s just good to see the kids going out, having fun.”

The DMV Native first became well known for his hit "Nike Boots" and went on to become a Grammy-nominated rapper for his 2013 track, "Lotus Flower Bomb."

The parents’ at the event were excited, too.

“Having my son to be able to be a part of something this special is really unique,” parent Jeris Bowlding said. “It’s amazing, I grew up listening to Wale and kind of went to Bowie State the same time so seeing him give back to the community is truly impactful.”

Wale said this is the least he could do for his hometown, and he hopes to do more events like this for more and more kids in the community.