This week has brought global news out of Baltimore, Maryland. The April 19, 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a 25 year-old local man who suffered a severed spinal cord while in police custody, before dying one week later has raised great concern, outcry, and debate surrounding the Baltimore Police Department. Gray’s death is the latest incident in an ongoing series of events in the United States related to excessive police force with no subsequent prosecution. There is a growing perception that Black lives are valued less in the eyes of authorities.

Wale is one of Hip-Hop’s figures taking part in protests related to Gray’s death. The Maybach Music Group star is a native to the region known as “DMV” (D.C., Maryland, Virginia). Joining Digital Harbor High School students for a mile-long march, The Album About Nothing-maker eventually reached city hall. At the march’s beginnings, he urged better communication, after leading a “We love Baltimore” chant.

“These are our neighbors, these are our brothers and sisters,” said Wale to Complex TV about his relationship with B-more, despite representing the District of Columbia. “I’m not big on politics, but I’m big on energy and morale,” said the MC on what he aims to provide the people, especially the high school students. “The government has to find a way to listen to the younger people.”

Wale continued, “My main message is that Baltimore is not just the looting and the rioting. There’s a lot of positive young people out here, that are smart, that are ambitious, that are intelligent, that can speak well, that are bringing nothing but peace to the situation. I hope the media does a better job of being responsible, and shows all sides of Baltimore right now—not just what is click-bait or television-bait.”

Is this perspective heard often enough?

Related: Wale Goes Back To His Nike Boots Roots (Video)