Maestro (rapper)

Wesley Williams (born March 31, 1968), better known as Maestro or Maestro Fresh-Wes, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, actor, and author. One of the earliest Canadian rappers to achieve mainstream success, he is credited as the "Godfather of Canadian hip hop".[1] His debut album, Symphony in Effect (1989), was the first certified platinum album by a Black Canadian artist.[2]

Maestro
Birth nameWesley Williams
Also known asMaestro Fresh-Wes
Born (1968-03-31) March 31, 1968
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Emcee, rapper, producer, actor, author, motivational speaker
Years active1987–Present
LabelsAttic, LMR, Fontana North
Associated actsKardinal Offishall, Percee P, Rich London, Michie Mee, Classified, Choclair, Dream Warriors, The Dope Poet Society, Shad K, Kool G Rap, Sadat X, Ghettosocks, D-Sisive, Adam Bomb, D.O. Gibson

Early life and education

Williams was born on March 31, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario to parents of Afro-Guyanese heritage. He is the oldest of three children and was raised in North York and Scarborough.[3] He attended Senator O'Connor College School and then moved to L'Amoreaux Collegiate Institute for the remainder of his high school career.

He attended Carleton University in Ottawa, studying law and political science for one year.[2][4]

Career

1979–1989: Early career

Williams' interest in hip hop music began at age 11. At age 15, in 1983, he met DJ Ron Nelson, who promoted Williams' music under the moniker "Melody MC" on his radio show, 88.1 CKLN-FM. Nearly two years later, Williams met Farley Flex, who he went on to work with in 1988. That same year, he officially adopted the name Maestro Fresh-Wes and recorded the independent demos, "You Can't Stop Us Now" and "I'm Showin' You". While performing on MuchMusic's Electric Circus, Wes met dance artist Stevie B, who connected him with his NYC-based label, LMR. This changed the climate for hip hop in Canada as Wes performed "Let Your Backbone Slide" for the first time. This song became the first single from a Canadian hip hop artist to go gold, followed by Canada's first platinum-selling hip hop album, Symphony in Effect.

1989–1991: Symphony in Effect and "Can't Repress the Cause"

In 1989, Maestro released his first album, Symphony in Effect.[5] The following year he became the first Canadian rapper to have a Billboard Top 40 hit, "Let Your Backbone Slide".[6] In 1991, he collaborated on the one-off single "Can't Repress the Cause", a plea for greater inclusion of hip hop music in the Canadian music scene. The collaboration was with Dance Appeal, a supergroup of Toronto-area musicians that included: Devon, Dream Warriors, B-Kool, Michie Mee, Lillian Allen, Eria Fachin, HDV (aka "Pimp of The Microphone"),[7] Dionne, Thando Hyman, Carla Marshall, Messenjah, Jillian Mendez, Lorraine Scott, Lorraine Segato, Candy Pennella, Self Defense, Leroy Sibbles, Zama and Thyron Lee White.[8]

1991–1999: Entering the U.S market and The Black Tie Affair

After the success of his 1991 album, The Black Tie Affair, Maestro's career faltered as he attempted to break into the United States market. In 1992, Maestro appeared in a video accompanying a rendition of "O Canada" in which he rapped an improvised second-verse lyric, "aw, yeah, from the east coast, of Newfoundland, to the west coast, of B.C.".[9] He returned to the Canadian charts in 1998 with the hit singles "Stick to Your Vision" and "416/905 (T.O. Party Anthem)".

2000: Ever Since

In 2000, he released his sixth studio album, Ever Since, featured the track "Bustin Loose", in which Maestro teamed up with Kardinal Offishall.

2005: "A Criminal Mind" cover

In 2005, Maestro covered Lawrence Gowan's song "A Criminal Mind" (featuring Infinite); Gowan appears in the video and his vocals are sampled on the track. Gowan also performed the song with Maestro at the Canadian Urban Music Awards in 2006.

2006: Midem conference

In 2006, Maestro and Rochester AKA Juice joined Professor D and The Dope Poet Society on stage in Cannes, France. Together, they become the first Canadian hip hop acts to showcase at Midem, the world's largest annual music industry conference.[10]

2012–2013: Black Tuxedo and Orchestrated Noise

In 2012, Maestro released his first set of new material in over seven years with the release of the EP Black Tuxedo, which was nominated for Best Rap Recording of the Year at the 2012 Juno Awards.[1] This was followed by the album Orchestrated Noise in 2013, which features rocker Sam Roberts, opera singer Measha Brueggergosman, Kardinal Offishall, American rapper Kool G Rap of the Juice Crew, and Brand Nubian veteran Sadat X, among others. Orchestrated Noise was released under the name Maestro Fresh-Wes, reclaiming his original title from the 1980s.

2015

Maestro released Compositions Volume 1 which included his personal favorite song he ever wrote, "I know Your Mom", and the sports classic "Underestimated", which was played during the 2015 Pan Am Games and was featured on the EA Sports NHL 17 video game.

2017–2019: Coach Fresh and Champagne Campaign

His 2017 album, Coach Fresh, included the song "Jurassic Park", a collaboration with Rich Kidd to celebrate the Toronto Raptors. In 2019, the song was released as a single and video to celebrate the Raptors making the 2019 NBA Finals.[11] Coach Fresh was also nominated for Best Rap Recording of the Year but was beaten by Canadian MC Tory Lanez. The album Champagne Campaign was released in March 2019. This album featured tracks by Lord Finesse and collaborations with Planet Asia, Sadat X, Dusty Wallace and Naturally Born Strangers. On November 21, 2019, "Let Your Backbone Slide" was the first rap song to be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Acting

Williams was nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Role for his performance on the television series The Line on HBO Canada. He has also had acting roles in the series Metropia, Instant Star, Platinum, and Blue Murder, as well as the films Poor Boy's Game, Honey, Paid In Full, Four Brothers and Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story. As an actor, he is credited as Wes Williams.

Williams just finished 8 seasons playing the role of teacher and vice principal Paul Dwyer on the CBC Television program, Mr. D.

Author

In 2010, co-wrote a self-help motivational book with his wife called Stick to Your Vision: How to Get Past the Hurdles & Haters to Get Where You Want to Be. The foreword of the book was written by Chuck D of the hiphop group Public Enemy. It is part of the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) curriculum and a mandatory reading for high school students in Nova Scotia. In 2016 Wes received an honorary diploma from the NSCC Akerley Campus in Dartmouth NS for his contribution to the community and inspiration to the students.[12]

Charity work

Over his career, Williams has supported the following charities: War Child, Save the Children, SickKids Hospital, Covenant House, Special Olympics, Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS), and the African AIDS Society.[3]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs
  • Black Tuxedo EP (2012)
  • Compositions Volume 1 (2015)

Compilations
  • Urban Landmark 1989–2005 (2005)

References
  1. "Maestro Fresh Wes Gets Classified, the Trews, Rich Kidd for 'Black Tuxedo' EP, Reveals New Album Plans". Exclaim!, September 17, 2012.
  2. "Maestro Fresh Wes". The Canadian Encyclopedia. February 2, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  3. Patrick, Ryan B. (July 2, 2013). "Maestro Fresh Wes Class Act". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  4. "Godfather of Canadian Hip Hop Maestro Fresh Wes in the House". Newsroom.carleton.ca. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  5. "25 best Canadian debut albums ever". CBC Music,June 16, 2017.
  6. CBC Radio (July 23, 2019). "Let Your Backbone Slide at 30: Maestro Fresh Wes shares his oral history of Canada's most loved rap song". CBC.
  7. "Rap: Pop music genre, introduced in the mid-1970s in New York". Historic Canada.
  8. "Urban Music" The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  9. O Canada Star Version 1992, retrieved October 4, 2019
  10. "Maestro Fresh-Wes | Wi Canadian". Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  11. "Maestro Fresh Wes and Rich Kidd Celebrate the Raptors with "Jurassic Park" Video". Exclaim!, June 7, 2019.
  12. Nick Patch (August 10, 2010). "Toronto rapper Wes Williams pens self-help book". The Star. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
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