He was named No. Maestro was born to Guyanese parents and was raised in Scarborough, Ontario. His brilliant artistic ability enhanced the presentation and allowed for some amazing moments of entertainment while delivering a powerful message of inspiration to the students. After his breakout success, which led to touring dates with Public Enemy, Maestro released his sophomore album, Black Tie Affair (1991). Wesley Williams (a.k.a. It emphasises the "importance of family structure, hip hop, mentorship" and "inspirational elementary school teachers," he said. I was watching the news and reading the papers. With everything thats going on, theres still hope for change. After seeing his performance, popular dance music artist Stevie B introduced Maestro to executives at the New York-based label LMR. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. He also appeared in Four Brothers (2005), starring Mark Wahlberg, and Clement Virgos Poor Boys Game (2007), which featured two of his songs on the soundtrack. The students were focused, attentive and very appreciative of his words of inspiration. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Hes supported several charitable organizations such as War Child, Save The Children, Covenant House, Special Olympics, Battered Womens Support Services (BWSS), and The African AIDS Society. So, all the way through hes saying you feel like youre down and out but theres still hope for change. The album cover a mash-up of classical music and rap motifs, featuring Maestro decked out in a tuxedo and black power necklaces and wielding a conductors wand was photographed by his father in his parents basement. Maestro Fresh Wes: Class ActRead this in-depth profile of Maestro Fresh Wes, from Exclaim! Maestro Fresh Wes became an important mentor and role model for generations of hip hop artists, and he promoted many younger musicians like Choclair, Saukrates, and Kardinal Offishall in his videos. Better late than never. Maestros debut album, Symphony in Effect (1989), was recorded in about two weeks. Our supporters are part of everything we do. Mixed in with images of track suits and break dancing, a tuxedoed Williams appears in the video seated at an organ, holding manuscript paper, wielding a baton, and the lyrics include cheeky references to Beethoven symphonies and musical dynamics. Contact us for more information about this speaker & their virtual presentations. WW: As I said, Im a student. Unfortunately, his record label went out of business two weeks after the albums release, and the record was barely promoted. In addition, he has had small roles in Honey (2003) and Four Brothers (2005). Maestro continued this approach on his next album, Ever Since (2000), working with such prominent Canadian rappers as Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates and Infinite. Wes Williams was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019, and has had success as a motivational speaker and actor as well as a singer. Thats what Im still saying today. I wish things were different though, for sure. Wesley Williams (a.k.a. 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.". We reserve the right to close comments at any time. In 2016, the music video for Drop the Needle, directed by Joel Goldberg, was named one of 150 essential works in Canadian cinema history by a poll of 200 media professionals conducted by TIFF, Library and Archives Canada, the Cinmathque qubcoise and The Cinematheque in Vancouver in anticipation of the Canada 150 celebrations in 2017. Black Tie Affair earned Maestro 1992 Juno Award nominations for Male Vocalist and Rap Recording of the Year. "Wedon't make records, wemake history.". 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". He has a supporting role in Instant Star as Darius Mills. For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. WW: A bit. Brampton, - Principal, Iona Catholic Secondary School, - Teacher, Iona Catholic Secondary School. My first album, Symphony in Effect, was the jump off album for my next record, The Black Tie Affair, which included Nothing At All.. And, right now, there is a ray of hope. In 2019 he became the first Hip Hop artist inducted into the Canadian Song Writers Hall Of Fame and his albums have reached gold and platinum status.

So, I want to start off by acknowledging the reality that these struggles are connected, you know? 75th anniversary celebrations in January 2017.

CD: Absolutely. Stick to your Vision, the lead single, became a Top 40 hit, peaking at No. Maestro Fresh Wes Williams is one of Canadas most successful and influential Hip-Hop artists, and premier multi-media personalities. Gowan also performed the song with Maestro at the Canadian Urban Music Awards in 2006. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Wes has always been community-oriented and has made a serious impact on the country in many different capacities. The 'Godfather of Canadian hip hop' Wes Williams talks about his musical legacy, current projects and why he's calling the Maritimes home. Williams was born on March 31, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario to parents of Afro-Guyanese heritage. Dropping Fresh Wes from his name to go simply by Maestro, he signed a Canadian record deal with Attic Records. With his book and speaking on Stick to Your Vision, Wes hopes to empower his community because his community has empowered him in many different ways. ", "Did I know last year at this time that I'd be living by the Bay of Fundy?" Canadian rapper, record producer, and actor, "Maestro (rapper)" redirects here. And, at the end of the song, theres this ray of light, this hope for change. Im a student of hip hop and history. In particular, Nothing At All makes references to the so-called Oka Crisis in 1990, and this summer marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the standoff. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. These donations help to pay our bills, and honorariums for some of our writers, photographers and graphic artists. Wes Maestro Williamsis a Juno Award-winning Hip Hop artist, Tedx Presenter and a Gemini Award-nominated actor. As an actor, Wes has appeared in several filmand television projects, including eight seasonson CBCs hit sitcom Mr. Williams' interest in hip hop music began at age 11. [9] He returned to the Canadian charts in 1998 with the hit singles "Stick to Your Vision" and "416/905 (T.O. Built to Last also connected Maestro with a new generation of Toronto hip-hop artists that had emerged in his absence. He participated in the Toronto District School Boards Read to Succeed program and served as a keynote speaker at many corporate and public events, including at Carleton Universitys He has also co-written a new children's book called Stick to Your Vision:Young Maestro Goes to Schoolwith Grade 1 teacher Rhodora Meliton-Vanderpool. Before artists such as Drake and The Weeknd became global ambassadors for Canadian hip hop, Wesley Williams (better known as Maestro Fresh-Wes or Maestro) was holding it down in the music industry. If peoples entry to social consciousness about racism or whatever is right now, thats still something, you know? "Probably the friendliest people I've ever met in my life in Saint John, New Brunswick.". I also studied my sisters and brothers in New York; I studied what they did. There might be people who, as a result of what is going on, want to learn about Malcom X, or listen to Public Enemyeven me. Feel free to contribute! He was named No. magazine. 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. Only now people are listening. As of 2006, in fact, "Let Your Backbone Slide" remained the best-selling Canadian hip hop single until 2008. WW: If you listen to a song like Sam Cooks A Change Is Gonna Come, where hes like in distress and you can just picture what was going on in the Civil Rights Movement, what made him come up with a song like that? Party Anthem)". Wes allowed our young people an opportunity to believe in themselves, their abilities and set goals for success in the future. 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. Born Wesley Williams, he made Canadian rap history in 1989 with his song, Let Your Backbone Slide, when it was certified platinum. He also issued a cover of Gowans Criminal Mind, featuring Toronto rapper Infinite. Why do you think that is the case? Like, the police and military being used by governments against the Mohawks on their own land? Inspired by the Tuxedo Royale store he kept passing in his rounds as a security guard, Williams took the stage name Maestro Fresh Wes. Maestro Fresh Wes, Maestro), rapper, actor, author, motivational speaker (born 31 March 1968 in Toronto, ON). [3] He attended Senator O'Connor College School and then moved to L'Amoreaux Collegiate Institute for the remainder of his high school career. In 2005, he released a best of compilation entitled Urban Landmark: 19892005. Wes Maestro Williams with Tamara Hendricks-Williams, Stick to Your Vision: How to Get Past the Hurdles and Haters To Get Where You Want to Be (McClelland & Stewart, 2010). All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. He is known professionally by his stage names Maestro Fresh Wes (formerly Maestro Fresh-Wes) or Maestro as a musician, and is credited by his birth name as an actor. He snuck in time to write songs and got the idea to change his name to Maestro Fresh Wes while walking past a Tuxedo Royale store.

[11] Coach Fresh was also nominated for Best Rap Recording of the Year but was beaten by Canadian MC Tory Lanez. He attended Carleton University in Ottawa, studying law and political science for one year.[2][4]. CD: 30 years later, it must be satisfyingand somewhat frustrating, toothat the message of a song like Nothing At All is still applicable?