biographical info
Twenty-five years since beginning his groundbreaking career, Maestro Fresh Wes is releasing Orchestrated Noise in Canada on June 25, 2013 via Fontana North (US and European release to follow). This highly anticipated release is his first full-length record in over a decade.
Often referenced as "The Godfather of Canadian Hip-Hop", Maestro Fresh Wes calls Orchestrated Noise a "conceptual extension" of his 1989 platinum-selling album Symphony in Effect, which continues his exploration of genre-cross over, blending rock and classical instrumentation. He also calls on wide spectrum of artists to collaborate with him. The impressive list of collaborators includes Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Classified, k-os, Lights, Brand Nubian's Sadat X, Kardinal Offishall, The Trews, Kool G Rap, Divine Brown, Saukrates, Sam Roberts and Rich Kidd.
Maestro Fresh Wes was recently named Canada's Greatest Rapper Ever in a CBCMusic.ca poll. To date, Maestro Fresh Wes has won two Juno Awards and been nominated thirteen times for his musical projects. He won the first-ever Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 1991. In addition to his longstanding career in hip hop, he is also an actor, author and motivational speaker. He currently plays Paul Dwyer, a high school teacher in CBC Television's award-winning comedy Mr. D, which was recently picked up for a third season. His motivational book Stick To Your Vision was recently nominated for the Ontario Library Association's White Pine Award.