Wize’s first start in the music business began as a Dj in 1994, after the purchase of his first pair of Technics SL 1200 turntables. Inspired by classics such as Public Enemy’s: Fear of a black planet album, or ICE-T’s Iceberg album, and of course every Saturday, tuned to the Master at Work hiphop show that to this day, still airs on Montreal’s CKUT90.3FM radio station. Only 16 years old, it was clear that Rap and HipHop would shape his views and beliefs forever. However, despite these factors, the most influential person in his life is and will always remain his sister who in his eyes was the ideal activist for social justice and equality.
From 1994 to 1999, Wize’s love for the arts lead him into music composition and lyric writing. The result of his first demo tape entitled UN declared WAR was released in 1999 and contained 3 controversial tracks about corruption, greed and politics (Who Am I?, Consequences of LAW, Born to Suffer). The record label was first called Chrome Cuts Music, until Wize decided to rebrand to Wizebeats Music in 2001.
From 2001 to 2003, Wizebeats Music had diversified to co-producing dancehall and hiphop mixtapes for various djs including the Road Warrior Sound Crew, Dj B-Ware, Dj Fatta as well commercials for artists and businesses such as Gregory Isaacs, Style Resto Bar and many local Djs.
During the same time period, Wize produced over 30 tracks together with various local artists such as Crown Vik (from Dossier Militaire), The Lounge King, Kamikazi, Trinity, SHI360, Ruffness, The Funky Filter, Giz and Gold, many of which remain unreleased. Just recently, some have been made available on iTunes, Amazon .mp3, Youtube, Facebook, Grooveshark, and many other online distributors as Wize ramps up a return to the music scene.
Before launching his first album, Giz, one of his main and most skilled lyricist left Wizebeats Music, resulting in many tracks being pulled from his planned release. This had a major impact on the actual final tracks that were chosen to be featured on the CD. Nonetheless, Wize put together 20 tracks and released his very first debut solo album entitled Rap Religion in 2004.
This was followed up with collaborations such as FSM2, Rap Religion Promo CD, ESPRIT 2000, and many underground singles. His first single Rapstar went on to qualify for CHOM 97.7FMs yearly Esprit contest and gained popularity across Canada on local community radio stations. His followup single My world featuring female artist Kamikazi also create enough buzz to help him sell over 1,500 copies of his new album. All of this without any promotional videos and very little marketing and promotion.
Although he enjoyed this new found success, it was not enough for him to secure a record deal or distribution to key markets, and therefore its true potential for success was never realized. After a strong focus on his professional career in telecommunications, from 2006 to 2010, he has once again rekindled with his passion for music and already has produced a few tracks that stand in sharp contrast to what he created in the past.
A new and improved, mature and open, militant and ambitious, Wize is emerging, denouncing some of the lyrics and songs he has produced in the past, that no longer represent his beliefs but remain part of the process of growing up and learning from life experiences.
Wize’s music is a melting pot of urban music inspired by a multitude of genres, influences and cultures that will continue to make people stop and listen to his music. For more info and music, browse this site and affiliated links above.
