Canadian hip hop legend celebrates 30 years in music with new album
Posted March 8, 2019 3:37 pm.
Last Updated March 8, 2019 3:39 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A legendary Canadian hip-hop artist is celebrating three decades in the game. Maestro Fresh Wes is out with Champagne Campaign, his ninth and latest full-length effort.
The year was 1989 and the Toronto native helped put our country on the rap map with the hit single “Let Your Backbone Slide” from his breakthrough debut album, Symphony in Effect. Thirty years later, he’s back with new music and plenty to celebrate.
“We’re celebrating the fact that a lot of people didn’t think hip hop would make it so far as a genre of music and the fact I’m one of the artists still doing it on this level,” he explains. “That’s why I dropped a brand new album, 12 new songs. I’m happy to still be doing it and I appreciate being appreciated.”
Back in the day, Maestro got his start with the likes of Dream Warriors and Michie Mee. Today, he says Canadian hip hop isn’t in good hands — it’s in great hands, thanks to Drake and others pushing the movement forward.
“Because we’re the top of the global food chain when it comes to the world acknowledging us for what we’re doing,” he explains. “I say ‘us’ because, you know, being from Toronto and still being a part of this, and to see what these young brothers are doing is something that is inspiring to me.”
Now 50, he shows no signs of slowing down. “I just finished doing a cross-Canada tour with my good homie Classified. We did 28 cities and one of the best shows we did was in Vancouver at the Commodore [Ballroom].”
He’s back in Vancouver attending the BC Kidney Gala Friday night. “I’m glad to be a part of it. It’s going to be a beautiful night, raising some money for a great cause.”
Next up for Maestro is presenting at the Juno Awards on March 17th.
