Godfather of Canadian hip-hop, Maestro Fresh Wes, continues to make history

Maestro Fresh Wes, who has been a trailblazer in the Canadian hip-hop community for decades, will be honoured this year as the first-ever hip-hop artist to receive the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.

Wes has spent his entire 40-year career making history.

He was the first artist to win the Rap Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards, the first Canadian rap artist to have a Top 40 billboard hit, and on top of the Governor General’s award this year, he will become the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

The ground-breaking chart-smashing hit “Let Your Backbone Slide” was a career-changing moment for the artist, but also created change in the music industry.

“The ripple effect proceeded after that,” explained Wes. “We knew that phrase right there. We were ground-breakers. We’re doing something that hasn’t been done before. So they had to implement a new category because this genre of music had taken over.”

Back in 1990, there was not a rap or hip-hop category at the Juno Awards, so when he was nominated for that song, it was for Best Dance Recording,

But that forced change. The next year, they added the category Rap Recording of the Year which he won.

“I definitely [have to] thank the Juno staff and everybody of carries for recognizing not only rap music but Black music in Canada,” Wes said in his speech that year.

His longevity in a tough industry showcases the hard work and talent he has, and with his success, he’s always made time to give back to the community with scholarships and motivation, speaking engagements for young students.

The icon will be performing at the Juno Awards this year which will be held in Halifax, where he’s also nominated for Children’s Album of the Year.