In 2019, Maestro Fresh Wes was recognized as the first rap artist to ever have a song inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame for the 1989 hit “Let Your Backbone Slide.”, a hit record that cemented Maestro’s influence on Canadian rap. Born to Guyanese immigrants in 1968, Maestro – also known as Wesley Williams – grew up in the Toronto suburbs of North York and Scarborough. He became the first Black Canadian artist to achieve a certified platinum record for his debut album Symphony in Effect, also earning him the inaugural Juno Award for Best Rap Recording in 1991. 

Maestro’s presence extends beyond music, with acting credits in film and TV, as well as having written a self-help book. “Stick to Your Vision: How to Get Past the Hurdles & Haters to Get Where You Want to Be” includes a foreword from Chuck D of Public Enemy and is mandatory reading in community colleges and high schools across Nova Scotia. Maestro supports several charities and has recorded TedTalks in 2013 and 2017 regarding self-revision, and the development of success. He continues to use his platform to acknowledge the constantly overlooked Canadian talent.