Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Maestro Fresh Wes: Toronto Mike'd #849

Episode Date: May 14, 2021

Mike asks Maestro Fresh Wes the big question on every Torontonian's mind.... why did he leave Toronto? They also discuss Maestro's new radio show, Chuck D, the losses of Shock G, DMX and Black Rob and Stick To Your Vision: Young Maestro Goes to School, his inspirational new book for children.

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Pillars of the community since 1921. And Mike Majewski, or as I call him, Mimico Mike. He's the real estate agent who's ripping up the Mimico real estate scene. Learn more at realestatelove.ca. I'm Mike from torontomike.com. Joining me this week is Canada's godfather of hip-hop, Maestro Fresh, Wes.

Welcome back, Maestro. How you doing, man? Hey, good to see you, man. I haven't seen you in a while. How are things going for you? Man, I'm busy but blessed, man. The new project, Stick to Your Vision, Young Maestro Goes to School, is out, man. I'm very proud of the new project.

And it's a healthy distraction during these times, if you know what I'm saying. Oh, totally, man. I got a few questions for you. I know we don't have a lot of time, but I got some questions and then I want to dive deeper into the, uh, young maestro book. It sounds amazing. Uh,

I just want to first tell the listenership, this is maestro's third Toronto Mike appearance. The first two, you were actually here in person. So if people want to go back and hear like the eight is ed, by the way, I got my 12 inch from 1989. My,

uh, let your backbone slide that you signed last time you were here. Wicked, wicked, wicked. and hear like the A to Z. By the way, I got my 12-inch from 1989, my Let Your Backbone Slide that you signed last time you were here. Wicked, wicked, wicked. So, okay, so let me be brief here. Episode 194 is the initial episode with the godfather of Canadian hip-hop, Maestro Fresh West. We talk about your entire career, Let Your Backbone Slide to,

I think at the time you had just finished, I Know Your Mom. And then you came back. This was a great number. You came back for episode 416 and you kicked out the jams. And that episode was amazing. So I urge everyone to check those out. But let me start with this, Maestro. Nobody, nobody repped the city of Toronto like you do.

Nobody. You always had on your raptors or your jays or your argos or your leafs you're mr toronto you sang the 416 905 anthem but please say it ain't so you left toronto i left toronto can you believe that man and you know what's so funny it's not the first time i left toronto different times but i've always been in tor. And you know what's so funny? It's not the first time. I left Toronto different times, but I've always been in Toronto regardless. Regardless of whether it's New York, Vancouver, Ottawa, you know what I'm saying? Or St. John, not New Brunswick. That's right. New Brunswick. Exactly. Okay. So you're now talking to me from St. John, New Brunswick. St. John, New Brunswick and the friendliest people I ever met, man. Definitely.

My son's doing well over here. He's in school right now. That's where I got to go. I got to pick him up because school finishes early on Fridays. Okay, so we'll talk twice as fast as normal, but can you give us in a nutshell, why did you leave Toronto? Just better opportunities for my son to go to school. That's it. It's all about the family.

That's the main thing right there, for him to be able to go to school. That's it. It's all about the family. That's the main thing right there, you know, for him to be able to go to school. I mean, think about it. He got rugby practice just now. Like, how cool is that? He had a basketball game last weekend, you know. He went to a birthday party, left the birthday party, played the basketball game and came back to the birthday party, you know. These are things that you won't be able to do in Toronto, unfortunately, right now. And I just want him to have that experience right there. Those are things that we don't know what tomorrow holds for us, for these kids coming up. So let them enjoy themselves and make the most of it. So they'll at least have a flashback of some type of normalcy. We don't know what September school is going to be like, you know, so. You're making so much sense. Yeah, you're making so much

sense. I'm wondering, is there room there for a family of six? I'm thinking I need to move to New Brunswick. I'm going to come through. I'm going to come through. It's a beautiful spot. Like I said, very friendly people. It's a tiny town. It's tiny.

Everybody knows everybody. But I mean, people have been very accommodating to me. So what's the reaction in St. John when the god know, the godfather of Canadian hip hop moves in? Like, is everybody like maestros here now? Is there like a buzz? Like, what's that like? Yeah, there's a buzz. There's a buzz.

Just because, you know, I mean, you know, you move to Ottawa, you move to Vancouver. It's like people are happy. People are happy to see me wherever I go. But the fact that St. John is such a small, tiny city that I represent. They're lucky to have you, man. We miss you here. I know family first, man. You got to look out for your boy, but is there a scenario

in the future at some point where you return to the 416 at some point? I'm always in Toronto. Toronto's home. Even when I'm gone, I'm there. Look at all the good stuff you said about me. I rep regardless of wherever I'm at. Right. That's right. That's where I'm gone, I'm there. Look at all the good stuff you said about me. I rep regardless of wherever I'm at. Right. That's right.

That's where I'm at right now. Okay. Now, I was reading an article where it turns out you've got a radio show now. So before we get to the book, Maestro in the Maritimes. Tell me about this gig. Yeah. Friday nights. Every Friday night, 7 to 11 on 97.3 the wave um that's it i'm playing

a lot of maritime artists a lot of toronto artists a lot of west coast but it's my show um this week we're interviewing uh tony mason um you know he's he's you know those guys produce a lot a lot of different artists and we got an artist called lavender from Halifax I'm interviewing as well. But I'm playing bangers, man. And the DJ is DJ G-Nice, who apparently, no, sorry, who was my first DJ ever. I've known DJ G-Nice since I was five years old and he was eight. Matter of fact, he's mentioned in the book.

This is him. This is a depiction of me and him at the back right there. You know? Amazing. But I've known him since I was five and he was eight. And he was my mentor coming up. And it just so happens that he's the DJ of this specific show coming up tonight. So this is something we can stream here in Toronto, right?

So even if I'm not in the Maritimes, I can… Yeah, man. You go to the wave.ca. It's 6 o'clock your time on Friday. So 6 to 10 your time. And tonight's going to be dope, man. You go to the wave.ca. It's 6 o'clock your time on Friday. So 6 to 10 your time. And tonight's going to be dope, man. Amazing. Amazing. That's awesome, man.

So you got the radio gig. You're in New Brunswick. Your boy is doing well. Before I get to the book, I'll just tell you, since you were last on Toronto Mike for 416, I actually had the opportunity to interview Chuck D. Wow. I know. I know. I know.

Well, I mean. Chuck's dope. So if you've got 20 minutes, man, you've got to check out the Chuck D interview because I ask him all about you, right? Yeah. Yeah, Chuck is dope, man. That's my big brother right there, you know? Maybe spend a moment talking about my man maestro you dropped his name so last time i saw public enemy right you brought maestro and mishimi on stage yeah at the sound academy which is now the rebel and maestro uh busted that freestyle on uh

the dude that was the mayor ford at the time yeah rob ford yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah bust that freestyle and i remember like the place erupting on that one no it's just amazing to be there and the dude that was the mayor, Ford at the time? Yeah, Rob Ford. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bust that freestyle. And I remember like the place erupting on that one. No, it was just amazing to be there. And so I'm wondering what you can say about Wes, you know, friend of the show, great ambassador for the Six. I always compared his style,

like a little bit of like Big Daddy Kane, if you will. He had that smooth style. So what can you share with me about Maestro? When you kind of discovered him or learned about him? Well, we toured with Maestro a couple of dates that we played here in Canada. And I first noticed that, you know, his style was similar to like Kane influence.

And we played in the West. We played in the West. We played in the West with West over in Windsor. And I think it was a Winnipeg gig in there or something. I could be wrong. But, yeah, I know my Canadian territories very well. And from then, West became, you know, just a favorite. You know, whether he was fresh and dropped the fresh, you know, I always call him, you know, Mr. Wes, he's he's coach Wes now.

He's coach Wes. Yeah, you're right. He had that period where he actually went to New York and he dropped the the fresh. Well, he went by Maestro for a while, but I think we're back to Maestro Fresh West now. fresh west now but uh but you know the thing about it also that i also thought was tight that that uh a lot of the canadian artists they had um helpings from the government and i thought that was important and i also thought that they had their own awards the juno awards yes and i thought that it was also uh helpful that they were diversified in many other areas way before the U.S. artists were doing it. Because Mishy acted on a TV show. Wes acted, you know, and Drake came up out of the whole acting thing.

Degrassi. Grew up with it. So, I mean, they were really truly artists, you know, and truly are artists to this minute, to this day. Yeah, yeah. He has a lot of kind words to say about you. So I'm just letting you know that if you want to hear nice things about you from the man himself, Chuck D.

You got to think about it, Mike. Like, I mean, Cardinal wrote the foreword for this book. Okay. But Chuck D. wrote the foreword for the last one, you know? Right, right. So he's, I mean... Well, like, Chuck is my mentor. And last one, you know? Right, right. So he's, I mean. Chuck is my mentor.

And I'm Cardinal's mentor. You know what I mean? So how cool is that? Super cool. Okay, so let's do the book now. And then I might, if I have a couple minutes, I'll bug you more questions. But the book is called Stick to Your Vision, Young Maestro Goes to School.

So what's the inspiration for this book? Like, tell us all about it. I mean, the book emphasized the importance of family structure, mentorship, like we just mentioned, as well as hip-hop and inspirational elementary school teachers, which I've been blessed to have. I've been blessed to have some really positive teachers, especially in my early grades, in my formative years,

who helped, along with my parents helped me become the artist I am today the man I am today you know so I encourage us to really reflect on the importance of teachers especially in times like this when you know it's not only us as parents or our students or our kids rather as students but teachers as well, man, you know, they're, they're, you know, they go in thinking they have 30 students or, or 20 students, what have you. And now everything is remote. You can't look at the eyes of these students anymore. It's like, you know, so the game changed like that, right. Too, as well. And it hasn't been easy for a lot of us. So,

but this book here is good encouragement to help people end the year on a good positive note, man. Some is good encouragement to help people end the year on a good, positive note, man. Some real good encouragement. Been in this game a long, long, long time Since Thriving though T.O. 99 Mr. Vazee Mr. Vazee I'm filled with Israelites, Rastafarians, God bodies

FOI, Sunni, Muslims, T.O. to Brooklyn Many nights in Bedshy, blazing trees out in Cali We're brothers from a frat, sipping Henny Henny, man-friendly, got Toronto's rap title Dumb man recitals, McQuincy Jones in 89, that's my idol Chicks from every nationality, showin' hospitality, grabbin' me, showin' mad love in the club Listen, check my rendition, perform for royalty and politicians Even done shows with the greatest MCs of all time, I was the one who used to say I seen a lot of valleys time I was the one who used to say

I seen a lot of valleys, I seen a lot of peaks I seen the bitter with the sweet, victory and defeat Sometimes I felt it, but a voice kept saying Son stick to your vision, keep the composition Seen a lot of shame in the game Seen a lot of pain with the fame Seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes I see my name written in the lights, I've seen a lot of things in my life

I've seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes I grab the microphone, like a priest does a rosary Jehovah be shining when clouds are over me So I recollect, remember Kid Capri On BLS, played my joint when I heard protect your neck Back in 92, but let's go back to 88 Flemington, Don Mills and Eglinton Making beats with Essengel and them Remember when you labels wasn't feelin' me?

Next year changed the scenery Gave birth to your energy Tore ice to your public enemy Much gave me love, you niggas had to envy me Couldn't stand to see your brothers shine Player haters always working overtime I seen a lot of value, I seen a lot of peace I seen the bitter with the sweet, victory and defeat Sometimes I fell, but a voice kept saying Son, stick to your vision, keep the composition Seen a lot of shame in the game

Seen a lot of pain with the fame Seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes Seen my name written in life Seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes I've seen my name written in lights I've seen a lot of things in my life I've seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes People used to say, Wes, wake up, stop dreaming You fantasize, fuck the rapping, it won't happen, I paid my dues Brother, see me sacrifice another song in the key of life

Mr. Mice got the iller track I did a 360 and seen God staring in the mirror black I figured out I gotta stay focused When situations seem hopeless, I'm elevating Breaking the spell of Satan I want my lyrics written out like Esco To show the rap world how the industry slept So when I'm gone, the parable will carry on

Young cats can sit back, puff, draw, cool out And sing along I've seen a lot of valleys, I've seen a lot lot of peaks I seen the bitter with the sweet victory and defeat Sometimes I fell, but a voice kept saying Son, stick to your vision, stick to your vision I seen a lot of valleys, I seen a lot of peaks I seen the bitter with the sweet victory and defeat Sometimes I fell, but a voice kept saying Son, stick to your vision Seen a lot of shame in the game. I've seen a lot of pain with the fame.

I've seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes. I've seen my name written in lights. I've seen a lot of things in my life. I've seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes. I've seen a lot of shame in the game. I've seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes. I've seen a lot of shame in the game. I've seen a lot of pain with the fame. I've seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes. I've seen my name written in lights.

I've seen a lot of blips in my life. I've seen a lot of highs and lows, but that's just the way life goes. These are These are These are These are These are These are And you mentioned DJ Greg. So he's one of the inspirations, I suppose.

Yeah. Okay. Greg was my first DJ, man. You know? So what? You went to the same school? Like, how did that work out? I went to Shaughnessy Public School.

He went to Shaughnessy Public School. I went to St. Timothy's Catholic School. He went to St. Timothy's Catholic School. I went to Senator O'Connor High School. He went to Senator O'Connor High School. It's just so funny. I was at the gym yesterday, Mike, and I was bench pressing. And I had a flashback of when I was 15 and Greg was spotting me. Even with that,

it just hit me like, yo, that's somebody who I grew up having as someone to look up to. And just to have this, this was a surprise to him when he saw this book. He didn't know what was coming. So it was dope. Oh, no, that that's amazing and i know that my my buddy my good friend uh mark carrey he was telling me i think you have you been talking to like uh classes of kids like in schools and stuff about yeah i did a couple i did a couple uh schools man because i think schools i think you you uh you chatted with his daughter's school because i got a note from my buddy mark and he's like uh maestro's got a book for kids. You got to get him back to talk about this book. This was about a couple of months ago. It was beautiful. Yeah, man. It was dope. So good for you, man. I think that's awesome.

You got to expand because, you know, they say in this game, you got 15 minutes of fame. But to me, it took me longer than 15 minutes to write the first verse to let your backbone slide. So you got to get used to the face, man. Oh, man. You got to get used to the face. And I mean, that song, that song there, 1989. So you're 30 plus years now removed from that song. But that song, to me, it's the song. Like that's the song that puts toronto hip-hop on the map it's so significant this is a throw down a show down hell no i can't

slow down it's gonna go first offense okay party people in the house. May I have your attention, please? In a moment, the beat will be played in many parts. Come on and break! Many, many parts. Very good. One, two, three. Come on and break! This jam is amplified, so just glide And let your backbone slide You listen to every word I say

Every verb you heard I play Snap, subvert, or break You try to cover or hover me or roast Or fake a flag that I run a post Toast, I'm the most D-E-F's how it goes No X's or O's or tic-tac-toes L-T-D knows

This ain't a game, I'm on a mission Call me a hip-hop tip-hop Tactician, a rapist like a slab of clay that's shapeless Champagne, no shimmer, no glass, it's tasteless A universe without light is lightless That's why I always take time to write this I'm older than my hands before I start chiseling Could be a rain or brainstorm or drizzling Sun could be shining, sun could be showering

Practice makes perfect, I'm powering, flowering My lyrics are awesome and tune in, volume in Blooming and blossoming, blowing away blockades and barricades Make it black and blue from the blast of the blaze It's a blood sport, blood builds our back I make your vision go blurry while your brain goes blank Into oblivion, beats from box to box The the bass rocks from blocks and blocks, let your backbone slide Right, left, left, left, right, left, right Just let it slide, y'all I don't give a damn Your backbone quiver, man, oh man Watch it slither

Rhymes untwine your spine while you slither It's contagious, an epidemic, man You try to lift your cool but it fell again Rap scholar, soul academican But like I said before, I'm not American It's who you are, not where you went We all originate from the same descent I make a lot of cents, cents, and pence

Gold, gold, we're in frankincense When I'm in France, they floor me France Frankly, this was the count is where I bank bank At home, I make bills of brown for my sound Interstate's green like the grass in the ground When I'm in England, they pass me pounds now Frankly, a Swiss account is where I bank bank At home, I make bills of brown for my sound Interstate's green like the grass in the ground When I'm in England, they pass me pounds now I clock cash in every town

So I slide, slide But nowadays I'm trapped So many suckers on my sacroiliac It's like a rapsack backpack Give me some slack, Jack Rap is like a jungle, we rhyme for rhyme It's like a vine to vine Swung lines to line to mine

I'm colossal, use a mosquito I'ma play Tarzan, you play cheetah Cheetah, fighter, love to forge Better yet, I'll call you Curious George Cause curiosity cold, kill the cat Can't hide, so glide to the side Let your backbone slide The key word is synchronism, yo

Check out my whole boy dance to the rhythm Ay, this ain't forte I'm coming double F, fortissimo FF for funky fresh My DJ is LTD, mellow flex You listen to the poetry, bitch, I'll project Vocabulary, golden beats from my rolling Stone cold lyrics with a microphone, I'm holing

Words are ripped, egos are stripped I make sucker crews kick, take Van Dyke flips I get busy, they're dizzy, they start to collide They should've stepped off, stepped off I let it slide, but now they got brazen Dried like a raisin, I glaze like a vase I smash her like daze until they realize It shouldn't have ripped, it's 89 y'all Not Beethoven's 5th or 6th, it's a throwdown I'm conducting it, the cause of high rise I'm constructing it, t'was once a thought pen and, now it's a tower, a soul, a skyscraper It's getting out of hand, I've created a monster

A musical monologue makes you wanna move with the maestro You feel high, so a set, the blend, the crescendo is nice, yo I'm the guy, the rhythm is a ride, ride to the fresh side And let your backbone slide This is a throw down The right. Well, you know, I mean, there's the Aubrey era and there's the pre-Aubrey era. You know what I'm saying? And I'm just glad that I'm a part of it, man. I'm just glad I'm a part of the whole puzzle of Toronto, like our whole history.

You know, it's a beautiful thing. And, you know, this character here to my left over here, this guy over there, man, you know, he's expanding the brand, you know? No, you said diversify, but look at you. You moved the family to New Brunswick.

You got the radio show now. You got the book, Stick to Your Vision, Young Maestro Goes to School. But tell me, what about the rap? What about the music like uh tell what have you been doing in the musical front well you know um since we last spoke i had a song that was featured on called wish i could which dealt with the the gun violence in toronto you know so it was me jordan jd era jellystone bizloke uh turk roni we put something together and that was uh like an anthem that really resonated with a lot of people because it was it was dealing with the gun

violence in toronto and how cool is that mike to have a song go number one in 1989 and have a song go number one on streams top 100 on itunes streams in 2020 you know i mean so from an intergenerational perspective mike i think you know i've i've done something noteworthy and at the same time too it's social commentary it's music with substance you know and it's honored to be a part of that well i spent some time lately uh looking at your newer videos like i was watching uh miracle which you're featured on trap and it features maestro fresh wise. And I'm telling you, I think you're drinking from the fountain of youth,

man. There's something going on there because you, you're not aging. I'm getting older and you're not, I don't know. I remember back in the day I was younger than you and now I'm older than you. So I don't know what that's about,

but I'm just doing my thing, man. I'm just doing my thing the best way i know how you know hey tell me about the song uh drama like is uh is that is that is that your most recent single drama was off the champagne campaign album matter of fact was the first song on the champagne campaign album i just thought it was it was timely that's why we did a video for it um gotcha right before we shot the video for Wish I Could. You know, I thought it was a timely piece.

Again, that's dealing with gun violence in the city, right? And that's basically all she wrote on that note. You know, it's a positive song. You know, shout out to Tona. Shout out to Lord Quest on the production tip. You know? Yeah, man. Drama is a classic.

And, you know, you hear my flow in it i sound a lot different than how i used to run before so i like the fact that i could um really experiment still you know two words i'm sick and tired of hearing nowadays is my condolences brothers getting fatally slain he lay emotionless babies getting sprayed from the cradle to the grave just read the willie lyn Lynch letter about the making of a slave We all indoctrinated one way or another It's self murder, death by design It's hard to get further

I wish we all would live in prosperous Devils be watching as we swallow the fatherless in this Toronto apocalypse Play this record as frequently as possible. They never, never know the dominance of my dreams When you crew me around, you be running your mouth They need to relax The more you be talking, the more they be looking, they wanna attack The more you be having, the sooner or later somebody is smacked Sooner or later somebody get clapped Matter of fact, you better step back This is the reason I never go out

I stay in my house I mind my business, too old to be thinking about You give me flex, you take it as sound Step away and I got to be fucking tired Easy with the, easy with the book why I say Cause I never know the drama, then just fool my friends Easy with the, easy with the book why I say Never, never know the drama, then just fool my friends

Easy with the, easy with the book why I say Cause I never know the drama, never, never know the drama Then just easy with the, easy with the book why I say Never, never know the drama, never never know the drama Then you just easy with the, easy with the Rude boy I say, never never know the drama Then you just prove my brain Never never know the drama, then you just prove my brain Yeah, it's drama truly see I ain't wanna sit around and talk about the way things used to be

Come get in tune with me I know when you roll sweaty deep You act up, you telling me just be easy, don't get clapped up Ready to flip and probably lift up the crib, yeah Trapped all in the system, all in jail and this bitch not Shorty up the property for bail and this bitch, yeah Come from a different club and I'm spotting that common thread Till we dead, repeat the same

Easy with the, easy with the group, boy I say Cause I never know the dominant, you're cool my friend Easy, easy with the thing with the easy with the boy I say cuz I never know the time and it's a cruel my friend Easy with the boy I say never never know the time and it's cruel my friend Easy with the boy I say cuz I never know the time and never never know the time and it's a cruel my friend White thing, never, never know the dominance You prove my brain Reporting from downtown Toronto Another shooting, three dead, twelve injured Full story at eleven

Never, never know the dominance You prove my brain Everyone knows that the system is set To give us cripple and stress You're mentally blind, get your vision correct Now you wanna see a backup, the prison can get You think I forget? You and your cliques are the split in the dress

That disrespect has a ripple effect And you're piffing your tech like civilians all wet You're the main reason why people get crushed No need to discuss Your hair like a boss You're the main reason cheap people get dust You and the crew that you brought You pull out your guns And the sub-people fall down on the ground Now everyone up and they looking around

Looking around and there's blood in your hands Somebody hit between you and your mask You thinking it fair? Sin and I see how they never gonna spit out adrenaline Damn, nobody catching me sniffing again Get the skimming on you and your man All the bullets don't ruin your plans Turning this into the summer of sand

Easy, push the, easy, push the, push the I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man I'm a man, I'm on adrenaline, damn Nobody catchin' me sniffin' again Get to skimin' on you and your man All the bullets don't ruin your plans Turnin' this into the summer of sand, damn

Easy with the, easy with the book, why I say Cause I never know the time that you'd fool my friends Easy, easy with the, easy with the book, why I say Never, never know the time that you'd fool my friends Easy with the, easy with the book, why I say Cause I never know the time, never, never know the time That you'd, easy with the, easy with the book, why I say Play this record as frequently as possible. Well, you're putting the fresh in Maestro Fresh West. Aha!

You can use that if you like. Hey, I know you got to pick up your boy. Do you have a couple minutes for me to ask you about some members of the hip-hop community we lost recently? I got like five minutes. Okay, five minutes. Okay, so let's start with... Actually, let me grab the hip-hop community we lost recently? I got like five minutes. Okay, five minutes. Okay, so let's start with, actually, let me grab the 12-inch. Hold on. Oh, real quick here.

So, I mean, I used to buy, this is back in like the late 80s, early 90s. I used to buy a lot of 12-inch singles. So here's the Do What You Like 12-inch from Digital Underground. Oh, man. Did you ever meet Shock G? Yeah, I did a show with him, man. I did a show with him man i did a show with him it was him uh what was digital it was uh lords of the underground greg nice special ed right uh mel a mel uh who else was there snow chip food from the fusionikins myself and i was busy talking

to mel a mel right and i said oh shoot that's shock g i'll go say hi hi to him after i never had a chance to say hi to him it was just so many people at one time talking to me that i was talking to when he just walked through you know what i mean because i'm wondering like okay back in the day when uh digital underground was doing their thing and they had top 40 hits with you know Humpty Dance and stuff, Shock G needed a little bit of, I would call it a gimmick, like a little bit of schtick, where he'd become Humpty Humpstick on the glasses and the nose or whatever. That was a bit of a gimmick there.

And not that it was a gimmick, but in your early days, if we saw Maestro, you had to be in a tuxedo. You don't wear the fucking tuxedo anymore. Pardon my French. tuxedo like you don't wear the fucking tuxedo anymore and pardon my french i'm wondering like when did hip-hop realize like it did no more no more gimmicks no more shtick required like you could be authentic and and real i don't know if i agree with that totally i mean if it's the right time i will wear tux if it's not i won't you know i mean i mean the first album was the debut album so i came out to establish the brand so when you see me maestro fresher in your head is always the black tuxedo.

I didn't do that in the second album, you know, or third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth. Like it's established. That's why I hit so hard with that because I let people see. So once I put back on the tux, it's like a beautiful thing. It's like, ah, it's a flashback to memory, but I'm not going to go down Scarborough Town Center rocking a tux, you know?

That's just from a concept perspective. And I think I solidified that, and it's been a lasting concept, you know? Lasting brand. Getting back to Humpty Hump, I just thought it was ingenious, man. I thought it was crazy. What Shaq G did, impersonating somebody. It was really dope. And he'll be missed, man.

Another emcee who passed away was dmx dmx i met a couple times at uh in toronto while he was filming i was feeling paid in full and he was filming i think romeo must die so he came on set a couple times just to hang out with with uh mckay pfeiffer rest in peace man you know and and then black rob is another one man and it's like all these guys are in my age bracket. And I'm like, listen, man, I'm trying to be around for a while. I ain't ready to die yet, man, you know? And how's your diet these days, man?

Are you eating well? I just had a burger beyond, man. Thanks for asking. Yeah. Only because Chuck D's on this now. He's talking about diet and stuff and how important that is to your health. Very important, man. stuff and like uh and how important that is to your to your health so important very important and i know it's important that you pick up your boy because uh what's the sport he's playing rugby

he's just hanging out with his friends at school man so that's what that's what it is it's rugby practice you know just something to rather that than stay home playing video games so let him do that for now and then he's got the rest of the weekend and then what have you. So, you know. Okay, so let's wrap it up with good luck. Firstly, I'll be listening to Maestro in the Maritimes on thewave.ca. That's awesome. That's dope. And also, of course, congrats on the book.

Like it's inspiring and it's important and the message is great. So everybody should check out Stick to Your Vision, Young Maestro Goes to School and congrats on the move. I just ask that when this pandemic's over, if you ever find yourself

in Toronto with an hour to spare. Come back and hang out, man. Come on, you know I like chapping up with you, man. Don't forget Toronto, Mike. Love it, buddy. And take care. Thanks for this.

This was great to catch up with you, man. All right, we talk soon. Thank you. Peace and love. All right, peace. All right, We talk soon. Thank you. Peace and love. All right, Mike. Bye. See you.

And that brings us to the end of our 849th show. You can follow me on Twitter. I'm at Toronto Mike. Maestro is at Maestro Fresh West. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery, they're at Great Lakes Beer. Palma Pasta, they're at Palma Pasta.

Sticker U is at Sticker U. Ridley Funeral Home, they're at Ridley FH. And Mimico Mike, he's not on Twitter, he's on Instagram, at Majeski Group Homes. See you all

next week. It's my UI check has just come in Ah, where you been? Because everything is kind of rosy and green Yeah, the wind is cold

but the snow wants me to dance And your smile is fine and it's just like mine and it won't go away Cause everything We'll be right back. It's been eight years of laughter and eight years of tears And I don't know what the future can hold or do for me and you But I'm a much better man for having known you Oh, you know that's true because Everything is coming up rosy and green Yeah, the wind is cold

but the smell of snow won't stay today And your smile is fine and it's just like mine and it won't go away Cause everything is rosy and gray Well, I've been told

that there's a sucker born every day But I wonder who, yeah, I wonder who Maybe the one who doesn't realize there's a thousand shades of grey Cause I know that's true, yes I do I know it's true, yeah, I know that's true, yes I do I know it's true, yeah I know it's true How about you? I've been picking up trash and then putting down roads

And they're brokering stocks, the class struggle explodes And I'll play this guitar just the best that I can Maybe I'm not and maybe I am But who gives a damn Because everything is coming up rosy and gray Yeah, the wind is cold but the smell of snow warms me today And your smile is fine, and it's just like mine And it won't go away, cause everything is rosy and gray

Well, I've kissed you in France, and I've kissed you in Spain And I've kissed you in France and I've kissed you in Spain And I've kissed you in places I better not name And I've seen the sun go down on Chaclacour But I like it much better going down on you Yeah, you know that's true Because everything is coming up Rosy and green Yeah, the wind is cold

But the smell of snow Warms us today And your smile is fine And it's just like mine And it won't go away Because everything is rosy now Everything is rosy now Everything is rosy Everything is rosy and great you