Included by Complex on its 50 Most Slept-on Rappers of All-Time list and About.com ranking him number five on its census of the 10 Most Underrated Rappers, New Brunswick, New Jersey‘s own Wise Intelligent is by far one of the most creative and innovative MCs of our time.
West Coast Styles recently had the good pleasure of catching up with the founder and frontman of socially and politically conscious Hip Hop collective Poor Righteous Teachers [R.I.P. Father Shaheed]…
First things first, last year (August 11th to be exact) marked the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop — What exactly does that mean to and for you?
For me, it means that my lungs and vocal chords are actually older than Hip Hop. LOL!
To quote the late, great The Notorious B.I.G., “You never thought that Hip Hop would take it this far!” — Was this something that you ever could’ve imagined?
Yes. I’m a student of history, and Black Music / White Business dictates this. Every globally influential genre of music America exports is Black Music, i.e., Blues, Jazz, Rock & Roll, etcetera, and all having their beginnings among young black musicians. Hip Hop being of this heritage, lineage and culture would undoubtedly take the same trajectory once predominantly white owned major corporations realized it’s value and influence. Check out my book ‘3/5 an MC: The Manufacturing of a DUMBED DOWN RAPPER!’
What are some of your fondest, most stand-out moments / memories during your lengthy tenure in this thing called Hip Hop?
Fondest memory would be 1986 – 1996. This for me would be the “Golden Era,” wherein there were as many urban attitudes and lifestyles represented in rap music as there were media corporations. At the time, there were about 200 media corporations. By 1996, the Telecommunications Act of that same year, consolidated these companies onto about 5 or 6. Consequently, representation of black attitudes and lifestyles shrank as well, to a dangerous single-narrative of sex, money and murder. This not only changed rap music, it changed young black America’s self-perception. It was the official CHECKMATE! Get my book ‘3/5 an MC: The Manufacturing of a DUMBED DOWN RAPPER!’
That said, what are your future plans and / or goals throughout the remainder of 2024 and beyond?
To continue capturing resources to build ecosystems that sustain people and communities. Launching cultural and economic platforms that place people over profits, and community over consumerism. Something I cover in my book ‘3/5 an MC: The Manufacturing of a DUMBED DOWN RAPPER!’
Switching gears here, what exactly do you want people to get from your music?
What people get out of my music, the people themselves will dictate. I’ll simply say that I write in time-capsules. Meaning, 100 years from now, when a historian, anthropologist, archeologist digs up my music and listens; it should make his work easy where it concerns the epistemology of black folk, Hip Hop, our interest concerns, our interpretation of the world and our justified beliefs about it. That we were not the prevailing narrative. Check out my book ‘3/5 an MC: The Manufacturing of a DUMBED DOWN RAPPER!’
If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Cannonball Adderly! My favorite saxophonist. When I listen to how he plays his saxophone, weaving in and out of the bands percussions, abruptly changing melody, switching tempo, yet maintaining lock-sync with the instrumentation and composition, it reminds me of how I like to craft a rhyme. I can create new flows / deliveries just listening to Cannonball Adderley.
If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?
I would like to be a regular at one of those Prohibition Era southern juke joints, off the beaten path. Where Black folk could express ourselves uninhibited. Where the music and the people would intersect in a way that affirmed and evolved the group epistemology absent mainstrean and or commercial influence.
On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?
Yes. I am happy with the current state of Hip Hop. Hip Hop, for me, is the same today as it was 30 years ago. The problem is too many of us have allowed mainstream media and major corporations to dictate for us what we perceive Hip Hop to be or not to be. In fact, Hip Hop is still as socially and politically conscious, and thought provoking as it’s always been. We just have to stop letting mainstream media reduce our perception of it to the 10 rap acts they force feed us across mediums they control. For example, there is not a mainstream rap song on my current playlist. Only dope, independent artists representing various attitudes, lifestyles, interests and concerns of their communites. This is something I discuss in detail in my book ‘3/5 an MC: The Manufacturing of a DUMBED DOWN RAPPER!’
What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?
I am only as relevant as black people are relevant. So, I believe that as long as an artist stays connected to the greater struggle of black people collectively – our collective interests, concerns and epistemology, i.e., our interpretation of the world and our justified beliefs about it, longevity is baked in.
Do you have any other outside / additional (future) aspirations, maybe even completely away from entertainment?
I am co-founder of two apps; StockBossUp, an investment app for beginners that aims to help users build wealth over time; and InfoVote, a cutting-edge civic engagement app. I’m a blockchain enthusiast, and all of the tech platforms I developed have some element of blockchain / Web3.
What’s an average day like for you?
I don’t think I have “average” days. With all the things on my calendar from StockBossUp, InfoVote, the Rap Snacks Foundation – I’m President / CEO – Wiseintelligent.com, WISE apparel company, developing developing (books / music); the blockchain based music platform I’m developing; living in both Miami and Atlanta; FAMILY!!! It’s a balancing act of Ringling Bros. circus proportions.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…
I always take the time to black build with my people. I reply to DMs, email, etcetera. I don’t think I have “fans,” I seem to be part of a community with a shared interest in wisdom, intelligence, love, peace, unity, growth and development. I learn so much from the people who engage me, that I only hope that the exchange is mutual and reciprocal in that regard.
What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
My most favorite part is the human connection. Probably, third to air and water on the list of human necessities is communication with other human beings. This line of work has allowed me to connect with people across continents, various countries, cultures, ethnicities, industries, schools of thought, beliefs, skillsets and ideas. People are the most valuable resource we have. Least liked is the assumptions and fragmented picture of reality many people have about this line of work due to mass-media manipulation and opinion regimenting. I mean, you can’t rely on mainstream mediums to get a complete understanding of what this “line of work” actually is. Unfortunately, the mainstream is the source for 99% of the people. I explain how we got here in the book ‘3/5 an MC: The Manufacturing of a DUMBED DOWN RAPPER!’
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t! Go where no path has been made and create a new one.
Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
In and out the matrix like Neo. I’ve been intentional about disappearing slowly over the years. Plan to live in a different country every 3 to 6 months, just to experience the local coffee! lol.
Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?
I believe you covered quite a bit.
Any “parting” words for our readers?
Follow @wiseintelligent on IG / FB, Twitter / X. Get Wise Intelligent merch and buy my book @ www.wiseintelligent.com; Donate to BossUp Youth Entrepreneurship initiatives @ www.therapsnacksfoundation.org.
