On May 15, the National Music Centre will launch a new temporary exhibition at Studio Bell in partnership with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, honouring 2024 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Maestro Fresh Wes.
Toronto-born Wes Williams, known as Maestro Fresh Wes, revolutionized the country’s music scene through hip-hop after the release of his groundbreaking 1989 track, “Let Your Backbone Slide,” off his debut album, Symphony in Effect. As the first Canadian rap artist to achieve gold and platinum status in the country and the first to break into the Billboard Top 40, he paved the way for future hip-hop artists in Canada. With multiple JUNO Award wins, including the first-ever JUNO Award in the Best Rap Recording category in 1991, and an induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, he officially joined the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2024, becoming the first hip-hop artist to be inducted into both halls.
“It’s an honour to see my journey celebrated at the National Music Centre,” said Maestro Fresh Wes. “I hope this exhibition inspires future generations to not just make records but make history.”
Hailed as the “Godfather of Canadian hip-hop,” this new temporary exhibition will celebrate his pioneering 40-year career with an immersive video experience and stage outfits he wore during The 2024 JUNO Awards Broadcast in Halifax earlier this year.
“Canadian hip-hop artists like Drake dominate the global charts today, but it all started with Maestro Fresh Wes and the impact he made in Canada,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO, NMC. “Having just celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re proud to share the story of one of Canada’s most important figures in the genre with this latest exhibition.”
“We’re still reliving Maestro’s unforgettable performance during The 2024 JUNO Awards Broadcast, where he brought the house down with a medley of his hit songs,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards. “Maestro played a monumental role in building the hip-hop scene in Canada, and this exhibition is an important piece in honouring the story of where it all began.”
The new exhibition, Milestone: Maestro Fresh Wes, is accessible with paid admission to Studio Bell and will run from May 15, 2024, until February 2025.
Regular admission to Studio Bell is $24.50 for adults, $19.50 for students/seniors (65+), $16.50 for children (3-12 years of age), and free for children under 3 years of age. Admission for NMC Members is free. To become an NMC Member, visit studiobell.ca/become-a-member. Studio Bell is open seven days a week, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and tickets for the exhibition can be purchased at studiobell.ca/general-admission.
