Godfather of Canadian hip hop Wes Williams, aka Maestro Fresh Wes, performs at Rum Jungle June 4, thanks to the Prince George Public Library.
Proceeds of the show will go towards supporting programs and services at the library, a non-profit organization.
The two-time Juno award winner made Canadian music history in 1989 with the single Let Your Backbone Slide, which remains the only Canadian hip-hop single to achieve gold status. His album Symphony In Effect remains the best-selling Canadian hip-hop album ever.
Always looking to diversify his talents, Williams said he began taking acting classes in 1999.
He has appeared in several Canadian television series, including George F. Walkers HBO series The Line, Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story, as well as motion pictures like Four Brothers, starring Mark Wahlberg and Honey, starring Jessica Alba.
"Coming out of Canada and making music, especially my genre of music, you need to expand and do different things if you want to survive, you wanna eat and you wanna continue to grow," said Williams.
"I think one of the reasons why I still have some type of relevance is because I have done things outside the parameters of hip hop."
Maestro has continued to cut ground-breaking hip-hop records for the last 20 years and has been recognized for his work with 12 Juno Award nominations, a Harry Jerome Award from the Black Business and Professionals Association, four MuchMusic Awards, two People's Choice Awards, two Toronto Music Awards, and the first platinum album from a Hip-Hop Artist In Canada.
"Music evokes emotion and especially when I came out in '89 it was a turning point for hip hop in Canada," said Williams. "A lot of people grew up listening to my stuff and because it meant a lot to them, it meant a lot to me."
Last year, Williams published his first book, Stick To Your Vision: How To Get Past The Hurdles and Haters To Get Where You Want To Be. He used both the high and low points of his personal and professional life to illustrate how to define your vision, achieve it and then figure out what to do once you get there.
Although people can be those hurdles and haters referred to in the title, they are also what inspired Williams to write the book.
"People have inspired me and they have inspired others as well and if you put that together over two decades it's 200 pages of something maybe someone else can get something out of," he explained. "I'm really excited about it."
And inspiring others is one of Wiliams's proudest achievements.
"There is a saying I like - men sharpen men like steel sharpens steel. A lot of people have tried to keep me sharp, so to know that I am one of those cats sharpening other artists through my artistry is a good thing, man."
The show at the Rum Jungle is going to be hot, he said.
"This is going to be a good party," Williams said. "My shows are up tempo. I love performing live. I try not to get too excited about it too early because I like to contain my energy so when I get on stage I do my thing and that's when I let it out. It's a beautiful thing."
DJ Abel and dron3 will be opening for Williams. Doors open at 9 p.m. at the Rum Jungle.
Tickets for the concert are $15, available at Books and Company, Ruins, HomeWork and the Prince George Public Library.
