Wes Williams - Stick to Your Vision: How to Get Past the Hurdles and Haters to Get Where You Want to Be

Stick to Your Vision and 416/905 were legendary moments in my life, not to mention this mans career. Those two songs let me know that it was possible to make a city so far removed feel like it was a part of it all. Now every song and move I make I think about my people back home and how proud I am of them and they are of me. I owe a part of my confidence as a rapper to Maestro.

Drake (Singer/Songwriter)

Its an honour and a privilege to write these words of support for the Godfather of Canadian Hip Hop Wesley Williams and his book, Stick to Your Vision. I have had the good fortune to work closely with this musical pioneer, to inspire and motivate young people to follow their dreams. His message was always about hope and believing in yourself. I know I speak for thousands when I say his work continues to inspire others worldwide. This multi-talented artist now turns his attention to sharing personal anecdotes and stories to support people in their journey to success, something he knows so well. As Joel Barker said, Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision passes time. Vision with action can change the world. Read this book and join Wess crusade to help you Stick to Your Vision.

Christopher Spence (Director of Education, Toronto District School Board)

Wes is a monster. Always working, pushing himself, challenging himself to do better, to be better. Hes incredibly hard working, tenacious and insatiable in his need to conquer whatever he sets his mind to.

George F. Walker (Writer/Producer)

In January 2009, I invited Wes Williams into a facility to speak to incarcerated youth. Being a legendary Canadian hip hop icon, it was easy for him to capture their attention. But more profound than this, Wes spoke from his heart about what it took to overcome the challenges he has faced in his own life, earning the respect of these young men something not nearly as easy to attain. Wes has a message for young people to rise up, find their vision and believe in themselves no matter who might doubt them or try to keep them down.

Laura Sygrove (Co-founder and Executive Director, New Leaf Yoga Foundation, youth correctional facility)

When I directed the video for Stick to Your Vision, it reminded me that when we were growing up, Maestro truly represented us all. He really made us feel that we could reach our goals by staying dedicated to whatever we set our minds to.

Director X (Music Video Director)

Its no secret that Wes kicked open an incredibly important door and blazed a trail for not only Canadian hip hop artists, but the Canadian music community as a whole. And yet, in him, you would not find a boastful or arrogant man. Instead, you will encounter a man who possesses humility, gratitude, kindness, authenticity, and a verve that is downright infectious. I feel fortunate to witness such strength of character in a man I not only admire, but am proud to call a friend. When this man speaks it would be wise to listen. I dare you not to be inspired!

esthero (Singer/Songwriter)

Wes Williams knows of what he speaks. His wonderful mix of talent, resilience and honesty make him a true role model for young people. Wes, you are my hero. And your forthright book will make you a hero to many more!

Linda Schuyler (Creator and Executive Producer, Instant Star; Co-Creator and Executive Producer, the Degrassi series)

Canadas music talent of all genres would not know how high to jump without Wes Maestro Williams. Theres no measure in Canadian culture to absolutely gauge this compelling hip hop artist and actor forever on the move. So full of music, his staggering command of varied genres places him alongside traditional giants of each while his ability to amalgamate art and popular culture has made him an icon of popular culture alongside the likes of Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, and Neil Young. As well, his open-hearted and direct approach to his life continues to touch and inspire so many of us.

Larry LeBlanc (Senior Writer, Celebrity Access/Encore)

T heres a stubborn mountain to scale on the hip hop and rap music terrain, which has driven many an MC or a DJ residing outside of the New York metropolitan area crazy. For the past thirty years of the recorded rap games existence, outsiders of the New York City suburbs of New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester, and Connecticut have had to try harder, be harder, and simply be better to get up that mountain. It has always been this way. The arrogance and ego of the rappers at the peak, arrogance and ego they needed to jump off their genre into the world, set the standard for the competition. This same ego-soaked standard an attitude of elitism mixed with northeastern swagger was adopted across rap cities like Philadelphia, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Texas, Chicago, Florida, and Detroit. Eventually it prevailed in all the U.S., and cast its shadow over rappers across the growing hip hop planet.

When I was a kid, my parents often drove upstate, then north of the border through New York, and made an international vacation out of it in Canada. Still, it always seemed to me like we hadnt left Upstate New York, given how close it was. Fifteen years later, as a professional adult, touring with Public Enemy in Canada was a warm reminder of my visits there. I respected that past experience and so I took a special interest in performing in that great growing rap territory on the hip hop planet. I knew and studied the cities there. In 1989 during a U.S. tour, we were in the Midwest and we travelled across the Detroit River to the peaceful city of Windsor. Having family in Detroit, I had been there before and was familiar with the area. We were doing a show at an ice arena and I remember seeing the name Maestro Fresh-Wes on the bill. When I met him after his set, I discovered in person a humble spirit who displayed a Big Daddy Kane wrath on stage.

That night I witnessed a cat who had done his homework, as most Canadian MCs had to do (and continue to do to this day). After all, the Canadian hip hop scene was being shaped by a very dedicated and discerning crowd, from the press and television networks, most notably MuchMusic, to the labels, DJS , and the artists. Maestro was proving to be a versatile blend of what the best MCs were offering at that time, and his interviews were very sharp because they went deeper than the surface of just rap music; they dealt with the whole culture that shaped the hip hop movement.

Maestro has held his own as the king of MCs in Canadian hip hop history. He is the alpha, and he paved the road for other MCs to follow, including the likes of Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Butta Babies, and the queen of Canadian hip hop, Michie Mee. In hip hop, it is key to not only stay true to the roots of the game but also to stay true to the black-Caribbean culture that has figured so strongly in its energy. Dignity and respect come with that blend, something that is often ignored by American MCs Canadian MCs never go backward; its not in their DNA.