About Wise Intelligent: Originally from Trenton, New Jersey, Wise Intelligent is an internationally known artist/activist, songwriter/producer, social entrepreneur and the front man of the critically acclaimed and legendary Hip hop trio known to the world as the Poor Righteous Teachers. He has released nine solo albums and four incredible classics with the Poor Righteous Teachers. Today, as Founder/CEO of Intelligent Muzik Group and President of the Rap Snacks Foundation, Wise Intelligent, leverages three decades of community activism, experience, connections and insight in the Hip Hop industry into developing and implementing financial literacy, entrepreneurship and community economic development programs in our communities. “3/5th an MC: The Manufacturing of a Dumbed Down Rapper” represents Wise’s first literary offering and debut as an author.
Rach - What is your earliest memory of rap music and how did you get into making hip
hop?
Wise - My earliest memory of rap music is Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rappers Delight” circa 1979. I come from a school of thought wherein Hip Hop isn’t necessarily “made”. Rather, lived. It’s an attitude, lifestyle and culture. That lifestyle resonated with most black youth in urban America. Hip Hop is a medium of creative self- expression. I engaged every element of hip-hop culture except deejaying. I was a young graffiti artist tagging trains and walls in the neighborhood. I began writing rhymes, rapping and recording at around 15 years old.
Rach - What is the meaning behind your stage name?
Wise - I had the name Wise Intelligent before I began rapping – before the stage. I was called “Wise Intelligent” since I was 13 years old. The name was given to me by my elder brother. Wise Intelligent means “applied knowledge and wisdom” and represents a lifestyle and state of consciousness.
Rach - What are the particular themes or messages that you often explore in your music
and why?
Wise - Lyrically, my approach to rhyme can be described as “black epistemology”, i.e., our interpretation of the world, and our justified beliefs about it. I make Black Music – unapologetically. Living in what has consistently proven to be a systemically anti-black power-structure, our music becomes one of the only mediums in which we can bring awareness to our collective history and experience with injustice. This is also why I prefer to make music independently.
Rach - What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?
Wise - People may not know that although I grew up in the city, I prefer the forest, nature, camping, hiking, roughing it, living offline/off-grid. I’m a minimalist at heart.
Rach - Who are some of your biggest influences and why?
Wise - My mother – for teaching me how to smile in the face of adversity. Chuck D of Public Enemy – most important rap group of all time. Fela Anikulapo Kuti – for the underground spiritual game. Dr. Amos Wilson – for un-falsifying the consciousness of countless black minds, and a plethora of other rap artists.
Rach - In your book “3/5th an MC: The Manufacturing of a Dumbed Down Rapper”, you
write:
“This book is by no means an indictment of today’s mainstream rap artists. I must make clear that the perceived destructive and or reckless behavior exhibited by most of today’s mainstream rappers represent what those who control the social machinery for mass public opinion manipulation want the world to believe about black America in general.”
Can you further elaborate on this? What can this generation of rappers maybe change or become more aware of so that they don’t feed the narrative and/or stereotype?
Wise - Yes. 3/5 th an MC: The Manufacturing of a Dumbed Down Rapper is actually about the machine that manufactures ignorance via control of mainstream media and the mechanism for monetization of hip-hop. Rappers are rewarded by corporations – record deals, radio play, tour support, etc., for delivering a particular brand of hip-hop content. On the contrary, rappers are penalized by same corporations – not funded, not played on radio, not given tour support, for challenging the narrative. Today’s rappers do not have to change anything, the corporations do. There are literally thousands of young rappers today (Saba The Goddis, Saroc, Faise One, etc.) who present a contrasting point of view that challenges the mainstream narrative. However, these artists are blocked from mainstream avenues. It is the system that has to change, hip-hop is as true as it’s always been.
Rach - What is the meaning behind your latest song/album?
Wise - The latest project is a double album – Poem Chomsky and ManDrill Muzik. Poem Chomsky is basically me channeling one of the world’s most renown intellectuals and linguists, Noam Chomsky. ManDrill Muzik is basically a grown “Man” going “ape-shit” on “Drill” beats. So, “ManDrill” man + drill = mandrill, the ape.
Rach - Wise, you always dropping wisdom and like I’ve said before, every time I have a
conversation with you, I learn something new. But, let’s turn the tables….What is the best advice anyone has ever given to you?
Wise - Never stop learning! And always show up as YOU!
Rach - Okay you already know I’m a feminist so I HAD to ask you this question… Right now, the FEMALE hip hop game is soaring however the image and message behind the music is a complete 360 from the female rappers that helped to shape hip hop in the 80’s & 90’s. Why do you think the lyrics and image of women have changed?
Wise - The 2 female rappers I mentioned in a previous question, as well as several others, have not resorted to hyper-sexual images and lyrics. What has happened is, the corporations who control mainstream media and what we see in it, are intentionally financing, marketing and promoting this imagery and subject matter exclusively. Research Saroc, and Saba the Goddis.
Rach - Back in 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and among the influential ground breaking hip hop artists he named YOU and gave you your flowers. What does it feel like to have this type of huge impact on the culture?
Wise - I’m grateful to be counted as an influence in the life of anyone. I feel grateful!
Rach - What can fans expect from you in the future?
Wise - Poem Chomsky, Mandrill Muzik, a monthly live showcase in Miami and virtual, an NFT comic book, and more.
Thank you again for this interview fam! Let the people know your info below:
Website - https://wiseintelligent.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wiseintelligent/?hl=en
Twitter - https://twitter.com/wiseintelligent
Love, Rach
Comments