We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wize. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Russell below.
Wize, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
Yes I do feel as though my work and I have been mischaracterized/misunderstood at certain points. One of my songs even contains a lyric referring to me as “mister misunderstood.” As a recording artist in Atlanta, I am often expected to be a shameless self promotion machine like most aspiring rappers but that’s not how I ever envisioned carrying myself or handling my brand. Many people tell me I should make music more often or tell me that I can’t be a rapper and a teacher as if they don’t fit together. I see nothing wrong with exercising every one of my geniuses. I think everyone should. Hip Hop itself is a lifestyle just like being a teacher is a lifestyle. It’s not something I turn on and off. My art overlaps itself. I teach when I’m in a classroom and I teach through my music. I draw and paint for money and for fun. These are all things I would do for free but I operate in the flow of life and take paying work as it comes and I have never had to sacrifice any part of myself or my artistry to do that. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I was a rapper with revolutionary educational content who was not doing any revolutionary educational works. Words are so powerful but if words were my only contribution to the struggle, my life would feel void of substance and incomplete. Most of my favorite artists LIVED their art (Bob Marley, John Lennon, Tupac Shakur etc). On the flip side, there are also people who are intrigued by the various lives I lead and encourage me to continue. I even see cases where I have inspired people to act on more on their talents and gifts and not confine themselves to whatever standards society projects upon them. What I learned from these interactions is to ALWAYS listen to the whispers of my intuition. When I follow my intuition and move in my purpose, the universe opens doors for me that no mortal could close. If someone is misinterpreting or mischaracterizing you, that’s their problem. You’re not responsible for anyone’s assumptions and misunderstandings. Mind YOUR business and move in YOUR purpose. Everything I’m doing is working in my paradigm even when I can’t tell, time reveals the bigger picture.
Wize, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Greetings, my name is wize, my government name is Russell. I’m a recording artist and visual artist. My first experience in the music industry was working as a marketing coordinator for Epic Records from 2011-2014. What brought me to making music was a love affair with Hip Hop in my early childhood years. I have been drawing for even longer than that…for as long as I can remember. I make music and paint to sustain a living, it’s not 100 percent sustainable yet but they both provide contributions towards that 100 percent goal, and for this I am grateful. I’m not sure what sets me apart from others, I do my best to stay present within myself. Education, like life itself, is subjective. It’s ALL about the subject, the individual person. It’s all about the things YOU are supposed to be learning and doing. You can’t bottle up “living” and “education” into a container and ration out equal portions of it to people the way public schools do. Staying present, how to live, and education are far too specific for that, they vary too much from person to person. Speaking of education, that’s something else I do for revenue that adds to my sustainability. I teach for public schools and collaborate with grassroots, homegrown institutions. I am most proud of exercising my gifts with consistency to the best of my abilities. There’s nothing specific I would like anyone to know about me, I would only suggest you give my art a chance, or anyone’s art for that matter.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My mission statement is to heal the world through art. There are many kinds of arts, which craft have you mastered. I use those arts and crafts to spread awareness and heal.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was the realization that most of what you hear as a child is external. It’s coming from other people. While external knowledge and information could be valuable, it pales in comparison to your internal wisdom. Spend time alone, talk to your inner voice, solitude is where ideas are born.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wizeguyatl.com
- Instagram: @wizeguyatl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCitjBhdwiR90gJ6lx6ZtebA