Maestro Fresh Wes is not a man who sits still. The Canadian hip-hop icon turned Saint John creative dynamo releases his fifth children’s album in five years, Rhyme Travellers: Back to the Time Machine, today. It’s packed with beats, life lessons, and a father-son story that hits close to home.
“I just love tapping into my creativity,” Maestro said. “I always wanted to do a story about a father and son duo who travel, and when I came up with the idea to do it in rhyme form, that’s where Rhyme Travellers came from.”
The record follows Shaka Shabazz, an adventurous kid who zooms through time with his dad, Professor Ben. They explore ancient Egypt, battle King Tut in a dance-off, and glide through the future on roller skates, learning along the way that studying the past can help you navigate the future.
Maestro draws inspiration from his own childhood. “My slogan is ‘don’t make records, make history,” he said. “Kids would get it on an animated level and parents would get the deeper stuff. I made sure the beats were dope for parents too, so they wouldn’t mind dropping the kids to school with the album on.”
The album also features acclaimed Canadian musicians JRDN, Saukrates, Dub J, Solitaire, and more. Teenager Kalu Thomas voices Shaka Shabazz. His late father, Toronto MC King Reign, was a close friend of Maestro's. The recording of Kalu’s vocals happened on his father’s birthday, a moment Maestro says was meant to be.
Much of the album was produced in Saint John, with local talent front and centre. The young voices were recorded at Trillium House on King Street with producer Stephen Hero and engineer Paul Milner. “I feel proud that I introduced them to each other,” Maestro said.
Maestro calls this record the masterpiece of the series. “The rhymes are dope for the kids and the parents. I just encourage kids to be creative and keep using their imagination. I’m still using mine. If I can do it at this age, they can too. The sky’s the limit, so fasten your seat belt and go back to the time machine.”
Rhyme Trevellers: Back to the Time Machine is available on all digital platforms today!