Artist’s Name: Jordan Whittingham

Name of Brand: WILDERMEZ (pronounced as WILL-DUR-MEZ)/ Bossman WilderMEZ (Youtube Vlog channel)

Artist’s Age: 32

Artform: Rapping, Freestyle Rapping, Battle Rapping

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BossmanWilderMEZ

Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/wildermez
https://soundcloud.com/wildermez/how-they-posed-to-react-version-b

Why do you do what you do? When did you realize a passion for what you do?

Rapping is something I taught myself how to do in a country dominated by the sounds of Dancehall & Reggae. It reminds me that I’m capable of creating what was once considered impossible. It allows me to connect with and have a deeper appreciation for what other artistes go through to perfect their craft. Additionally, I’ve added the element of Grime Clashing & Battle Rapping to my repertoire so that I’m a completely well-rounded emcee.

I realized my passion while I was in my 3rd year at the University of Technology (UTECH), I kept practicing writing rhymes to instrumentals until it become so natural that nowadays I write rhymes in my mind in the form of free-styling. It’s been years since I’ve written any rhymes on paper, I also spent a lot of time recording in different studios memorizing rhymes so well, that I needed no paper to read from to record the verses & choruses of my songs.

What is your educational background? Masters in Education (Literacy) & Bachelors in Computer Science

The greatest challenge was financial, as I was unable to pursue my career further due to lack of support. Another challenge I suppose was me being the only person on my team.

Have you encountered people who have been skeptical about your dreams?

The people who have been most skeptical are the people who were closest to me such as family, ex-girlfriends and such. The ones I expected the most support from.

How did you initially react to those people and how do you act towards them now?

I was hurt by their skepticism at first, mostly due to how close these people were to me. These days I laugh because I’ve gotten these same people who doubted my push as an artiste to jump back on the bandwagon. All I need is the right content, perhaps a music video or multiple ones will show them as well as myself that I take my music quite seriously.

 What are some of the fears that you face even today?

I only fear never being able to earn money from the music I make as long as I live, or having no global or international impact.

How do you deal with those fears?

I keep working on it, even while on my 9 – 5, because my entire staff is aware of my talent as a rapper and often times they remind me to continue the pursuit of it in spite of the job itself.

How do you work? What is the method to your ‘madness’ and how do you filter your creativity?

I work best when I’m inspired by beats that allow me to tap into Hip-Hop, Dancehall, GRIME and Battle Rap culture. I listen to beats that change my emotional wavelength which also leads to me Freestyling, until a whole new song is born out of that session of random rhyming.

What role do you believe “the artist” has in society? / How do you feel your artform has the power to benefit society?

It allows me to share with others, and for me to relay the message that they will not be the only ones to experience roadblocks to your dreams. It allows me to communicate all of my thoughts to them in a way that allows them to relate to me. It allows me to connect by doing something that’s pleasurable, painful and also therapeutic.

Out of all your work, which piece resonates the most with you?

“How They ‘Posed to React” is a song, that represents years of my progression as an artiste and a shared joy for myself and a friend of mine who produced the Instrumental called “JEEZAM”. I remembered how hard I worked on earning the money to pay for this beat to support my friend and phenomenal producer SOS DYNAMIKZ.

Where do you see yourself going?

I see myself being a successful rapper from Jamaica, who spent years of his life fine-tuning a style so as to incorporate every aspect of Rapping meaningful to me. I’ll be a rapper that performs on stage in multiple capacities, as a performing artiste, a Battle Rapper & also a Grime Clash artiste.

By what terms do you measure success or perfection? When do you feel like you can say that your work is finished and ready to be experienced by others?  

When I enjoy listening to the song as much as I enjoyed making it. This is when I am certain this is a song others will gravitate toward, as I try to give it an appeal that is undeniably relatable, fun and captivating for all audiences.

What elements of your career bring you the most stress?

Perhaps the rehearsal. The multiple takes. There is pleasure in the pain and vice versa. It is frustrating to almost get it right, and mess it up when you’re almost at the end of the finish line. However, that obsessive drive I put behind my music is what makes it better with each time I rehearse, practice and perform.

What is some advice that you would give to anyone who is trying to walk the same path as you?

As hard as life hits you, as hard as your family and friends doubt you, as hard as it is to continue believing in yourself while you work towards being an artiste… Don’t ever give up. For all the people who tell you to quit, there are the exact same number of persons on the opposite side of that line of symmetry, or fence. Giving up is too easy to do, prove them wrong and make them regret it while ensuring your success serves as a reminder to them that they doubted you in the first place.

“As hard as life hits you, as hard as your family and friends doubt you, as hard as it is to continue believing in yourself while you work towards being an artiste… Don’t ever give up. For all the people who tell you to quit, there are the exact same number of persons on the opposite side of that line of symmetry, or fence …”

~ Jordan “WILDERMEZ” Whittingham