Project Wyze
{{Short description|Canadian rap metal band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Project Wyze
| background = group_or_band
| genre = {{Flatlist|
| years_active = 1988–2003
| label = Sony Music Entertainment (Canada)
| associated_acts = Dead Celebrity Status
}}
Project Wyze was a Canadian rap metal band active from 1996 before breaking up in 2003 to pursue their side-project Dead Celebrity Status.
History
Emcees Yas Taalat and Bobby McIntosh started out as a hip hop duo under the name of Project Wyze in 1988 when they were teenagers in Sudbury, Ontario.Much Music Dead Celebrity Status
{{cite web
|url = http://www.muchmusic.com/music/artists/bio.asp?artist=1113
|title = Dead Celebrity Status
|accessdate = October 13, 2008
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20050211105153/http://www.muchmusic.com/music/artists/bio.asp?artist=1113
|archivedate = February 11, 2005
}}
While attending high school, Project Wyze established a reputable image in the underground hip-hop scene by opening for acts such as Dream Warriors, Maestro Fresh Wes and Michie Mee.Sweets Lyrics{{cite web
|url = http://www.sweetslyrics.com/bio-Project%20Wyze.html
|title = Project Wyze Biography
|accessdate = October 13, 2008
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100429143706/http://www.sweetslyrics.com/bio-Project%20Wyze.html
|archivedate = April 29, 2010
}}
They were also one of the first Canadian groups to open for the American hip-hop group, Public Enemy.
The pair subsequently moved to London, Ontario after high school. In 1995, Yas and Bobby were invited to perform with a punk rock band.Much Music Project Wyze{{cite web
|url = http://www.muchmusic.com/music/artists/bio.asp?artist=253
|title = Project Wyze
|accessdate = October 13, 2008
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225413/http://www.muchmusic.com/music/artists/bio.asp?artist=253
|archivedate = September 26, 2007
}}
The two groups decided to merge. The hip-hop group Project Wyze evolved into a rap rock band including members Adam Arsenault (guitar), and Tye Thomas (bass). The band started writing new music and they released their first EP, Trapz of Poetic Poison, on an indie label in 1996. Project Wyze toured the United States in 1998, performing with artists like Papa Roach and the Step Kings.
After the success of the first EP, the band enlisted the talents of Sasha Kosovic (guitar), Brad Dean (drums) and Elie Abdelnour (bass) to round out the line-up. In 2000, with the new band established, Project Wyze released a longer sophomore EP, Only If I Knew. Growing record sales and an expanding fan base grabbed the attention of major labels. They subsequently signed to Sony Music and released their major label debut, Misfits.strangers.liars.friends, in 2001. That album spawned the Canadian hit singles "Nothing's What it Seems" and "Room to Breathe". Their major label debut, misfits.strangers.liars.friends, was released in 2001, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20011204102201/http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2001/08/2801.cfm "CD REVIEWS: Bjork, Slipknot, Grade and many more"]}}. Chart Attack, August 28, 2001. and reached #95 on the Canadian Albums Chart.{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011020232046/http://www.jamshowbiz.com:80/JamMusicCharts/ALBUMS.html|title=ALBUMS : Top 100}} That year the band performed at Edgefest II in Toronto.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20011122025430/http://chartattack.com/damn/2001/08/2711.cfm LIVE: Edgefest II in Toronto"]}}. Chart Attack, August 27, 2001. Review By Keith Carman
After internal conflicts, members of the band started to disband. Yas and Bobby formed Dead Celebrity Status as a side project. It later became a main project in which both of the vocalists devote their time to.
Discography
- Trapz of Poetic Poison – EP (1996)
- Only If I Knew (1999)
- misfits.strangers.liars.friends (2001)
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225413/http://www.muchmusic.com/music/artists/bio.asp?artist=253 Project Wyze at MuchMusic.com]
- [http://myspace.com/pwprojectwyze Project Wyze at Myspace]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Project Wyze}}
Category:Musical groups established in 1988
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2003
Category:Musical groups from Greater Sudbury
Category:Canadian hip-hop groups
Category:Canadian rap metal musical groups
Category:1988 establishments in Ontario