Wande (rapper)

Mutiat Yewande Isola, professionally known as Wande, is a Nigerian American Christian hip hop artist and former journalist and A&R administrator from Austin, Texas, United States. She signed to the Christian hip hop label Reach Records in 2019, where she had worked as an A&R administrator. Prior to that, as an independent artist, from 2013 through 2018 she released multiple singles and made numerous featured appearances on various songs, as well as worked as a music journalist. She is the first woman signed to Reach. Her debut extended play (EP), Exit, was released on April 24, 2020, followed by a mini-EP The Decision on December 4, 2020.

Wande
Birth nameMutiat Yewande Isola
Also known asWande Isola
Born(1996-03-04)March 4, 1996[1][2]
Nigeria
OriginAustin, Texas, U.S.
GenresChristian hip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, A&R administrator, music journalist
Years active2013–present
LabelsReach, Anike Sounds, OMGitsWande
Associated acts116
Websiteomgitswande.com

Biography

Early life

Wande was born in Nigeria and raised in Round Rock and then Austin, Texas, United States.[3][2] In addition to English, she is fluent in Yoruba.[3] Most of her family was Muslim, except for her mother, who was Christian.[2][4] At first she was not allowed to go to church, and then started having to get up at 5 A.M. in the morning to read the Bible and go with her mother to work so that she could get picked up to go to church.[5] Wande said in April 2020 that she used to joke "that I'd go to Mosque and church".[4] Her curiosity about God led her to search on the internet for Christian rap, and the first result to come up was the 2006 song "Prayin' for You" by Lecrae.[4] In sixth grade, she started playing the flute and studied music through junior high school.[4] She converted to Christianity in seventh grade while interning at a camp in 2009 in Columbus, Texas, a decision for which she encountered opposition from within her family.[2][4][6] While at the camp, she also saw a performance by the Christian hip hop collective 116 Clique, which at that time consisted of Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, and Sho Baraka.[4]

Early career

Despite this initial interest in music, Wande wanted to be a doctor, and enrolled in a health and science program in junior high school.[4] She became interested in rapping after a biology teacher allowed her to compose a rap about cellular transport instead of writing an essay or making a presentation.[3][4] Despite this, she initially continued in studying health and sciences, even acquiring a license to be a nurse's aid.[4] According to Wande, she had "an internal struggle with the whole rap thing. Africans don’t really mess with creative careers. You either become a doctor or a lawyer.”[4] However, she decided to switch majors and went into journalism and public relations at University of Texas at Austin.[2][4][6] As a journalist, she anticipated that she could get access to artists, attend concerts, and conduct interviews.[4] She soon started writing for the Christian hip hop website Rapzilla, and started assisting the Christian hip hop record label RMG.[4] She rapped at campus events as a form of Christian ministry.[2][6] She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha and Sigma Phi Lambda sororities, the National Association of Black Journalists, IGotSole Dance Company, and the Texas Orange Jackets.[2][7][8] Her first released record was a feature on the song "B.I.G." by D-Flow on their 2013 album Quarter to Vinci.[9] She released her first single, "No Flex" featuring ikilledmarlon, in May 2016.[10] She performed at South by Southwest in 2016,[11] 2017,[12][13] and 2018.[14] She did some A&R work for Ace Harris, and 2017, while still pursuing her university education, she began an internship at Reach Records.[15][16] Shortly before her graduation in 2018 she was hired as an administrator for the label's A&R.[15][16]

Signing with Reach Records

The following year she was signed as a recording artist to Reach,[1] and she released her debut single on the label, "Blessed Up", in April.[17] The single would be listed the next year on Michelle Obama's playlist.[18] Wande is the first woman signed to the label.[1] She has expressed a hope that her signing will make it easier for other women rappers to pursue a career in the highly male-dominated Christian hip hop genre. "I think it’ll show other labels that you shouldn’t be afraid to sign females. I hear a lot of excuses like, 'Oh it’s expensive' or 'Oh, we don’t know how the market will react to a woman.' 'Will they buy her music?' Obviously, a lot of Christian companies don’t have the money to just casually experiment with a Christian artist because you have to make sure they are profitable. So a lot of women get the short end of the stick because they don’t want to gamble on a woman."[19] She said that it initially took awhile for her music to be released because of resistance that she encountered in the music industry because her abilities were undervalued on account of her being a woman. For example, she recounts that "I would fly somewhere, write a whole album, and would ask for the beat and the person wouldn’t send the song. I learned a lot about how people value you."[15]

On March 30, 2020, Wande announced her forthcoming extended play, Exit,[20] and the single "Happy" was released April 3, 2020.[21] "Be the Light", featuring Evan and Eris, followed as a single on April 17, 2020.[22] Exit was released on April 24, 2020.[23] Wande also has released music has part of 116 (formerly 116 Clique).[24] She said in an April 2020 interview that her father and her have made peace over her conversion and her decision to pursue a hip-hop music career.[5] On December 4, 2020, she released a three-song mini-EP entitled The Decision.[note 1]

Discography

Extended plays

  • Exit - 2020
  • The Decision - 2020

As primary artist

Title Released Album
"No Flex" (featuring ikilledmarlon) May 27, 2016[10] non-album single
"They Didn't Know" July 14, 2016[28] non-album single
"Hiatus Freestyle" December 5, 2017[29] non-album single
"Elevated" (featuring Bryon Juane) April 19, 2018[30] non-album single
"Fuego" August 2, 2018[31] non-album single
"Fuego [Remix]" (featuring Parris Chariz) September 13, 2018[32] non-album single
"I Gotta Live" December 17, 2018[33] non-album single
"Blessed Up" April 12, 2019[17] non-album single
"In Luv" July 18, 2019[34] Summer Nineteen
"BAND$" (featuring Byron Juane) July 18, 2019[35] Summer Nineteen
"No Limits" November 14, 2019[36] non-album single
"Happy" April 3, 2020[21] Exit
"Be the Light" (featuring Evan and Eris) April 17, 2020[22] Exit
Title Released Album
"B.I.G." (D-Flow featuring Wande) November 12, 2013[9] Quarter to Vinci
"Gotta Go" (Dru Bex featuring Jeremy Rodney-Hall and Wande) April 13, 2018[37] non-album single
"Level 3" (Xay Hill featuring Silver Steph, Wande, Torey D'shaun, Roy Tosh, Raw B and Parris Chariz) April 27, 2018[38] Red Ranger Pt.2[39]
"She Got Aesthetic" (Not Klyde featuring Wande & Parris Chariz) October 24, 2018[40] Lil Foil 39
"Groove" (DJ Standout featuring Cass, Wande, and Eris Ford) April 5, 2019[41] non-album single
"Holy Ghost" (Mandela Dunamis featuring Wande) May 31, 2019[42] The Light Show
"Pretty Sad" (V. Rose featuring Wande) July 19, 2019[43] non-album single
"Perfectly Loved [Remix]" (Courtnie Ramirez featuring Wande) October 17, 2019[44] non-album single
"We Fight (Color Purple)" (Datin featuring 1K Phew and Wande) March 13, 2020[45] non-album single

Other appearances

Title Released Album
"The Last One" (Marty featuring Wande) June 5, 2020[46] Marty for President 2
"I Am Restored Remix" (featuring Hulvey, Wande, and 1K Phew) November 13, 2020[47] Restoration: The Deluxe Album

As lead artist

Title Released Director
"Blessed Up" April 12, 2019[48] Mikael Coleman
"No Cap" November 12, 2019[49] [note 2]
"No Ceilings" November 12, 2019[50] Mikael Coleman
"Happy" April 3, 2020[51] Mikael Coleman
"Woo" August 31, 2020[52] Aaron Chewning
"Come My Way" (featuring Teni and Toyé) September 4, 2020[53] [note 3]
"Last" December 10, 2020[54] Mikael Coleman
Title Released Director
"The Last One" (Marty featuring Wande) June 25, 2020[55] [note 4]

References

Notes

  1. The Decision is listed by retailers and streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify, respectively, as a single,[25][26] but descriptions of it by news sources call it an EP.[27]
  2. Filmed by SwervetDance
  3. Animated by Ed Dinzole
  4. No director credited

Citations

  1. Law, Jeannie (April 12, 2019). "Lecrae signs first-ever female artist to Reach Records: Wande". The Christian Post. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  2. Ashcraft, Michael (April 12, 2019). "Rising rapper overcame Muslim family opposition to follow Jesus". God Reports. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. Ebe (March 27, 2019). "Women to Watch: Rapper, Wande Isola". OneTribeMag. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  4. Sarachik, Justin (April 23, 2020). "Muslim Born, Christian Made, Career Change, & New Lane – Wande [Interview]". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  5. "Wande Is Reach Records' First Woman Artist and She's Just Getting Started". Relevant. May 11, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  6. Ryan, Patrick (August 15, 2019). "Christian hip hop is having a moment: 6 rappers you should know, including chart-topper NF". USA Today. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  7. Rollins, Kara (November 16, 2015). "Look Out for Wande Isola". Her Campus. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  8. "Outstanding Spring 2018 Grads". Moody College of Communication. May 2, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  9. Solis, Steven (November 12, 2013). "D-Flow 'Quarter To Vinci'". Rapzilla. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  10. Solis, Steven (May 27, 2016). "Free Download: Wande - No Flex ft. ikilledmarlon". Rapzilla. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  11. Harrington, Jim (March 10, 2016). "SXSW 2016 music lineup: Here's the complete list". The Mercury News. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  12. Curtin, Kevin (January 19, 2017). "SXSW Music List Four". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  13. "SXSW 2017 Preview – Friday". QRO Magazine. March 11, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  14. "SXSW 2018 Preview – Friday". QRO Magazine. March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  15. Sarachik, Justin (May 2, 2020). "Signing a Deal, Changing the Game, & Respecting the Name – How Wande is Leading the Charge Past 'Labels' [INTERVIEW]". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  16. Moreno, Chelsea (May 1, 2019). "'Blessed Up': UT Austin alumna Wande Isola signs with record label". KXAN-TV. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  17. Blessed Up - Single by Wande, retrieved March 25, 2020
  18. Hicks, Frederick (August 7, 2020). "WANDE featured on Vol. 1 The Michelle Obama Playlist". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  19. Sarachik, Justin (April 12, 2019). "Wande Talks About Signing to Reach Records & What's Coming Next". Rapzilla. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  20. McKinion, Caleb (March 30, 2020). "Wande Announces Her Debut Album 'Exit'". Rapzilla. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  21. Sarachik, Justin (April 3, 2020). "Wande Drops Epic Music Video for 'Happy'". Rapzilla. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  22. Sarachik, Justin (April 17, 2020). "Wande - Be the Light ft. Evan and Eris - Listen on Rapzilla". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  23. Cluver, Ross (April 24, 2020). "Wande 'Exit'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  24. Solis, Steven (January 16, 2020). "116 - Live Forever ft. 1K Phew, Aaron Cole, Hulvey, Tedashii, Tommy Royale, Trip Lee & Wande - Listen on Rapzilla .com". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 30, 2020.; "The Gift: Live Sessions (Video Album) by 116". Apple Music. Retrieved November 30, 2020.; Cluver, Ross (December 2, 2019). "Reach Records Offers 'The Gift: A Christmas Compilation Deluxe'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2020.; Sarachik, Justin (October 23, 2020). "116 Spanish Album 'Sin Vergüenza' Drops & Highlights CHH's Latin Diversity". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  25. "The Decision - Single by Wande". Retrieved February 1, 2021 via Apple Music.
  26. "The Decision - Single by Wande". Retrieved February 1, 2021 via Spotify.
  27. Sarachik, Justin (December 4, 2020). "Wande Releases 3-Track EP 'The Decision'". Rapzilla. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  28. Solis, Steven (July 14, 2016). "Free Download: Wande - They Didn't Know". Rapzilla. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  29. Hiatus Freestyle - Single by Wande, retrieved March 25, 2020
  30. Elevated (feat. Byron Juane) - Single by Wande & PoetiCS, retrieved March 25, 2020
  31. Fuego - Single by Wande, retrieved March 25, 2020
  32. Fuego (feat. Parris Chariz) [Remix] - Single, retrieved March 25, 2020
  33. I Gotta Live - Single by Wande, retrieved March 25, 2020
  34. Reach Records. "Wande - IN LUV". Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  35. Reach Records (July 18, 2019). "Wande - BAND$ feat. Byron Juane". Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  36. Longs, Herb (November 14, 2019). "Reach Records Recording Artist Wande Presents 'No Limits'". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  37. Gotta Go (feat. Jeremy Rodney-Hall & Wande) - Single by Dru Bex, retrieved March 25, 2020
  38. Level 3 (feat. Silver Steph, Wande, Torey D'shaun, Roy Tosh, Raw B & Parris Chariz) - Single by Xay Hill, retrieved March 25, 2020
  39. Red Ranger, Pt. 2 by Xay Hill, retrieved April 5, 2020
  40. "She Got Aesthetic (feat. Wande & Parris Chariz)". October 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  41. Groove - Single by DJ Standout, Eris Ford, Wande & Cass, retrieved March 25, 2020
  42. Holy Ghost (feat. Wande) - Single by Mandela Dunamis, retrieved March 25, 2020
  43. Pretty Sad (feat. Wande) - Single by V. Rose, retrieved March 25, 2020
  44. Ramirez, Courtnie (October 17, 2019). "Courtnie Ramirez - Perfectly Loved [Remix] (Feat. Wande)". Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  45. We Fight (Color Purple) [feat. 1K Phew & Wande] - Single by Datin, retrieved March 25, 2020
  46. Andre, Joshua (June 9, 2020). "Marty - Marty for President 2". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  47. Cluver, Ross (November 13, 2020). "Lecrae Releases 6 New Songs on 'Restoration: The Deluxe Album'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  48. Reach Records (April 12, 2019). "Wande - Blessed Up". Retrieved November 30, 2019 via YouTube.
  49. Reach Records (November 12, 2019). "Wande - No Cap (Official Video)". Retrieved November 30, 2019 via YouTube.
  50. Reach Records (November 12, 2019). "Wande - No Ceilings (Official Video)". Retrieved November 30, 2020 via YouTube.
  51. Isola, Wande (April 3, 2020). "Wande - Happy (Official Video)". Retrieved November 20, 2020 via YouTube.
  52. Isola, Wande (August 31, 2020). "Wande - Woo (Official Video)". Retrieved August 31, 2020 via YouTube.
  53. Isola, Wande (September 4, 2020). "Wande - Come My Way (Official Music Video) ft. Teni, Toyé". Retrieved November 30, 2020 via YouTube.
  54. Isola, Wande (December 10, 2020). "Wande - Last (Official Video)". Retrieved January 13, 2021 via YouTube.
  55. SocialClubMisfits (June 25, 2020). "Marty - The Last One (ft. Wande) (Official Music Video)". Retrieved November 30, 2020 via YouTube.
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