Side Hustle Radio 8-25-19 ( Wes Kardigan)

Wes Kardigan, born Tommie Smith, Jr., was raised on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. While being highly influenced by the likes of Common, Jay-Z, Ludacris, T.I., OutKast, Eminem and Lupe Fiasco to name a few, Wes spent most of his time concentrating on his craft as a Hip-Hop Songwriter/Artist.

 

By age 17, he became a member of a local hip-hop crew, F.L.O.C. During this time period, Wes signed with Radix Records, a Chicago-based independent record company whose roster included former Jive Records recording artist, "Syleena Johnson". As the first hip-hop solo act on the label, he performed alongside Hip-Hop Icon "KRS-One" and also collaborated with a then up-and-coming producer name "Kanye West", whom he met through his friend/schoolmate, "GLC".

 

After graduation, Wes enrolled at Columbia College Chicago, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Business Management/Marketing. Upon graduation from college, Wes Kardigan expanded his talents by venturing off into music production. Although he admires many producers, he is inspired by a select few: J-Dilla, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Just Blaze, Kanye, Swizz Beatz and Hi-Tek. Under the tutelage of his god-brother, Wes began making beats on industry-standard equipment such as the Ensoniq ASR-10 and the Akai MPC 2000.

 

From there, in 2000, Wes assisted in street promoting "DIRTY HARRIET", the debut album from Flipmode/Elektra recording artist, "Rah Digga", the multi-platinum selling soundtrack, "ROMEO MUST DIE" and the gold-selling grammy nominated album, "LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE" by fellow Chicagoan, "Common".

 

In 2002, Wes would co-executive produce contribute five tracks and co-write four songs on "GOOD STATUS", an independently-released album by Chicago-based rapper, "CHINA BLACK". On into 2003, Wes would help to promote the album by performing at various venues in Chicago with China Black such as the Isaac Hayes Restaurant.

 

In 2005, he bacame a member of "ASCAP" as both a writer and publisher as well as produced the track for the opening credits to "URBAN SCENZE", a full-length sketch comedy written and directed by Lawrence Lee Wallace. The track would reappear in the comedy sequel a year later.

 

In 2007, Wes co-wrote and guest appeared on "LIVE", a braggadocio-type song by Chicago-based hip-hop trio, "BRAN-X". The song garnered airplay on radio station WGCI while becoming one of the most downloaded songs off their album, "DAYJOBNIGHTJOB", on ITunes. In 2008, Wes continued performing at spots throughout the Midwest Region including Gary, Indiana, Cleveland, Ohio and Kalamazoo, Michigan.

 

In 2009, Wes Kardigan was an opening act at The Ribs N Soul Festival held in Detroit, Michigan and The Global Mixxx DJ Retreat which featured such acts as Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Bilal and Little Brother.

 

In March 2011, he participated in the 360 Hip-Hop Beat Battle, which was a part of a music industry workshop hosted by hip-hop pioneer, "Erick Sermon" and would be later interviewed by "Urban Grind TV", a Chicago TV outlet station. In August of that same year, Wes Kardigan released his first music video entitled, "SOMEDAY".

 

In 2012, Wes continued to perform throughout the Chicagoland area which included him participating in the July edition of "CHICAGO MEETS NYC TALENT SHOWCASE" where the winner would travel to New York to perform in front of label executives from Epic Records. Also Wes would make it to the finals of the "SEPTEMBER COUP D' EXPOSURE SONG COMPETITION" where the winner opened up for Grammy-Nominated Hip-Hop Artist/Actor, "MOS DEF". As a producer, in November, Wes partook in the "iSTANDARD PRODUCER SHOWCASE: MIDWEST EDITION". During this event he was judged and critiqued on his production skills by Multi-Platinum/Grammy-Award Winning Producers Jimi Hendrix (Jay-Z, G-Unit, Ashanti, Ja Rule & 2Pac) & S1 (Jay-Z, Beyonce & Kanye West).

 

Although, muscially, being an artist is his #1 passion, some of his other goals include being able to develop artists, acting in major motion films, invest in property to be used to shelter the homeless, aid them in finding employment & have after-school programs for the youth.

 

Currently, Wes Kardigan stays busy writing and producing for upcoming projects. Whether it is on the mic or behind the boards, with the ability to connect with different walks of life, Wes Kardigan is destined to capture the attention of all, from "record executives" to "record consumers".