{{Short description|Nigerian Australian rapper}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = B Wise.jpg | caption = B Wise in 2015 | birth_name = James Iheakanwa | birth_place = Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia | origin = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | genre = Hip hop | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter|record producer}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|production}} | years_active = 2013–present | label = {{hlist|Elefant Traks|Semi Pro Sound (independent)}} | website = {{URL|ugottabwise.com}} }}
'''James Iheakanwa''', known professionally as '''B Wise''', is a Nigerian Australian rapper from Sydney, New South Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/au-en/b-wise-the-hip-hop-scene-now-is-so-diverse|title=B Wise The Hip Hop Scene Now Is So Diverse|website= Redbull.com}}</ref>
He released his debut album ''Area Famous'' in 2018 via the label Elefant Tracks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/b-wise-area-famous-racism-lyrics/10333110/ |title=B Wise Area Famous Racism Lyrics |publisher=Triple J}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pilerats.com/music/rap/b-wise-area-famous-track-by-track/ |title=B Wise Area Famous Track By Track |website=Pilerats}}</ref>
==Biography== Iheakanwa was born and raised in Liverpool, New South Wales, the son of a Nigerian social worker and entrepreneur father and an Australian nurse and maternal support worker mother. The eldest of three children, Iheakanwa spent six months in Nigeria with his father when he was 12 years old, where he discovered hip-hop influences such as Tupac Shakur, but he was shaped by life in the southwest suburbs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/b-wise-shaped-by-the-burbs-built-for-musicians-life-20180911-h158c5.html|title=B Wise Shaped By The Burbs Built For Musicians Life|last=Mathieson|first=Craig|date=15 September 2018|website=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://themusic.com.au/features/b-wise-cyclone/ov--tLe2ubg/04-10-18/ |title=B Wise Cyclone |work=The Music |date=4 October 2018}}</ref>
In July 2022, B Wise formed the group BBGB with BLESSED, Manu Crooks, Kwame and Lil Spacely. BBGB released their debut single "Tough Love" on 15 July 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/b-wise-blessed-manu-crooks-and-more-unite-as-bbgb-drop-first-song-tough-love-3268884|title= B Wise, BLESSED, Manu Crooks and more unite as BBGB, drop first song "Tough Love"|website=NME|date=14 July 2022|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref>
==Advocacy== Alongside musicians Jack River and Ebony Boadu, Iheakanwa was a keynote speaker at the 2019 Conference for Young People in Sydney, in which he shared his experiences of how he got his start in the industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/feedback-music-conference-2019/AfIZFRQXFhk/09-07-19/ |title=Jack River & B Wise announced as keynote speakers for Feedback Music Conference |work=The Music |date=9 July 2019 |access-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420222602/https://themusic.com.au/news/feedback-music-conference-2019/AfIZFRQXFhk/09-07-19/ |archive-date=20 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of studio albums, with release date and label shown ! Title ! EP details |- ! scope="row"| ''Area Famous'' | * Released: 14 September 2018<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/b-wise-debut-album-western-sydney/ |title=The debut album from B Wise is a love letter to Western Sydney |work=Tone Deaf |date=2 October 2018 |access-date=25 April 2021 |author=Gallagher, Allison |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425073358/https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/b-wise-debut-album-western-sydney/ |archive-date=25 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> * Label: Elefant Traks * Formats: CD,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/cd-b-wise-area-famous-cd/ |title=Area Famous |publisher=JB Hi-Fi |date=14 September 2018 |access-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926192454/https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/cd-b-wise-area-famous-cd/ |archive-date=26 September 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Digital download, streaming |- ! scope="row"| ''jamie'' | * Released: 20 August 2021<ref name="NME-20200530">{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/b-wise-shares-new-single-think-twice-with-kojey-radical-2678881/ |title=B Wise shares new single 'Think Twice' with Kojey Radical |work=NME Australia |date=30 May 2020 |access-date=25 April 2021 |author=Martin, Josh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425072751/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/b-wise-shares-new-single-think-twice-with-kojey-radical-2678881/ |archive-date=25 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> * Label: Semi Pro Sound {{small|(independent)}} * Formats: Digital download, streaming |}
===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of EPs, with release date and label shown ! Title ! EP details |- ! scope="row"| ''Semi Pro'' | * Released: 23 September 2016<ref>{{cite web |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/album/b-wise-semi-pro/ |title=B Wise – 'Semi Pro' |work=Music Feeds |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=25 April 2021 |author=Wilson, Zanda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425233054/https://musicfeeds.com.au/album/b-wise-semi-pro/ |archive-date=25 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> * Label: Elefant Traks * Formats: Digital download, streaming |}
===Charted singles=== ====Singles as lead artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of charted singles, with year released, selected chart positions, and album name shown ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:90%;"| AUS ! scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:90%;"| NZ |- ! scope="row"| "Won't Stop"<br/>{{small|(with Onefour)}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/b-wise-teases-upcoming-collaboration-with-onefour-2826395/ |title=B Wise teams up with OneFour for party-ready 'Won't Stop' |work=NME Australia |date=4 December 2020 |access-date=25 April 2021 |author=Lim, Eddy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127034522/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/b-wise-teases-upcoming-collaboration-with-onefour-2826395/ |archive-date=27 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 2020 | — || —{{efn-ua|"Won't Stop" did not enter the Official New Zealand Music Chart, but did peak at number thirty on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2021-04-23 |title=Hot Singles Chart for week of 13 December 2020 |publisher=Recorded Music NZ |date=13 December 2020 |access-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120155643/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5003%2F |archive-date=20 January 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} | ''jamie'' |}
====As featured artist==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions, and album name shown ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:90%;"| NZ |- ! scope="row"| "Wonders"<br/>{{small|(Swidt featuring Mikey Dam and B Wise)}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acclaimmag.com/music/premiere-swidt-link-with-b-wise-and-mikey-dam-on-wonders/ |title=Premiere: Swidt link with B Wise and Mikey Dam on 'Wonders' |work=Acclaim Mag |date=21 October 2020 |access-date=25 April 2021 |author=Owens, Henry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101023510/https://www.acclaimmag.com/music/premiere-swidt-link-with-b-wise-and-mikey-dam-on-wonders/ |archive-date=1 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> | 2020 | —{{efn-ua|"Wonders" did not enter the Official New Zealand Music Chart, but did peak at number thirty-four on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2021-04-23 |title=Hot Singles Chart for week of 1 November 2020 |publisher=Recorded Music NZ |date=1 November 2020 |access-date=4 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101021033/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4962%2F |archive-date=1 November 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} | |}
'''Notes''' {{Notelist-ua}}
==Awards and nominations== ===AIR Awards=== The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's independent music sector. {{Awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row"| 2019 | ''Area Famous'' | Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album | {{Won}} | <ref name="2019nom">{{cite web |url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/2019-air-awards-nominees-20190328/ |title=2019 AIR Awards Nominees |work=Scenestr |date=28 March 2019 |access-date=20 August 2020}}</ref> |}
===APRA Awards=== The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History.aspx |title=APRA History |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) |access-date=25 April 2022 }}</ref> {{awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2022 | "Ezinna" by B Wise, Sampa The Great & Milan Ring (Nicholas Martin, Milan Ring, Sampa Tembo, Tung Yeng, James Iheakanwa) | Song of the Year | {{shortlisted}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apraamcos.com.au/about-us/news-and-events/2022-peer-voted-apra-song-of-the-year-shortlist-revealed|title=2022 Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year shortlist revealed!|website=APRA AMCOS|date=3 February 2022|access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref> |- {{end}}
===ARIA Music Awards=== The ARIA Music Awards is an annual ceremony presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987. {{Awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2021|| ''jamie'' || Best Hip Hop Release || {{nom}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/2021-aria-awards-nominees/ |title=ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge |work=The Music Network |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=24 October 2021 |author=Kelly, Vivienne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020000045/https://themusicnetwork.com/2021-aria-awards-nominees/ |archive-date=20 October 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- {{end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|www.ugottabwise.com}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wise, B}} Category:Australian male rappers Category:Australian record producers Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Sydney Category:Rappers from Sydney Category:Year of birth missing (living people)