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

Mutiat Yewande Isola, professionally known as Wande, is a Nigerian American Christian hip hop artist, actress 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.

Biography

Early life

Wande was born in Nigeria but raised in Round Rock, Texas and then Austin, Texas, United States.[1][2] In addition to English, she is fluent in Yoruba.[1] Most of her family was Muslim, except for her mother, who was Christian.[2][3] At first she was not allowed to go to church, and then started having to get up at 5 A.M. to read the Bible and go with her mto work so that she could get picked up to go to church.[4] Wande said in April 2020 that she used to joke "that I'd go to Mosque and church".[3] 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.[3] In sixth grade, she started playing the flute and studied music through junior high school.[3] 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][3][5] 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.[3]

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.[3] 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.[1][3][6] Despite this, she initially continued in studying health and sciences, even acquiring a license to be a nurse's aid.[3] 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."[3] However, she decided to switch majors and went into journalism and public relations at University of Texas at Austin.[2][3][5] As a journalist, she anticipated that she could get access to artists, attend concerts, and conduct interviews.[3] She soon started writing for the Christian hip hop website Rapzilla, and started assisting the Christian hip hop record label RMG.[3] She rapped at campus events as a form of Christian ministry.[2][5] 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] She released eleven songs during 2018, making the Rapzilla list of 15 Freshman of 2019.[17][18] Shortly before her graduation in 2018 she was hired as an administrator for the label's A&R.[15][16]

Reach Records (2018—present)

The following year, after five months after her hire as A&R, she was signed as a recording artist to Reach.[19][20] She released her debut single on the label, "Blessed Up", in April.[21] The single would be listed the next year on Michelle Obama's playlist.[22] Wande is the first woman signed to the label.[19] 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."[23] She said that it initially took a while 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] She also has mentioned the difficulty in getting exposure to her music when her lyrics do not discuss sex.[18] "Even artists like Cardi B have mentioned that they’ve tested it out and people will blast the sexual songs and go 'eh what is this' to the songs with a deeper meaning."[18]

On March 30, 2020, Wande announced her forthcoming extended play, Exit,[24] and the single "Happy" was released April 3, 2020.[25] "Be the Light", featuring Evan and Eris, followed as a single on April 17, 2020.[26] Exit was released on April 24, 2020.[27] Wande also has released music has part of 116 (formerly 116 Clique).[28] 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.[4] On December 4, 2020, she released a three-song mini-EP entitled The Decision.[note 1] In the spring of 2022, she married Darius Dees.[32] GOD IS SO GOOD!!!! AMEN

Discography

Albums

List of albums with selected details
Title Details
Exit
  • Released: April 24, 2020
  • Label: Reach
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

EPs

List of EPs with selected details
Title Details
The Decision
  • Released: December 4, 2020
  • Label: Reach
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As primary artist

Title Released Album
"No Flex" (featuring ikilledmarlon) May 27, 2016[10] non-album single
"They Didn't Know" July 14, 2016[33] non-album single
"Hiatus Freestyle" December 5, 2017[34] non-album single
"Elevated" (featuring Bryon Juane) April 19, 2018[35] non-album single
"Fuego" August 2, 2018[36] non-album single
"Fuego [Remix]" (featuring Parris Chariz) September 13, 2018[37] non-album single
"I Gotta Live" December 17, 2018[38] non-album single
"Blessed Up" April 12, 2019[21] non-album single
"In Luv" July 18, 2019[39] Summer Nineteen
"BAND$" (featuring Byron Juane) July 18, 2019[40] Summer Nineteen
"No Limits" November 14, 2019[41] non-album single
"Happy" April 3, 2020[25] Exit
"Be the Light" (featuring Evan and Eris) April 17, 2020[26] Exit
"Come My Way" (featuring Teni and Toyé) July 29, 2020[42] Summer Twenty
"Last" December 10, 2020[43] The Decision
"Blessed Up (Remix)" (featuring Lecrae and Mike Todd) April 12, 2021[44] non-album single
"Don't Worry 'Bout It" (with Porsha Love) August 12, 2021[45] Summer Twenty-One
"Big God" June 4, 2022[46] non-album single
"They Didn't Know II" March 25, 2022[47] non-album single
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[48] non-album single
"Level 3" (Xay Hill featuring Silver Steph, Wande, Torey D'shaun, Roy Tosh, Raw B and Parris Chariz) April 27, 2018[49] Red Ranger Pt.2[50]
"Iran" (Joey Vantes featuring Wande) September 21, 2018[51] The Fall[52]
"She Got Aesthetic" (Not Klyde featuring Wande & Parris Chariz) October 24, 2018[53] Lil Foil 39
"Groove" (DJ Standout featuring Cass, Wande, and Eris Ford) April 5, 2019[54] non-album single
"Holy Ghost" (Mandela Dunamis featuring Wande) May 31, 2019[55] The Light Show
"Pretty Sad" (V. Rose featuring Wande) July 19, 2019[56] non-album single
"Perfectly Loved [Remix]" (Courtnie Ramirez featuring Wande) October 17, 2019[57] non-album single
"We Fight (Color Purple)" (Datin featuring 1K Phew and Wande) March 13, 2020[58] non-album single
"Good Now (Remix)" (DOE featuring Wande) March 26, 2021[59] non-album single
"Found" (TobyMac featuring Terrian and Wande) August 19, 2022 Life After Death
“Firm Foundation (He’s Gonna Make a Way)”

(Maverick City Music featuring Bobbi Storm and Wande)

 October 27, 2023 The Maverick Way Complete

Other appearances

Title Released Album
"The Last One" (Marty featuring Wande) June 5, 2020[60] Marty for President 2
"Ella" (116 featuring Wande and Lizzy Parra) October 23, 2020 [61] Sin Vergüenza
"I Am Restored Remix" (featuring Hulvey, Wande, and 1K Phew) November 13, 2020[62] Restoration: The Deluxe Album

Music videos

As lead artist

Title Released Director
"Blessed Up" April 12, 2019[63] Mikael Coleman
"No Cap" November 12, 2019[64] [note 2]
"No Ceilings" November 12, 2019[65] Mikael Coleman
"Happy" April 3, 2020[66] Mikael Coleman
"Woo" August 31, 2020[67] Aaron Chewning
"Come My Way" (featuring Teni and Toyé) September 4, 2020[68] [note 3]
"Last" December 10, 2020[69] Mikael Coleman
"Blessed Up (Remix) (featuring Lecrae and Mike Todd) April 12, 2021[70] Keenon Rush
"Big God" June 9, 2021[71] Jonny Clay
"They Didn't Know II" May 3, 2022[72] Mikael Coleman and Roxy Coleman
Title Released Director
"The Last One" (Marty featuring Wande) June 25, 2020[73] [note 4]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2023 Stanton Sarana Feature film

References

Notes

  1. ↑ The Decision is listed by retailers and streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify, respectively, as a single,[29][30] but descriptions of it by news sources call it an EP.[31]
  2. ↑ Filmed by SwervetDance
  3. ↑ Animated by Ed Dinzole
  4. ↑ No director credited

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Ebe (March 27, 2019). "Women to Watch: Rapper, Wande Isola". OneTribeMag. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ashcraft, Michael (April 12, 2019). "Rising rapper overcame Muslim family opposition to follow Jesus". God Reports. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Sarachik, Justin (April 23, 2020). "Muslim Born, Christian Made, Career Change, & New Lane – Wande [Interview]". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Wande Is Reach Records' First Woman Artist and She's Just Getting Started". Relevant. May 11, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 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.
  6. ↑ McCormick, Kiernan (March 21, 2022). "UT alum, Christian hip-hop artist Wande Isola aims to empower women, encourage people to be themselves". The Daily Texan. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  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. 1 2 Solis, Steven (November 12, 2013). "D-Flow 'Quarter To Vinci'". Rapzilla. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  10. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 Moreno, Chelsea (May 1, 2019). "'Blessed Up': UT Austin alumna Wande Isola signs with record label". KXAN-TV. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  17. ↑ Sarachik, Justin (January 9, 2019). "Rapzilla.Com's 15 Freshmen Of 2019". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  18. 1 2 3 "Meet Wande Isola of Reach Records in Midtown". Voyage ATL. August 7, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  19. 1 2 Law, Jeannie (April 12, 2019). "Lecrae signs first-ever female artist to Reach Records: Wande". The Christian Post. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  20. ↑ Yap, Timothy (April 24, 2020). "Wande, the First Lady of Reach Records, Shares the Heart Behind "Exit"". JubileeCast. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  21. 1 2 Blessed Up - Single by Wande, retrieved March 25, 2020
  22. ↑ Hicks, Frederick (August 7, 2020). "Wand featured on Vol. 1 The Michelle Obama Playlist". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  23. ↑ Sarachik, Justin (April 12, 2019). "Wande Talks About Signing to Reach Records & What's Coming Next". Rapzilla. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  24. ↑ McKinion, Caleb (March 30, 2020). "Wande Announces Her Debut Album 'Exit'". Rapzilla. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  25. 1 2 Sarachik, Justin (April 3, 2020). "Wande Drops Epic Music Video for 'Happy'". Rapzilla. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  26. 1 2 Sarachik, Justin (April 17, 2020). "Wande - Be the Light ft. Evan and Eris - Listen on Rapzilla". Rapzilla. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  27. ↑ Cluver, Ross (April 24, 2020). "Wande 'Exit'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  28. ↑ 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.
  29. ↑ "The Decision - Single by Wande". Retrieved February 1, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  30. ↑ "The Decision - Single by Wande". Retrieved February 1, 2021 – via Spotify.
  31. ↑ Sarachik, Justin (December 4, 2020). "Wande Releases 3-Track EP 'The Decision'". Rapzilla. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  32. ↑ Desirai, Kiara (May 26, 2022). "Wande announces she is officially married to fiancé Darius Dees". The Link Entertainment. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  33. ↑ Solis, Steven (July 14, 2016). "Free Download: Wande - They Didn't Know". Rapzilla. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  34. ↑ Hiatus Freestyle - Single by Wande, retrieved March 25, 2020
  35. ↑ Elevated (feat. Byron Juane) - Single by Wande & PoetiCS, retrieved March 25, 2020
  36. ↑ Fuego - Single by Wande, retrieved March 25, 2020
  37. ↑ Fuego (feat. Parris Chariz) [Remix] - Single, retrieved March 25, 2020
  38. ↑ I Gotta Live - Single by Wande, retrieved March 25, 2020
  39. ↑ Reach Records. "Wande - In Luv". YouTube. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  40. ↑ Reach Records (July 18, 2019). "Wande - BAND$ feat. Byron Juane". YouTube. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  41. ↑ Longs, Herb (November 14, 2019). "Reach Records Recording Artist Wande Presents 'No Limits'". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  42. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (July 29, 2020). "Wande Releases New Track "Come My Way"". The Christian Beat. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  43. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (December 10, 2020). "Wande "Last" Official Video". The Christian Beat. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  44. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (April 12, 2021). "Wande Surprises Fans With "Blessed Up Remix" Feat. Lecrae & Mike Todd". The Christian Beat. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  45. ↑ Wande; Porsha Love (August 12, 2021). "Wande, Porsha Love - Don't Worry Bout It". Retrieved November 13, 2022 – via YouTube.
  46. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (June 4, 2021). "Wande Releases "Big God"". The Christian Beat. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  47. ↑ "They Didn't Know II - Single by Wande". Retrieved November 13, 2022 – via Apple Music.
  48. ↑ Gotta Go (feat. Jeremy Rodney-Hall & Wande) - Single by Dru Bex, retrieved March 25, 2020
  49. ↑ Level 3 (feat. Silver Steph, Wande, Torey D'shaun, Roy Tosh, Raw B & Parris Chariz) - Single by Xay Hill, retrieved March 25, 2020
  50. ↑ Red Ranger, Pt. 2 by Xay Hill, retrieved April 5, 2020
  51. ↑ Iran (feat. Wande), retrieved March 25, 2020
  52. ↑ The Fall by Joey Vantes, retrieved April 5, 2020
  53. ↑ "She Got Aesthetic (feat. Wande & Parris Chariz)". YouTube. October 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  54. ↑ Groove - Single by DJ Standout, Eris Ford, Wande & Cass, retrieved March 25, 2020
  55. ↑ Holy Ghost (feat. Wande) - Single by Mandela Dunamis, retrieved March 25, 2020
  56. ↑ Pretty Sad (feat. Wande) - Single by V. Rose, retrieved March 25, 2020
  57. ↑ Ramirez, Courtnie (October 17, 2019). "Courtnie Ramirez - Perfectly Loved [Remix] (Feat. Wande)". Retrieved March 25, 2020 – via YouTube.
  58. ↑ "We Fight (Color Purple) [feat. 1K Phew & Wande] - Single by Datin". Retrieved March 25, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  59. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (March 26, 2021). "DOE Releases New Single "Good Now (Remix)" Feat. Wande". The Christian Beat. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  60. ↑ Andre, Joshua (June 9, 2020). "Marty - Marty for President 2". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  61. ↑ "'Sin Vergüenza' Album by 116; Tracklist, Cover Artwork & Release Date". Rapzilla. October 6, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  62. ↑ Cluver, Ross (November 13, 2020). "Lecrae Releases 6 New Songs on 'Restoration: The Deluxe Album'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  63. ↑ "Wande - Blessed Up". April 12, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019 – via YouTube.
  64. ↑ "Wande - No Cap (Official Video)". November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019 – via YouTube.
  65. ↑ "Wande - No Ceilings (Official Video)". November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2020 – via YouTube.
  66. ↑ Isola, Wande (April 3, 2020). "Wande - Happy (Official Video)". Retrieved November 20, 2020 – via YouTube.
  67. ↑ Isola, Wande (August 31, 2020). "Wande - Woo (Official Video)". Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via YouTube.
  68. ↑ Isola, Wande (September 4, 2020). "Wande - Come My Way (Official Music Video) ft. Teni, Toyé". Retrieved November 30, 2020 – via YouTube.
  69. ↑ Isola, Wande (December 10, 2020). "Wande - Last (Official Video)". Retrieved January 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
  70. ↑ Isola, Wande (April 12, 2021). "Wande - Blessed Up (Remix) (Official Video) ft. Lecrae, Mike Todd". Retrieved November 13, 2022 – via YouTube.
  71. ↑ Isola, Wande (June 9, 2021). "Wande - BIG GOD (Official Video)". Retrieved November 13, 2022 – via YouTube.
  72. ↑ Reach Records (May 3, 2022). "Wande - They Didn't Know II". Retrieved November 13, 2022 – via YouTube.
  73. ↑ "Marty - The Last One (ft. Wande) (Official Music Video)". June 25, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020 – via YouTube.
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