B Wise

James Iheakanwa, known professionally as B Wise, is a Nigerian Australian rapper from Sydney, New South Wales.^[1]

B Wise
B Wise in 2015
Background information
Birth name	James Iheakanwa
Born	Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Origin	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper singer songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals production
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Elefant Traks Semi Pro Sound (independent)
Website	ugottabwise.com

He released his debut album Area Famous in 2018 via the label Elefant Tracks.^[2][3]

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.^[4][5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with release date and label shown

Title	EP details
Area Famous	Released: 14 September 2018[8] Label: Elefant Traks Formats: CD,[9] Digital download, streaming
jamie	Released: 20 August 2021[10] Label: Semi Pro Sound (independent) Formats: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

List of EPs, with release date and label shown

Title	EP details
Semi Pro	Released: 23 September 2016[11] Label: Elefant Traks Formats: Digital download, streaming

Charted singles

Singles as lead artist

List of charted singles, with year released, selected chart positions, and album name shown

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Album
		AUS	NZ
"Won't Stop" (with Onefour)[12]	2020	—	—[A]	jamie

As featured artist

List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions, and album name shown

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		NZ
"Wonders" (Swidt featuring Mikey Dam and B Wise)[14]	2020	—[B]

Notes

1. "Won't Stop" did not enter the Official New Zealand Music Chart, but did peak at number thirty on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.^[13]
2. "Wonders" did not enter the Official New Zealand Music Chart, but did peak at number thirty-four on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.^[15]

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.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2019	Area Famous	Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album	Won	[16]

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.^[17]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
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	[18]

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.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2021	jamie	Best Hip Hop Release	Nominated	[19]