Wise

Biography

Leonardo Roman (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage name Wise, is an American hip hop record producer and member of hip hop group Stetsasonic, commonly hailed as hip hop's first live band.

Early life

Born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Wise moved to the Bronx, New York, where his parents resided with his two older brothers Juan & Jose. At the age of four, his family moved to East New York, Brooklyn, New York.

Hip hop career

Daddy-O and MC Delite were the founding members of the group Stetsasonic, then known as the Stetsasonic 3 MC's, in 1981. Joining the group in 1983, the group had another level of creativity and talent with the presence of the PRINCE OF SOUND himself, who is also known in the group by the moniker the Stetsa-Human Mix Machine provided beatboxing and other human percussion. Also, what many didn't know was that he was the very first Latino human beat box to hit the hip hop scene.
Wise debuted his Human Turntable technique of beatboxing on the band's first single called "Just Say Stet" b/w "Rock de la Stet," which was released in 1985. There was also another single from the album in which Wise and Daddy-O collaborated. While Daddy-O performs the vocals, Wise gives his version of "Impeach the President," which happens to be the very first time that a human beatbox was heard adding a song-like rhythm to the beat that was coming out of his mouth on the song "Faye" which was on the group's first album, On Fire (1986). With Stetsasonic, Wise toured the world with rap acts like Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Whodini, Eric B. & Rakim, EPMD and Public Enemy.
In 1989, Wise (with fellow Stetsasonic members Daddy-O, Delite, and Fruitkwan) participated in KRS-One's Stop the Violence Movement, an assembly of hip hop artists including Kool Moe Dee, Heavy D, MC Lyte, Public Enemy, and Doug E. Fresh. This artistic collaboration yielded the posse cut "Self Destruction", a protest song decrying black-on-black violence and media stigmatisation of all hip hop as violent. Unusually, Wise was featured not as a human percussionist, but as a vocalist, sharing his verse with Daddy-O. Released in 1989, the single reached #75 in the US Top 40.
Wise has also participated in a few commercials in which he lends his beatbox sounds. One was for Campbell's Soup in which a cartoon of a B-boy bear kicks a ferocious beat. This commercial was aired amidst Saturday morning cartoons.
Wise was also featured in a documentary on the art of the human beatbox, Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box, which was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival and also featured fellow human percussionists such as Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie, Ready Rock C and Emanon.
Wise and Stetsasonic are currently developing a new album slated for a 2024 release. This project showcases Wise’s evolution, highlighting his growth as a vocalist while leaning away from his percussionist roots. Although widely recognized as "The Human Mix Machine" for his beatboxing prowess, he is embracing a new identity for this era: Lito Brigante, the Vocalist and MC.

Albums

On Fire (1986)
In Full Gear (1988)
Blood, Sweat & No Tears (1991)
People In The Neighborhood EP/ Chopped Herring Records (1991)
Here We Go Again (2024)

Singles

"Just Say Stet" (1985)
"Go Stetsa 1" (1986)
"Faye/Forever My Beat" (1986)
"A.F.R.I.C.A. (1986)
"Float On" (1988)
"Sally" (1988)
"Talkin' All That Jazz" (1988)
"Speaking Of A Girl Named Suzy (1990)
"No B.S. Allowed" (1991)
"Now Ya'll Giving Up Love" (2021)
"Here We Go Again" (2022)
"Fallen Soldiers" (2022)
"Handled/Notes of Impression" (2023)

Credits

On Fire - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1986) Producer, Vocals
DBC Let The Music Play - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1988) Producer, Vocals
Float On - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1988) Producer, Vocals
Stet Troop '88 - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1988) Producer, Vocals
No BS Allowed - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1991) Producer, Vocals
Uda Man - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1991) Producer, Vocals
Speaking Of A Girl Named Suzy - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1991) Producer, Vocals
Go Brooklyn 3 - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1991) Producer, Vocals
Heaven Help The M.F.'s - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1991) Producer, Vocals
Took Place In East New York - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1991) Producer, Vocals
Free South Africa [Remix] - Stetsasonic / Tommy Boy Records (1991) Producer, Vocals
People In The Neighborhood - Stetsasonic / Chopped Herring Records (1991) Producer, Vocals
Now Y'all Giving Up Love - Stetsasonic / Odad Truth Records (2021) Vocals
Here We Go Again - Stetsasonic - Odad Truth Records (2022) Vocals
Fallen Soldiers - Stetsasonic - Odad Truth Records (2022) Vocals
Handled/Notes of Impression - Stetsasonic - Odad Truth Records (2023) Producer, Vocals

Guest appearances

Self Destruction - The Stop The Violence Movement / Jive Records (1989)
Human Element: The World's First Human Beatbox Compilation / 108 Records (2006)