The Original "Artistpreneur"

Dennis Lewis, otherwise known as Glaze, is a 24-year-old triple threat from Rexdale, Ontario. He is a rapper, clothing line designer and businessman. He coined the term “artistpreneur” to define himself, and what he does.

An artistpreneur, he says, is an individual who makes money through his art; a combination of artist, and entrepreneur. Glaze says he was born an artist, and his intention is to carve a new path in the arts community with his music and clothing line.

“The artist was always in me. I never decided to be an artist. Everything I do, I do it in an artistic way. There’s an art to living, “ He said. “But I want to turn it into more than just a hobby. Sometimes, something that you love could be a labour of love as well.”

He is friendly and approachable, yet business oriented attitude makes him easy to get along with, and his dream for hip hop makes him an asset to the arts community.

Glaze has not had the easiest life. When he was young, his mother was forced to move him and his family into a motel, where they lives for a year. When she noticed that he was falling victim to the dangers of street life, she moved them to Malton.
With this change in environment, he began to excel in school, particularly in the areas of math and creative writing. He found an interest in poetry, and started writing raps, and began free styling. At the age of eight, he wrote his first song, and entered the studio for the first time

“[Music] is something that I love, and I know how it impacts people. When it’s impulsive, that’s where the real art comes from, because it’s something that’s automatic.” He said.

In his early teens Glaze was already performing at events throughout Toronto, and formed the music group, “Da VIP'z” with friend and artist K-9. When a business deal went wrong in 2002, Glaze was forced to stay silent due to a three year recording contract which prohibited him from releasing any new material. Now, he is determined more than ever to share both his negative and positive experiences with the world in an attempt to save others from the same hardships.

Glaze is still an unsigned artist, yet he has worked with hip hop artists all over Toronto such as Casper Tha Deadly Ghost, Black Sage, History in the Making, FTF, and LaLa. His first single, U Don’t Want None, which was produced by Nuklear, was released on the Street Sweepers Canadian Invasion: Vol 1 mixtape in 2008. The next year, Glaze joined the Remix Project, a service for youth who are interested in entering the arts industry, and has been in the studio working on his tracks ever since.

He is set to release his debut album Access Granted, and his single, Dolla and a Dream, featuring another Toronto MC, JR Exell in April. “Working with Glaze is an honour. He’s been a great friend of mine since childhood and he’s always been a very talented person. He’s the best MC in the dot [Toronto] from my point of view. 16 for 16 he has the most content and depth. He’s an all around great talent.” Said JR Exell, another Toronto MC.

Glaze’s musical style is laidback, but his lyrics are complex, spitting about topics he’s experienced, that are relevant to his fans. “His flow is versatile. It’s a smooth flow like water. It’s on point. I will compare him to a young Jay Z of Toronto,” Exell said.

In February 2009, Glaze founded his clothing line EFFETTO with his business partner JD Keyz, a classically trained pianist, from Toronto. It is a brand representing all musicians of every genre, artists, producers, dancers, sound engineers and music enthusiasts everywhere.

EFFETTO stands for “the effect that music has on the audience,” and positively affecting musicians is exactly their aim. Glaze’s vision with EFFETTO is to create a greater awareness of musical culture, and bring people together through their love of music. Everyone has some sort of attachment to music of some kind, which makes the brand universal. “Everything is inspired by the music, including the EFFETTO movement. I want to put the spotlight back on the artists and inspire more people to be artists.” He said.

In the past few years, EFFETTO has sponsored and been featuring in local events such as Toronto’s Poetic Fashion, Manifesto Festival, Ryerson’s Urban Hip Hop Union Showcase, and Humber College’s Fashion Show for Haiti. They have also been promoted in publications such as Freedom Time, and Urbanology magazine.

EFFETTO merchandise includes t-shirts, sweaters, hats and jackets, and is quickly expanding. Glaze is always working on new designs either by himself, or with the help of local youth talent. EFFETTO gear can be viewed and purchased on their newly launched website www.effettowear.com, or by contacting Glaze on the EFFETTO Facebook fan page.

Toronto photographer and music enthusiast, Samantha Kidd believes that big things are to come for Glaze and his clothing line. “The whole idea of EFFETTO is genius. It had a chance to be huge. The way NIKE brands sports, EFFETTO is trying to brand music. It could really take off! ”

But the intention for Glaze’s art and business is not just to make money; it is his community that motivates him. “It is the purpose before the profit, the message before the money. It’s for the people, and the focus is on the art. It’s about giving back.” He said. His goal is to motivate artists, and inspire the youth in his community to pursue their dreams.

Glaze intends to keep focused, and continue pushing his clothing line, and evolving as an artist, and make the difference he feels he was born to make in the arts community.