To many music fans, Masspike Miles first came on their radar on Rick
Ross’s “Get It Together.” Recording the smash with Ross in late 2008,
Miles signed with Ross’s Maybach Music label.
This connection has lead to videos with Yo Gotti (“Here We Go”),
Shawty Lo (“Perfect Women”) and even more collaborations with Ross:
“Cigar Music” and “Love Drunk.” He’s also released a new mixtape, The
Pursuit of Happiness hosted by Rick Ross & DJ Khaled.
Miles Wheeler is the product of Parisian mother and a father from Cape
Verde, a collection of Portuguese-speaking islands off Africa’s West
Coast. He was born in 1980 in Sacramento, California. As a child,
Miles moved to Boston with his family to be closer to the city’s large
Cape Verdean community.
Miles’ father, a jazzman, named his son after legendary trumpeter Miles Davis.
And it didn’t take the kid long to launch his own musical career.
Miles quickly caught the eye of legendary R&B producer Maurice Starr,
who also discovered New Kids On The Block and New Edition. Miles
became the lead singer of Perfect Gentlemen, who Starr signed to
Warner Bros in 1992. He was just 11 years old. Miles was soon working
with artists like Bobby Brown, Dallas Austin, Eddie F and Montell
Jordan.
But Perfect Gentlemen, despite their talent, never took off like
Starr’s other acts. Miles sees this chapter in his life as vital music
industry education. “The lessons I learned watching Maurice Starr
equipped me for success,” he explains.
A key lesson was patience. He retreated to his Roxbury neighborhood.
He alternately spent time working on music and falling into the
streets. “This was a difficult time for me,” Miles admits. “But I
always knew I’d return to the music business.”
By 1999, he formed the company and record label Life 4 Life
enterprises with partners Roc Dukati and Smoke Bulga, who eventually
signed to Epic/Sony records. While producing for his partners, he soon
began writing and producing for artists like Fabolous, Stack Bundles,
Freeway and B.G. He has recently formed Tha Track Dealers LLC
production teams with Atagon1st.
Miles also expanded his brand, appearing movies like Dirty crimes and
High stakes and modeling in The Source. Alongside business partner
Gangsta Lean, he’s also developed "Ghetto Report DVD" featuring top
entertainers speaking on everything from beef to respect.
For the time being, however, his main focus is his solo career. With
The Pursuit of Happiness mixtape buzzing, Miles is preparing his debut
album, The Struggle, for an upcoming release. MTV has also added both
“Cigar Music” and "Money On Mind,” a Track Dealers (Masspike Miles &
Antagonist) produced Smoke Bulga single feat. Jim Jones.
“Everything I’ve experienced in my life up until now – both the ups
and the downs – has prepared me to succeed,” Miles says.
