In the early 2000s, Megahertz was producing for Diddy, 50 Cent, and Nas, and was set to be the next rap superproducer, but then he decided he wanted something else entirely...
Fifteen years ago, Dorsey “
Megahertz” Wesley was poised to become the music industry’s next big go-to hip-hop producer. He had a signature sound—drums that lagged lazily behind the beat; plucky synthesizer melodies embellished with glittery sci-fi effects—which initially landed him work with the likes of
Busta Rhymes,
Bilal,
De La Soul, and
Talib Kweli, among others. His skittering futuristic tracks earned him rave reviews with critics and insiders alike, and it wasn’t long before he made the leap from producing popular album cuts to celebrated singles.
Over the course of two months in 2001, the Willingboro, N.J. native produced
Diddy’s anthemic “Bad Boy for Life,” and
Nas’
Sopranos-inspired “Got Ur Self a Gun,” respectively. Months later, he’d craft the rollicking title track to
Jay Z and
R. Kelly’s
Best of Both Worlds. A year after that, his chiptune funk would soundtrack
50 Cent’s “Gotta Make It To Heaven,” and
G-Unit’s syrupy
“Baby U Got.” Even
The RZA—one of the most accomplished producers in hip-hop history—felt comfortable enough handing him the reigns for
“We Pop,” the bass-heavy lead single from his 2003 LP
Birth of a Prince.
But while he was busy working with the most dynamic artists hip-hop has ever known, Megahertz’s personal life was floundering. His multi-platinum production career came at the cost of his family, and after his father died, he decided to take a break to care for his mother. It was only then—when he finally found some quiet—that he realized he wasn’t truly happy; that he needed a time out.
One day, on a lark, Megahertz did what many people who feel unsettled think about doing their entire lives—he disappeared. With just the shoes on his feet and the clothes on his back, he fled the American hustle for the European charm of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the ensuing years, he’d move to various far-flung tropical locales. And he’s mostly existed there since then, with no radio, television, or Internet to let him know what’s going on in the world, or for the world to know what’s going on with him.
Well, until now, that is. Megahertz is finally coming up for air. While on a recent trip to Los Angeles, he called us and explained why he turned his back on the game right when he was at the top of it, why we shouldn’t close the book on his halted career just yet, and what it’s like to truly live a nomadic lifestyle.
