By Isha “Ice” Cole
[Editor’s Note: On Monday Novermber 9, 2009, Freeway started
a series of live internet chats on AllHiphop.com. The rapper’s most recent chat
discussed the Jay-Z/ Beanie Sigel situation, why he has not beef with Joe
Budden and his musical endeavors. The next chat will be Monday November 16,
2009 at 8 pm EST.]
It’s the ROC!
Remember those days? “Roc The Mic,” “What We Do,” or how about the classic Roc-A-Fella takeover on the Funk Master Flex show on NYC's Hot 97. Those are just a couple of hits and a memorable moment from the Roc-A-Fella clan that fans grew to love. When Roc-A-Fella Records was at their all time high, who would've thought that years later it would seem like it was all a dream? Imagine what it felt like to actually be apart of that movement.
Leslie Pridgen, otherwise known as Philadelphia MC Freeway, can explain the feeling firsthand. He was a rookie coming into the game at the time and he had the pleasure of being co-signed, creating hits, and performing at sold out concerts with the musical icon Jay-Z.
Freeway stepped onto the scene in 2000 with the aid of his Philly brethren Beanie Sigel. Freeway’s first major appearance came on the ultimate street anthem "1-900-Hustler," a track from Jay-Z's The Dynasty: Roc La Familia album.
In 2003, Freeway released his certified gold Roc-A-Fella debut, Philadelphia Freeway. His sophomore and final album on Roc-A-Fella, Free At Last, was released in 2007. Earlier this year he released Philadelphia Freeway 2 via Real Talk Entertainment.
Despite all of the up and downs Freeway is still hard at work and determined to keep himself afloat in this cutthroat music industry. Recently, Freeway dropped The Calm Before The Storm mixtape and he’s preparing to release two more before his new studio album drops next year. AllHipHop.com caught up with Freeway and discussed his new album The Stimulus Package, Roc-A-Fella and being Muslim in America. He also took us on a quick Philadelphia Freeway tour of Philly!
AllHipHop.com: Some people might not know, what is your current label situation?
Freeway: Right now, I have an independent album coming out in January it’s called The Stimulus Package with me and Jake One. The whole album is produced by Jake One and that’s on Rhymesayers Records. Me, Jake One work well together, and we were knocking a lot of stuff out. So we came up with the concept of doing an album together and then we came up with The Stimulus Package.
AllHipHop.com: Why did you choose The Stimulus Package as the album title?
Freeway: It’s like me giving the stimulus package to Hip-Hop. We're giving the people what they need, that real Hip-Hop music.
Freeway talks about his live chat series on AllHiphop.com
AllHipHop.com: Since Jake One produced the entire album, who are some of the artists that you collaborated with on this new project?
Freeway: As far as artist, I have State Property on there, Beanie Sigel, Bun B from UGK on a song, Raekwon the Chef, Latoya Williams, and Baby from Cash Money.
AllHipHop.com: What can we expect from the new album in regards to concepts?
Freeway: It’s real conceptual; we got a bunch of different concepts on there. We're talking about everyday things that I go through.
AllHipHop.com: If you could add an additional song to The Stimulus Package and you could have ANY producer, female rapper, and male singer, who would you choose?
Freeway: I would probably get Just Blaze to make the track. There's only one female rapper doing her thing right now and that's Nicki Minaj, so I’d put her on there. A male singer, I've been rocking out with my man Q from 112, so I would throw him on there.
AllHipHop.com: On your twitter page it says that you’re releasing a new mixtape the Freelapse . How did this idea come about?
Freeway: Actually, I'm releasing the Beat Made Me Do It before the Freelapse. So the first mixtape the Beat Made Me Do It, it's a bunch of soul samples put together by Jack One and I have a couple other producers on their. Don Cannon is hosting the mixtape, yall going to love it! Right after that, I'm dropping the Freelapse it’s a tribute to Eminem using all of his beats.
AllHipHop.com: Why did you choose Eminem?
Freeway: What happened was Em did a freestyle and he was like I disappeared I was hiding in Freeways beard, so I sampled that, made it a hook, and used it for a song. After that, I came up with the idea. Eminem is a talented emcee, he’s got a lot of hot beats, and another artist would probably be scared to rap to his beats because he's murdered every beat. So I felt that it was a challenge for me to try to live up to the expectation.
AllHipHop.com: You have a new artist by the name of Hollewood Playboi, why did you choose to work with him and what are your plans for this artist?
Freeway: Yes, and an artist Jakk Frost. Both of them have been doing there thing in Philly for a minute, their good artists and I rock out with them like that. We're starting a label called Free Money Records, so we're in the process of getting things together. I'm also working out a deal right now with Cash Money, so hopefully after we finish the solo project The Stimulus Package, yall can look forward to us working out a situation with Cash Money.
AllHipHop.com: Out of all the labels why Cash Money?
Freeway: Their doing their thing right now and I got Baby on the album he's on one of the singles called "Follow My Rules," we're going to get a video done for that. The chemistry is just there and it seems like a good thing to do.
AllHipHop.com: Since State Property is on the album, it is safe to say that you all are still cool, right?
Freeway: It’s all love. We had a few members of State Property on this album. Me and Beans are like brothers, so without the music we're still gonna be good. With or without the music!
AllHipHop.com: Do you believe that the break up of the Roc was caused by one person?
Freeway: I think that Nas said it the best when he said, a thug changes and love changes, and best friends become strangers. Grown men tend to disagree over certain things and that's what happened. People weren't agreeing, things wasn't going the way people thought they was gonna go. You can't blame one person.
AllHipHop.com: I think at almost every Jay-Z concert people anticipate the moment when the entire Roc crew takes the stage to perform. Jay-Z had the 9/11 concert were you surprised that you guys were not in the show?
Freeway: I mean it is what it is, Jay is doing his thing. I'm sure if I needed him for anything he'll be there for me. He's still in my corner, but he's doing his thing now. He's doing he's doing his own thing, like I'm doing my own thing and trying to be successful.
AllHipHop.com: Many people were wonder what happened to the Roca-A-Fella era during this yearsVH1 Hip-Hop Honors Celebrating Def Jam. How did you feel about that?
Freeway: I don't know what happened with that. I was in the house watching it like wow we should've been there because we definitely would've shut that down. Like if me and Beans would have come out and did “Roc The Mic,” Chris and Neef would've done "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" and all that, we would’ve killed it! So I don't know what happened with that. It could've been beautiful, but it is what it is.
AllHipHop.com: Switching gears, since you are Muslim, what does it feel like to be Muslim in America today?
Freeway: It feels good to be Muslim! If you know what Islam really is, you know the characteristics of a Muslim, the way a Muslim is supposed to carry themselves, then you know that Islam is a peaceful religion. I went to Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Riyadh; I think it was around the end of July the beginning of August I was there. I was studying with some of the scholars of Islam, and it was a good experience for me. On November 13th to December 1st, I'm going back to Mecca to make my Hajj this year, but this will be my third time over there.
AllHipHop.com: After making the pilgrimage to Mecca for the Hajj you are supposed to make major changes in your life, is that something that you are prepared for?
Freeway: I changed my life around a lot anyway. Just from going over there a couple times, growing, being a better man, and wanting to get myself together as far as my religion. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do none of that stuff that I used to do when I was younger. I pray five times a day and I do majority of things that you're supposed to do as far as Islam and being a Muslim.
AllHipHop.com: What do you believe are some common misconceptions about Islam?
Freeway: People may think that it is a violent religion, it’s a bunch of terrorists, but it's not Islam is a peaceful religion. In everything, there's extremist, you have people that are in the music business that are extremist and go over board with the things that they do. You have Christians that are extremist; you have Jews that are extremists, so of course there are extremists in Islam. That's what the people get to see, with the whole Taliban stuff and Osama Bin Laden. That's what people see in the media, so they think Islam is violent, but it's not. Actually, you're not supposed to harm another person, you're not supposed to do nothing, kill nobody innocent or none of that.
AllHipHop.com: You've gone through a lot from being at the top with the Roc-A-Fella, to somewhat having to start over again, but with promising things in the works. What advice would you give to someone in this industry going through a similar situation?
Freeway: You get out of it what you put into it, so you got to work hard. I’m in the studio all the time, I'm dropping material constantly, I'm doing shows, and I’m traveling. You got to stay relevant, you can't cry over spilled milk. If things are not going your way, you gotta work harder.
AllHipHop.com: Let’s take a ride around Philly! This is the Philadelphia Freeway guide to Philly! Who are some hot up and coming artists in Philly?
Freeway: It's a lot of people in Philly that's hot; you got my man Meek Mill that's doing his thing, Cyssero, and Tone Trump doing his thing. Mike Knox, Reed Dollaz, Black Deniro, Philly Swain, Gillie Da Kid, and my man Cashmere. There's a lot of up and coming people, a lot of talented people in Philly.
AllHipHop.com: What do you believe Philly brings to the music industry?
Freeway: Philly, we bring a lot of soulful music into Hip-Hop. A lot of people from Philly, when we rap, we come from the heart and people feel it. I think we bring that soulful element to Hip-Hop; you’re getting true lyricism because there are a lot of true lyricists in Philly.
AllHipHop.com: If I want a famous Philly cheesesteak where should I go?
Freeway: Aight, a lot of people would say go to South Street, go to Ishkabibble’s, or Geno's Steaks. Me being a cheesesteak connoisseur, [laughs] I would tell you that the best place you could get a cheesesteak from is probably like a corner store in the hood. They put love into the cheesesteak; you may still get some flavor from the grill and all that. If you come to Philly and you want a cheesesteak, tell somebody to take you to the corner store.
AllHipHop.com: If I need some gear, what clothing store would lace me the best?
Freeway: I did a song with Meek Mill and I broke down what I do, It's Philly Freezer with the newest and freshest/ I get the Louie from the Prussia and the rest ** from the Denim. So I get all my Louis Vuitton and my Gucci stuff from King of Prussia Mall. Then there's a store called Dr Denim on South Street where I go and get my normal gear, like Polo, Ralph Lauren, jackets, hoodies, shirts, and stuff like that.
AllHipHop.com: Finally, if I’m trying to party what club in Philly is guaranteed to be rocking?
Freeway: I'll say Fuzion.