Photo by Callie Richmond for ATG.
ATG phoned Philadelphia's newly relocated, game-changing ace, Freeway, from our New York bureau. We touched on his dope new album, working with Raekwon, teaming up with an indie label he knew little about, the origins of classic Roc cuts like "Two Words," and the business moves that ultimately tanked Jay-Z's infamous posse.
ATG: Good news is, The Stimulus Package is the best hip-hop album of the year so far. Bad news is, it's only February.
Freeway: [Laughs] I know, right?
ATG: You've had a really interesting career arc. It's 10 years out since "1-900 Hustler." How did making this album feel to you? Things are different now.
Free: I mean, it felt right. I've been in a good space. It was comfortable. It's a big difference from what I did with Roc-a-fella because I had to do a lot on my own, but I feel as though you get out what you put into it, so it's all good.
ATG: Tell me how you hooked up with the Rhymesayers crew.
Free: I did work with Jake One on his album White Van Music, and he did work with me on my album Free At Last. He kept sending me beats, he kept sending me heat, and I was doing my thing knockin joints out, so eventually it was like you know we might as well do a whole album together.
ATG: And he was already on Rhymesayers.
Free: Yeah he's on Rhymesayers.
ATG: Were you a fan of Rhymesayers rappers before the deal? A lotta people wouldn't expect to see Philly Freezer on stage with Brother Ali.
Free: Man, I didn't know nothin' about Rhymesayers before I got on with them [laughs]. But once I did my research, I'm definitely a fan of a lot of their artists, now. And I like working with them, too, you know what I'm sayin? It's different. When I do a show with Rhymesayers man the crowds really appreciate the music, they really love the music. It's just a good feelin'.
ATG: What do you appreciate most about being on an indie label?
Free: I appreciate the hands on aspect. I'm hands on with the project, they're hands on with the project. I know everything that's going on. It's just a better relationship in general.
ATG: Take me back to the early half of your career. The Roc in its heyday. What was the best part of being in that environment? Jay-Z. Dame Dash.
Free: The work ethic. The family structure. Even though it wasn't really family, it was a good feelin'. We were doin our thing, we were on top of the world. But I definitely wish I had been more on my business the way I am now. I could have made a couple better choices for my career. But as far as the experience with Roc-A-Fella, I'd have to say I'm definitely happy with it.
ATG: When you say you wish you would have made better decisions, what do you mean by that? Elaborate.
Free: When I was with Roc-A-Fella, you know I was fuckin' with State Property, and it was like a chain of command, basically. Beans was on top and everything flowed down from there. And there were just a LOT of times when I could've made my own decisions and done things that may have been better for me personally, but, you know, I was ridin with the team. A LOT of times. And I'm not sayin there was anything wrong with it, but now that I'm more of a business man and I know about the business, I definitely make choices for myself now instead of just riding with the team.
ATG: So you got lost in the mix.
Free: I mean, I'm a hard worker, so I was always doin my thing. But I could've stepped it up more. I was always doing my thing to get recognized in my [limited] position, but I would never overshoot my position.
ATG: "Two Words" is one of the finest classics to come out of that era. That's a special record. Tell me how it came to be?
Free: Oh yeah, Kanye's my man. He asked me to be on his album and I was like, sure. I heard the beat, and the beat was crazy. So you know, he told me Mos was gonna be on it, and I was like, "Oh, word?" I laid down my verse and the rest is history.
ATG: On The Stimulus Package, you talk about how you used to be addicted to Just Blaze beats. Just Blaze vs. Kanye West. How do you compare them?
Free: Oh man, you can't compare 'em. Kanye got the soulful bangers, Just got the soulful bangers, they're both just the best at what they do. And I owe them both a lot for helping out my career on my first album.
ATG: What's it like working in the studio with those guys?
Free: It's amazing. I mean, we would just vibe out. Everybody would be there at Baseline studios. State Property, Jay, everybody. We was like a family. Just tryin to make the best music.
ATG: Of course, the Roc broke up, more or less. On Free At Last, you talked about being overlooked by some of those guys. What happened?
Free: I think it was just confusing for everybody. It was just a confusing, confusing, confusing time. The breakup was going on and I think everyone was just trying to make sure that they personally were gonna be good. People had to make sure that they were going to survive the storm. So it was just confusion there.
ATG: So you think it was just confusion that lead to people not getting back to you? The same people that made your first album?
Free: Yeah, definitely.
ATG: Your State Property partner, Beanie Siegel, has been pretty vocally displeased with Jay-Z. Seems like a lot of the people Jay came up with aren't around him now. What's up with that?
Free: I mean, I don't know, personally. You know what I'm sayin? I mean, I'm in touch with Jay, but I don't be around him every day, so I don't know who he has around him and who he doesn't. I've just been concentrating on my career and trying to establish myself. As far as him and Beans goin back and forth, I mean they're grown men. I don't really got nothin' to do with that.
ATG: So there's still a relationship there? Are you on speaking terms?
Free: Yeah. We're cool.
ATG: So who's idea was The Stimulus Package?
We came up with the title together and then basically we just went in. And it was good. We wanted to give real hip-hop back to the people. Bring it back to the forefront. And I feel as though a lot of people are loving the album, so I feel good, ya know what I mean?
ATG: "One Thing" is probably my favorite song on the album. Tell me about teaming up with Rae. I've always felt like you would be a good match with the Wu. Something about your delivery.
Free: Yeah. I did some work with him before and I reached out to him and asked him to knock out a joint. It was all love, man. It came back crazy. I appreciated it.
ATG: You think you might work with him again?
Free: Yeah, definitely. I mean, we're friends so I definitely feel as though we could work together again in the future.
ATG: I have to admit, I was a little surprised to see so many people know all the words to your songs at the album release in New York. What keeps you so connected with the fans? No major label marketing budget.
Free: I know. I was surprised too. I think it's the music. Rhymesayers as a label, they definitely was going hard, and they continue to go hard and I respect them for that. With the fans, I try to keep givin them music so they know it's gonna be good, even if I don't drop an album. I put out mixtapes or hit 'em with joints here and there. The year before last I did the month of madness thing, where I put out 31 tracks/ I just want the fans to know that I'm definitely gonna continue making that good music, and I think they're startin to realize that now.
ATG: So how did it feel to be on stage and to see that? You've been on a lot of stages, but this must've been different.
Free: It feels good. The way the fans react to the music, I love it. It's just a good feelin.
ATG: It seems like hip-hop is wide open right now. A lot of dudes are in jail. A lot of dudes can't get hot anymore. A lot of young bucks may never have an album made. Where does Freeway fit into all of that?
Free: Man, I just think Freeway is relevant and doin his thing. It's real hip-hop, it's soulful, and people love it. I try to make timeless music. I want people to be able to hear it 10 years from now and still feel it.
ATG: 10 years in. Another strong album. What do you still look forward to?
Free: I just look forward to establishing myself with the hip-hop legends, you know what I'm sayin? I feel as though throughout my career I've brought something different to the table. Different flow, different voice, different style. So I just want to continue to establish myself and my legacy and to raise my family. I wanna be a good father.
- Reggie Ugwu
Freeway: [Laughs] I know, right?
ATG: You've had a really interesting career arc. It's 10 years out since "1-900 Hustler." How did making this album feel to you? Things are different now.
Free: I mean, it felt right. I've been in a good space. It was comfortable. It's a big difference from what I did with Roc-a-fella because I had to do a lot on my own, but I feel as though you get out what you put into it, so it's all good.
ATG: Tell me how you hooked up with the Rhymesayers crew.
Free: I did work with Jake One on his album White Van Music, and he did work with me on my album Free At Last. He kept sending me beats, he kept sending me heat, and I was doing my thing knockin joints out, so eventually it was like you know we might as well do a whole album together.
ATG: And he was already on Rhymesayers.
Free: Yeah he's on Rhymesayers.
ATG: Were you a fan of Rhymesayers rappers before the deal? A lotta people wouldn't expect to see Philly Freezer on stage with Brother Ali.
Free: Man, I didn't know nothin' about Rhymesayers before I got on with them [laughs]. But once I did my research, I'm definitely a fan of a lot of their artists, now. And I like working with them, too, you know what I'm sayin? It's different. When I do a show with Rhymesayers man the crowds really appreciate the music, they really love the music. It's just a good feelin'.
ATG: What do you appreciate most about being on an indie label?
Free: I appreciate the hands on aspect. I'm hands on with the project, they're hands on with the project. I know everything that's going on. It's just a better relationship in general.
ATG: Take me back to the early half of your career. The Roc in its heyday. What was the best part of being in that environment? Jay-Z. Dame Dash.
Free: The work ethic. The family structure. Even though it wasn't really family, it was a good feelin'. We were doin our thing, we were on top of the world. But I definitely wish I had been more on my business the way I am now. I could have made a couple better choices for my career. But as far as the experience with Roc-A-Fella, I'd have to say I'm definitely happy with it.
ATG: When you say you wish you would have made better decisions, what do you mean by that? Elaborate.
Free: When I was with Roc-A-Fella, you know I was fuckin' with State Property, and it was like a chain of command, basically. Beans was on top and everything flowed down from there. And there were just a LOT of times when I could've made my own decisions and done things that may have been better for me personally, but, you know, I was ridin with the team. A LOT of times. And I'm not sayin there was anything wrong with it, but now that I'm more of a business man and I know about the business, I definitely make choices for myself now instead of just riding with the team.
ATG: So you got lost in the mix.
Free: I mean, I'm a hard worker, so I was always doin my thing. But I could've stepped it up more. I was always doing my thing to get recognized in my [limited] position, but I would never overshoot my position.
ATG: "Two Words" is one of the finest classics to come out of that era. That's a special record. Tell me how it came to be?
Free: Oh yeah, Kanye's my man. He asked me to be on his album and I was like, sure. I heard the beat, and the beat was crazy. So you know, he told me Mos was gonna be on it, and I was like, "Oh, word?" I laid down my verse and the rest is history.
ATG: On The Stimulus Package, you talk about how you used to be addicted to Just Blaze beats. Just Blaze vs. Kanye West. How do you compare them?
Free: Oh man, you can't compare 'em. Kanye got the soulful bangers, Just got the soulful bangers, they're both just the best at what they do. And I owe them both a lot for helping out my career on my first album.
ATG: What's it like working in the studio with those guys?
Free: It's amazing. I mean, we would just vibe out. Everybody would be there at Baseline studios. State Property, Jay, everybody. We was like a family. Just tryin to make the best music.
ATG: Of course, the Roc broke up, more or less. On Free At Last, you talked about being overlooked by some of those guys. What happened?
Free: I think it was just confusing for everybody. It was just a confusing, confusing, confusing time. The breakup was going on and I think everyone was just trying to make sure that they personally were gonna be good. People had to make sure that they were going to survive the storm. So it was just confusion there.
ATG: So you think it was just confusion that lead to people not getting back to you? The same people that made your first album?
Free: Yeah, definitely.
ATG: Your State Property partner, Beanie Siegel, has been pretty vocally displeased with Jay-Z. Seems like a lot of the people Jay came up with aren't around him now. What's up with that?
Free: I mean, I don't know, personally. You know what I'm sayin? I mean, I'm in touch with Jay, but I don't be around him every day, so I don't know who he has around him and who he doesn't. I've just been concentrating on my career and trying to establish myself. As far as him and Beans goin back and forth, I mean they're grown men. I don't really got nothin' to do with that.
ATG: So there's still a relationship there? Are you on speaking terms?
Free: Yeah. We're cool.
ATG: So who's idea was The Stimulus Package?
We came up with the title together and then basically we just went in. And it was good. We wanted to give real hip-hop back to the people. Bring it back to the forefront. And I feel as though a lot of people are loving the album, so I feel good, ya know what I mean?
ATG: "One Thing" is probably my favorite song on the album. Tell me about teaming up with Rae. I've always felt like you would be a good match with the Wu. Something about your delivery.
Free: Yeah. I did some work with him before and I reached out to him and asked him to knock out a joint. It was all love, man. It came back crazy. I appreciated it.
ATG: You think you might work with him again?
Free: Yeah, definitely. I mean, we're friends so I definitely feel as though we could work together again in the future.
ATG: I have to admit, I was a little surprised to see so many people know all the words to your songs at the album release in New York. What keeps you so connected with the fans? No major label marketing budget.
Free: I know. I was surprised too. I think it's the music. Rhymesayers as a label, they definitely was going hard, and they continue to go hard and I respect them for that. With the fans, I try to keep givin them music so they know it's gonna be good, even if I don't drop an album. I put out mixtapes or hit 'em with joints here and there. The year before last I did the month of madness thing, where I put out 31 tracks/ I just want the fans to know that I'm definitely gonna continue making that good music, and I think they're startin to realize that now.
ATG: So how did it feel to be on stage and to see that? You've been on a lot of stages, but this must've been different.
Free: It feels good. The way the fans react to the music, I love it. It's just a good feelin.
ATG: It seems like hip-hop is wide open right now. A lot of dudes are in jail. A lot of dudes can't get hot anymore. A lot of young bucks may never have an album made. Where does Freeway fit into all of that?
Free: Man, I just think Freeway is relevant and doin his thing. It's real hip-hop, it's soulful, and people love it. I try to make timeless music. I want people to be able to hear it 10 years from now and still feel it.
ATG: 10 years in. Another strong album. What do you still look forward to?
Free: I just look forward to establishing myself with the hip-hop legends, you know what I'm sayin? I feel as though throughout my career I've brought something different to the table. Different flow, different voice, different style. So I just want to continue to establish myself and my legacy and to raise my family. I wanna be a good father.
- Reggie Ugwu
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