Showing posts with label freeway. Show all posts

Monday, June 11, 2012

Freeway Addresses Jay-Z 'Snub'

Rapper Freeway is breaking his silence regarding a photo taken last month that appeared to show him being 'snubbed' by hip hop superstar Jay-Z during Jay's appearance in Philadelphia to promote the upcoming "Made In America" Music Festival. The photo showed Freeway standing off to the side with his arms folded as Jay posed with sponsors and the mayor of Philadelphia.

"People understand it, but nowadays with the internet, people wanna make jokes," Freeway said in a backstage "106 & Park" interview. "The jokes and everything, when people was making a joke out of it towards me, it was like cool, it was funny to me too. But as far as people trying to put it on Jay -- it wasn't even like that. If you got two ounces of sense, you would know that you cannot be near Jay-Z if he don't want you to be. I was on stage with the Mayor of Philadelphia and Jay-Z. If they didn't want me there, there was no way I could've got up there. ... That's the big homie, man. I'm not going to come around somebody if they don't want me around, because I will feel uncomfortable."

Monday, June 4, 2012

Kid Cudi A No-Show

Rapper Kid Cudi failed to appear at the 5th Annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, despite being the headliner for the second day. Fans learned that the Cleveland, Ohio via an announcement from Roots emcee Black Thought.

Cheers from the crowd prompted The Roots to perform a set along with Freeway, Skillz and Jakk Frost.

Kid Cudi has not released a statement regarding the event.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Jay-Z To Host "Made In America" Festival In Philadelphia

The questions about Jay-Z's cryptic video have finally been answered.

PHOTO: Jay-Z Tweets Out A Picture Of His Dad

This past Friday, Jay-Z released a video entitled "Made In America," featuring a montage of concert-goers and town halls with "H.A.M." ringing in the background.

With no message attached, no one knew what Jay-Z was alluding to or trying to announce, so the world began to guess.

Could it be a sneak peek to a forthcoming "Made In America" video? Or maybe he's headlining a concert this summer entitled "Made In America?"

No one could put their finger on it, but now, we have all the answers.

VIDEO: Jay-Z Releases Cryptic Video!

Jay-Z will be organizing Philadelphia's "Made In America" Music Festival sponsored by Budweiser on Labor Day Weekend.

Expected to headline the event, Jay will round up 28 acts of all different music genres for a two-day concert series September 1-2 held at Philadelphia's Fairmount Park.

Accompanied by Philly rapper Freeway on stage, Jay-Z announced that 70 percent of the lineup in confirmed, but did not announce specifically who those artists are.

During the press conference, Jay-Z was asked about Beyonce's first Mother's Day and he joyfully replied:

"Amazing! I can just imagine that sort of feeling. It was pretty good for her."

Portions of the proceeds will be donated to the greater area of Philadelphia's United Way.

Tickets will be available on LiveNation on Wednesday, May 23.

Friday, March 30, 2012

"Freeway" Ricky Discusses Lost Case

"Freeway" Ricky Ross lost his lawsuit against rapper Rick Ross over the rights to the 'Rick Ross' moniker, and the former drug dealer voiced his frustration with the judge's decision. In an interview with AllHipHop, Freeway Rick shared his thoughts on what went wrong for his case.

“Basically they’re saying [I waited too long], I should have filed a lawsuit five days after I got out of prison,” Freeway Ricky Ross told AllHipHop. “I feel that the law has let me down,” Freeway Rick said. “I feel not only have they let me down, but they’ve let down the black community as a whole."

“You have these people going around portraying us in an image that’s not what we are,” Freeway Ricky Ross continued. “I didn’t sell drugs so I could sit in everybody’s face, drive around in a Rolls-Royce and wear big gold chains. I sold drugs because I was poor, illiterate, didn’t know any better and had no other opportunities.”

Despite his own history, Ricky says he doesn't endorse the lifestyle portrayed by the rapper Rick Ross and those like him.

“They talk about murder and mayhem as if it’s a sport and that’s not what we are about and that’s not what our people are about,” Freeway Rick says.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

STATE PROPERTY REUNION-SUMMER FEST 2011 ATLANTIC CITY,NJ.

BEANIE SIGEL REUNITE WITH STATE PROPERTY TO PREFORM SOME OF THEIR BEST MATERIAL.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Philly rappers take a stand against school violence

Philly rappers Freeway, left, and Young Chris are performing at a high school that has taken a stand against racial violence

By Sarah Hoye, CNN

Philadelphia (CNN) -- It's pretty clear from his hard-hitting lyrics that Philadelphia rapper Freeway is no stranger to street life.

He lost a cousin and close friend to gun violence. He's also had his own run-ins with the law, having served jail time for drug possession.

His experiences haven't left him jaded, though. When the devout Muslim heard about a violent uprising at South Philadelphia High School last year, he got involved.

"I'm from where they're from," said Freeway, whose real name is Leslie Pridgen. "I can talk about those experiences [on the street], but I am a businessman now. I wouldn't take nothing back. It's shaped me as a man."

On December 3, 2009, as many as 30 Asian immigrant students were attacked throughout the school day, several of whom were sent to the hospital.

Racial violence spurs students to take a stand

Since then, Freeway has been working with nonviolence campaigns at several high schools in Philadelphia. In October, he traveled around the city aboard MTV's "Get Schooled" bus with Grammy winner Common and Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry fame. The goal was to inspire students to stay in school and raise awareness about staggering dropout rates.

Freeway, along with his fellow Philadelphia rapper Young Chris, will be performing Thursday at South Philly High.

"Who better to talk than people who grew up in Philly and did something positive with life? I was subject to the same things they were," said Freeway, who originally signed with Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records, and is now with Rhymesayers Entertainment.

"I'm going to speak from the heart, but it's up to them to make the choice."

Who better to talk than people who grew up in Philly and did something positive with life?

--Rap artist Freeway

Young Chris, born Christopher Ries, said he was also "shocked and disappointed" when he heard about last year's incident at South Philly High. He says he's participating in the rally to encourage the students to keep the momentum.

"Whether we want to believe it or not, they look at us as mentors," he said.

The event is part of the Project Succeed Campaign unveiled by state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, D-Philadelphia, in October.

Event organizers wanted a concert for the student rally but had concerns about booking rap artists.

Rhymes laced with drug and gang references, and verses peppered with the "n-word," left them skeptical, according to Johnson's spokeswoman, Shalimar Blakely.

They voiced their concerns with the managers for Freeway and Young Chris, and Blakely said she was encouraged not to hold all the lyrics against the performers.

"They may speak about violence and their experience in the streets, but this is what these kids relate to," Blakely said. "The reality is violence is not the thing to do. And they're coming to tell them that."

CNN SOURCE