Today we’d like to introduce you to Freddie Floyd.
Freddie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started in middle school. I was scrawny, short, and bony; an easy target for bullies.
My reputation was that of your average video game nerd—a geek with a hunched back who was too weird to socialize with. I had great grades but was never really the envy of anyone. I dealt with the turmoil of adolescence by channeling my pain through the music I listened to and vicariously wishing I could become someone else. That’s when I discovered hip-hop.
I started rapping. I started battling. I started scrawling rhymes in my spare time and performing in front of people. I went from being “that scrawny white kid” to being “that scrawny white kid that can rap.” Looking back, I find it all so ironic—What started off as a tool to fend for myself eventually became my grandest ambition.
High school came and went. I refined my skills. I even picked up how to make beats by jamming out with a childhood friend. I made electronic dance music too. It was a slow pace, but I kept improving. My lines got better, my flows got better, my beats got better, I got better. Before I could blink twice, I graduated.
Then college happened. The beginning of the rest of my life. I kept studying and making music. Somehow, I picked up a grueling minimum wage job along the way. I felt trapped and cornered. I had to ask myself, “is there where I want to be?” Fortunately, I found a better opportunity six months later, but I never forgot the experience.
I transferred into UH to get a degree in Economics, my “Plan B,” as my mom would eloquently put it. And right when I was near the finish line, in 2016, I took a semester off. I needed some soul searching, I needed to perform at shows and release music. I managed to land a gig because of a friend but found the whole experience off-putting.
Not only was the crowd small, but the performers had to pay to work! The whole ordeal just didn’t sit right with me. I had dreams of bigger things; bigger crowds, bigger venues, and bigger fans. Soon after, I released my first mixtape, “Game Over”.
I enrolled back into university with the newfound knowledge that students could book studio sessions. I made good friends with an audio engineer there and recorded new music weekly. It was there that I crafted my debut album, “No Parking.” Entirely produced by myself and a childhood friend, the album got a good reception from the people that heard it. Featuring trapped-out beats, catchy-hooks, punchlines, and a sample-based approach to tie it together, “No Parking” was the culmination of everything I had up to that point.
A very old friend of mine heard “No Parking” and was deeply touched by the song “Selena.” He wanted to collaborate on a deeply cinematic music video. We spent days storyboarding and brainstorming ideas. The main themes were the obsession, depression, addiction, and unrequited love. After months of filming, editing, and figuring out what works and what doesn’t, we had a real gem on our hands.
That video is a symbol of everything I’ve worked to accomplish thus far. I’ve got a long road ahead but knowing just how much I’ve grown these past couples of years is enough to keep me going.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not a smooth road at all. There were many pitfalls and hangups. I recall submitting my music to hundreds of blogs only to get a new rejection email every 2 minutes. I recall asking for collaborations with local artists only to get ignored. I recall the numerous deals that fell through and all their opportunity costs.
Lastly, I recall all of the scams my peers fell victim to. It’s truly a tough game to play when a million people are trying to reach the top. Despite the many stalemates I’ve encountered, I thankfully never wavered. My dream keeps me going.
Please tell us about Gaijin Gang.
I would definitely call myself an artist first and businessman second. However, my art, business, and general mantra all revolve around the concept of making outsiders feel welcomed. Since I grew up being pushed around for my weirdness, I feel it necessary to provide comfort to those who go through that today. My brand Gaijin Gang is about this. As an artist, I make music for outsiders.
As a businessman, I seek to contribute to this audience. Even though my business is still in its infant stages, I someday wish to expand and grow it. I want to make the Gaijin Gang a record label, clothing company, and visuals house. Above all, I want to inspire hope in the youth, and confidence in the hearts of outsiders alike.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I would definitely say my favorite memory from childhood was the entirety of sixth grade. It was an easygoing, innocent period in my life and the underlying origin of most my friendships. The friends I hung around in sixth grade are still the friends I hang around today. These people have impacted me then and continue to do so now. I really owe a lot to them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soundcloud.com/freddie-floyd
- Phone: 713-382-9766
- Email: FreddieFloydOfficial@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freddiefloyd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreddieFloydOfficial/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotFreddieFloyd
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq-e42IFCL0
Image Credit:
Lanz Allanigue
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