Critical Praise for Freeway:
"Life-or-death urgency is Freeway's stock in trade: he hurls every word at you like a man who's just arrived on foot from a murder scene. Anyone who treats his craft this deadly seriously cannot and will never truly suck, ever." - Pitchfork
The Video:
Freeway is gearing up for the release of his new album, Diamond in the Ruff, which comes out next Tuesday, November 27th. Today, he's releasing the video for the first single,"Jungle," which was filmed entirely in his hometown of Philadelphia.
Arguably the most revered lyricist to ever come out of Philadelphia, Freeway uses his "life-or-death urgency"-tinged voice to show what life is like in the streets and alleys of America's fifth biggest city. Serving as his first official full-length album since teaming up with Jake One for the critically acclaimed 2010 project, The Stimulus Package, Diamond In The Ruff has been years in the making and is Freeway's most illustrious album yet. On the track "Early," Freeway reunited with Just Blaze, marking it their first collaboration since Just helmed the bulk of his 2003 debut Philadelphia Freeway. Freeway recently linked up with Shade 45's Sway in the Morning to debut the track after performing his verse from the track 'What We Do." He also appeared alongside Neef Buck to run through the album's second single "Numbers." The two longtime collaborators trade verses breaking down mathematical calculations over Sunny Dukes' knocking baseline.
Diamond In The Ruff will hit stores worldwide November 27th on Babygrande Records. The album features guest appearances from Wale, Marsha Ambrosius, Vivian Green and more, with production by Just Blaze, Jake One, Bink!, and Needlz, among others.
Watch the video for "Jungle" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIh2abQpV8E
Freeway Visits Kay Slay's "Streetsweeper Radio": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOEafDR1GRk
Freeway world premieres newJust Blaze record on Sway In The Morning and performs "What We Do": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6cGUybSKVE
Freeway & Neef Buck perform "Numbers" on Sway In The Morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1mzrkI1IfE
Last Thursday, Freeway held an private listening party at the world famous Chung King Studios in Manhattan. iHipHop.com was granted exclusive access to this event which was attended by guests including Neef Buck, It's The Real, Iman Shumpert and Rasheed Wallace of the New York Knicks. Check out all of the photos here.
Pre-Order Diamond In The Ruff here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/diamond-in-the-ruff/id572671661
Tracklist for Diamond In The Ruff:
1. Right Back (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)
2. Greatness (featuring Vivian Green)
3. The Thirst
4. Wonder Tape (featuring Suzann Christine)
5. No Doubt
6. Dream Big (featuring Musiq Soulchild)
7. Early
8. Ghetto Streets
9. Numbers (featuring Neef Buck)
10. True (featuring Wale)
11. Sweet Temptations (featuring Nikki Jean)
12. All The Hoods (featuring Miss Daja Thomas & Alonda Rich)
13. Hottest Akhi
14. Jungle
15. Money Is My Medicine
16. Lil Mama
Diamond In The Ruff Tour Dates:
Monday, 11/26 @ The Blockley, 38th and Chestnut
Doors at 7pm, Show at 9pm.
Album release party with performances by Freeway, Ms Jade.
http://www.theblockley.com/event/186287/
Wednesday, 12/19 @ Gramarcy Theater
Doors at 7:30
The Roc-A-Fella Reunion show with Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Young Gunz
http://thegramercytheatre.com/event/0000495B09B46B4E
Please contact Michelle or Dan if interested in talking with Freeway.
The Background:
For over a decade, Freeway has been Philadelphia's mouthpiece in chronicling the city's balance of blue-collar work ethics and vigilant street-corner credos within one of the world's most diverse and storied backdrops. The local favorite was mentored under the careful and critical eye of Beanie Sigel,ultimately winning the praise and endorsement of Jay-Z -- and a record deal with Roc-A-Fella Records. After standout features on Beanie Sigel’s “Think It’s A Game” and Jay-Z’s “1-900-HUSTLER” posse cut, Free was a critical role-player within State Property’s debut album, namely on Philadelphia classic “Roc Da Mic.” Freeway followed shortly after with the 2003 release of his now-classic debut album, Philadelphia Freeway, featuring involvement from Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Mariah Carey yielded the timeless outcry, “What We Do” with Free’s mentors Jay and Beans. After Free's label home, Roc-A-Fella, split up, Free released his second solo album, Free At Last, and followed that album with Stimulus Package, released via Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2010, an album produced entirely by Jake One, created from a relationship forged during the making of Free At Last. After three years of being a dedicated father, working within his community, and touring, Freeway prepares his fourth studio album, Diamond In The Ruff. Reunited with the sounds of Just Blaze, Bink!, as well as a heavy hand from Jake One, Diamond In The Ruff will be released November 27th via Babygrande Records.
|