UK Rap Star Fredo Isn’t Resting On His Laurels

From the release of “They Ain’t 100” in 2016, to going No. 1 with Dave last year, to now finally releasing your debut album on a major—when you were just a guy from the roads who rapped every now and then, did you ever think you would be in the position that you’re in right now?

Not really, you know. It’s all happened mad fast. I’ll tell you straight: at the start, it was blatantly just… not a hood ting, but there was just bare yutes rapping and I felt like they weren’t doing it right. Then that led to what it is now. I’m taking it more serious now though, because I’ve seen what it is and what it isn’t—how positive it is, and shit like that. But when I first started out, there wasn’t a plan.

Your rise has been rapid, and you’re pretty much a star in every hood at this point. How have you found that transition from being unknown to everyone knowing who are you are? Have you had to move differently in any way?

A lot has changed, but nothing’s changed at the same time. I can prove my money now—that’s a big thing that’s changed. The feds can’t take nothing off me! I don’t go out a lot, I don’t go to most places I’m invited to, so a lot of stuff hasn’t changed. I still be round over my sides and stuff, but a lot has changed too; I can finally put things in my name now [laughs]. My mum’s not on to me no more—I’ve got a legit job now.

How did you even get into rapping?

In December 2015, I decided I wanted to try and make a song, just to have a voice from my side. Bare man around me was doing it and it was just like, if they can do it, I’m gonna try and do a little something as well. And then I dropped “They Ain’t 100”.

Did you expect “They Ain’t 100” to blow up like it did?

Nah, it wasn’t for that. It was just for the roads, type of thing. It was just to let people know what me and my people are dealing with.

Which artists, growing up, would you say left a lasting impression on you?

I was listening to 50 [Cent] and Styles P in primary school—they were some of the first artists I remember listening to. Then, in secondary, I was listening to a lot of Giggs. Giggs and Tiny Boost. Then when I was about 15/16, I kinda fell back off music; I was young and living reckless on the roads so I wasn’t locked in like I was before.

Was there a particular mixtape or album that motivated you on your street hustle?

It didn’t really motivate me like that, but I used to listen to Giggs’ mixtapes and a lot of 50 Cent.

Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ era?

I was in Year 5 when Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ came out. That was the first time I heard something like that.

What was it about that album that connected with you?

It was just different to anything that was out at the time. I used to listen to garage music too, like old-school UK garage. I used to play that stuff in the house, DJ Luck and MC Neat, and also Vybz Kartel and them man. When I went to America I was like 10, and I remember I used to bang Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ every day. It had that front cover that looked like it was all cracked and that.

You mentioned UK garage so I have to ask: do you like, or did you ever partake in grime music?

Nah, not really. I dunno know, man, I just never really got into it like that. Even all the grime artists, I don’t really know any of them apart from Ghetto, and the only grime tune I really liked was “Pow!”. When it comes to the real hard, fast spitting, I never really used to keep up with that.

Apart from your lyrical content, you’re quite a clean and precise artist. By clean, I mean your whole presentation—everything from your delivery through to the way that you dress is just clean. Have you always been like this?

That’s me. Check my first video, bro. That’s another reason why I started rapping: what these bruddas are rapping about is what we’re actually living. That’s just me, still. I like all that. Even when I was younger and had no money, I always liked clothes. When I got to around 16/17 and started getting money-money, I always just wanted to buy clothes with it. The older niggas on my block, that’s what they were dealing with—bare designer. That’s the sort of stuff we used to look up to.