J. Cole & Freeway Perform Live At Heineken Inspire Philadelphia

Last night's Heineken Inspire event in Philly, it was an all-star line-up of the best in R&B and Hip Hop with Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius, J. Cole, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Musiq Soulchild were all in the house for this one of a kind concert.

History was made when Roc Nation's J. Cole surprised everyone by bringing hometown Roc-A-Fella favorite Freeway for an impromtu set that made the fans go wild.

Photo links:
Wire Image
Anmlhse

(video courtesy of elektrik788)

Freeway & Jake One, Joell Ortiz At Highline Ballroom NYC

Freeway & Jake One - The Stimulus Package Album Release Party with Joell Ortiz & Brother Ali & DJ Snuggles opening the show at the Highline Ballroom, NYC Tuesday, February 16.

Photos:
Prefix Magazine
MetroMixNY

(Video courtesy of beatmakersedition.com, TheLSC & miss info)

Freeway: Philidelphia Hometown Newspaper Feature Interview

via Philadelphia Daily News

What made you decide on the name "The Stimulus Package" for this album?

I feel as though our whole operation is hip-hop recovery. We want to bring back the real hip-hop to the forefront. That's why we call it "The Stimulus Package." We're stimulating hip-hop.

How did you originally hook up with Jake One?

I did some work with Jake One on my last project, "Free At Last," and I also did some work with him on his last album, "White Van Music." The chemistry was there. And after those albums, he continued to send me music and I kept knocking songs out, so we were like, "let's do an album together," and we made it happen.

In the past you worked with a number of different producers on each project. How was it working with just one?

It was cool. It was exciting. He did a good job with the production and everything turned out crazy.

What was it like working with Rhymesayers in contrast to Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam?

It's more intimate. I feel as though Rhymesayers worked closer with me on the project and were more hands-on with things. Def Jam is different from that.

On the album, you shouted out to the Roc-A-Fella and your State Property family frequently, and had tracks featuring Sparks, Young Chris and Beanie Siegel as well. Is this the sign of another State Property album in the future?

I mean, hopefully we can get it done. Right now there's no plans, but hopefully with projects like this, there will be a push forward for us to do another State Property project.

How did some of the other collaborations come together?

I just reached out to them and they showed the love. I bumped into Birdman in Miami, him and my man Cee Lo. I told them I needed them on the album and [they were] like, let's do it. I reached out to Raekwon because I had actually done some work on a project of his, and then he did that with me. Everybody from State Property, you know that's family, so it's all love.

What was your favorite song on the album?

I like the whole thing, man. It's a body of work that needs to be together. The way it flows together, everything fits perfect.

On "Throw Your Hands Up" you pay homage to a number of influential hip-hop artists. Who would you say has been the most influential in your career?

I used to like Naughty (By Nature). I used to like Trech a lot. I used to love Dres from Black Sheep. Just their flows, the different flows you know? They really inspired me.

Tell us about your tour plans?

We've got a couple of things in the works. First we're gonna start with album release parties. We've got [them] in Philly, Boston and New York. Then we're going to take it from there.

What can fans expect from Freeway in 2010 and beyond?

I don't even know right now. Right now I can't see past "Stimulus Package." We're just trying to make that successful. Then we're going to figure out what's the next move ... I'm definitely still working. I'm already 50 songs in toward the next project, so whatever that is, I'm going to be ready.

Read the full article here:
Philadelphia Daily News - Music: North Philly's Freeway is back in the fast lane

Statik Selektah Album Release Party NYC

From Wednesday night's (February 3) Statik Selektah's album release party at S.O.B.'s in NYC. Freeway, Styles P, Smif-N-Wessun, Lil Fame (MOP), Consequence, Sha Stimuli and more were on hand for the festivities.

Photos courtesy of Village Slum here:
Statik Selektah Album Release Party NYC set 1
Statik Selektah Album Release Party NYC set 2

Statik Selektah - 100 Proof (The Hangover) on ShowOff/Brick Records in-stores and online now!

(video courtesy of missinfo tv / vibe and TheLSC)

Jake One: Producer Talks To Seattle Times About Upcoming Freeway Album & More

Seattle superproducer Jake One recently released 40 minutes of hiphop with rapper Freeway, one of the most original voices in rap, on a free downloadable mixtape called "The Beat Made Me Do It."

The compositions are simple: looped samples of funk and soul records Jake likes from the late '70s and early '80s. He made the whole thing in three or four hours, he estimates.

"I just grabbed some records and looped 'em up. [Freeway] wanted to do a mixtape and I didn't want to do what everyone else does, rap on 'A Milli' or whatever beat is hot at the moment."

Jake and Freeway are a team; the mixtape promotes "Stimulus Package," the duo's album coming out Febrary 2010.

Jake says during the week the mixtape came together, he would email Freeway a track, and Freeway would make up little bits of rhyme off the top of his head and record them as he went along, stitching together verses, then email the tracks back. That's how most of the mixtape happened, with very little writing or planning.

"For him to do that, it's basically nothing. It's an exercise for him."

Really? Off the top of his head?

"Yeah, four bars, eight bars at a time and go back and do another. He's more about style. He has a really unique style. It's more about his rhythm and flows than what he's saying sometimes. It's about patterns."

Read the full article here:
Seattle Times - Catching up with Seattle superproducer Jake One as he works with Freeway, Dr. Dre, Brother Ali, Fatal Lucciauno

Download Freeway's mixtape here:
"The Beat Made Me Do It."