Fab 5 Freddy Biography

Born Fred Brathwaite in the Bed Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn to jazz-loving parents, Fab's exposure to pop culture came in the form of a name check on Blondie's 1980 song Rapture. FAB 5 FREDDY informed me that everyone is flying. That's where Fab came in. In the early 1980s, he burst onto the scene as one of the first Graffiti artists to show abroad, with close friends and colleagues Futura 2000, Keith Haring, and Jean Michel Basquiat. Fab took use of the chances and contacts he was given to explore all aspects of artistic expression. Fab came up with the idea for Wild Style, the cult classic and first film about hip-hop culture, in collaboration with emerging director Charlie Ahearn, for which he also produced, acted in, and created all of the original music. Moving away from painting in the late 1980s, Fab wanted to reach a wider audience, so he chose to build on his Wild Style experiences and make music videos. His first job was to write the song "My Philosophy" for hip-hop artist KRS-ONE. Fab went on to direct over 75 music videos and commercials for artists like as Queen Latifah, Nas, Snoop Doggy Dog, and Pepsi. He was also a producer on the successful Hollywood picture New Jack City. However, shortly after settling in behind the camera, MTV asked him to host a show called YO! MTV Raps, which quickly became the network's highest rated show and blasted hip-hop culture into the living rooms of mainstream America as well as those of numerous countries around the world, including most of Europe, Africa, Brazil, and Japan. Fab left MTV over ten years later to pursue commercial opportunities, including a brief spell as the president of independent label Pallas Records, where he signed and executive produced the Chicago rap duo Crucial Conflict. Fab, now regarded as one of hip-architects hop's and pioneers, has lectured at schools and universities all over the world, written numerous articles for publications such as The New York Times Magazine, and written a book on hip-hop slang titled Fresh Fly Flavor, words and phrases of the hip hop generation.

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