Directed by Big Sproxx.
First cut off The FW’s upcoming new album, out August 1st.
Previously: VIDEO: FREEDOM WRITERS PERFORMANCE @ R.I.S.E. CONCERT
More footage from Manifesto 2013! Copp Now now.
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Twitter – @manifesto_TO
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Instagram – @manifesto_TOVisit http://listen.themanifesto.ca to hear the whole @FreedomWriters_ Album “Now”
For more information visit http://www.themanifesto.ca/festival/2…
Manifesto: Live At The Square
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@isatona
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Previous: VIDEO: FREEDOM WRITERS PERFORMANCE @ R.I.S.E. CONCERT
More footage from the R.I.S.E. concert last month. Shouts to the FW mans dem. Copp “Now” now.
Check out more clips via the homies at CityOnClouds.
Freedom Writers performed last during the first day of the Concert. This was one of the most anticipated performances people were looking forward to. The whole crowd was going nuts when they took over the stage and it was evident in the videos. We also witnessed Progress freestyle and he wow’d the crowd with the things that he had to say.
I know you’re not sleeping, right? Copp “Now” now.
Previous: INTERVIEW: FREEDOM WRITERS W/ EXCLAIM.CA
Exclaim with some healthy choperation with the Freedom Writers fam. Copp “Now” now damnit.
By Luke Fox
Something decidedly un-screwface has happened in Toronto.Six individual solo artists have put egos aside and let ideas take centre stage for the better of the whole, establishing a super collective of sword-sharp wordsmiths. The Freedom Writers’ beats are thick, their concepts are varied and their standards are high.
Now is more than solid, intricate rap record; it’s a statement about community and talent and ideas. “When we formed this, we could’ve picked anybody from the whole city. I don’t think anybody would’ve said no,” says producer Big Sproxx, who provides a varied palette for five MCs (plus guests) to spill their thoughts and stories and punch lines.
Theo 3, Tona, Adam Bomb, Frankie Payne and Progress — all regarded solo rappers, each with their own strengths — sit in an empty room on the ground floor of a west side apartment building and discuss their collaboration, taking a break from rehearsing their new songs. They talk about process and late-night eating and, most importantly, truth. Which is what they’re searching for with open ears.
As Frankie says, “The truth can come from an activist or an asshole.”
With so many different voices and opinions, how did you make the LP sound so cohesive?
Progress: Because everyone gives their raw opinion, what makes it cohesive is the honesty. Politically speaking, people don’t think wildly different on this team. There are differences in opinion, but we’re close enough that if everyone’s just honest, it’ll sound cohesive. We didn’t have to put energy into making the album conceptually cohesive; it just happened.Do you write solo or together?
Theo 3: At least four of five songs were written right on the spot.Tona: We’re all in different sections of the city. It’s rare that when we had sessions, certain individuals didn’t show up. When we were all together, we made sure we used that time to create music.
Adam Bomb: If somebody has [a concept] going, it’s easy for the rest of the team to bounce off what’s already there. We don’t take a record and say, “OK, everybody go home and write about this.” Whoever’s on the spot, if you have something, cool. If you don’t have something, we’ll just stick with what we got.
Tona: And if somebody couldn’t make it that day? You weren’t on the record.
Big Sproxx: I’d say half the songs, it was just me and Tona. The first song we did, no one else was there. He had a hook already done for his solo thing, but then he thought it would better suit what we were doing. So he was the first to lay [down his vocals], then other guys would come in sporadically on different days and fill theirs in. So some songs did get built in a staggered way, but it still has the cohesiveness you’re talking about.
Frankie Payne: We all have a silent agreement to keep things as natural as possible. It all comes down to timing and circumstances. Even with “Soldier,” I had an idea for a hook, and then man after man came and jumped on it and started adding their ideas. There is no forced creativity; it’s all organic.
Adam Bomb: That’s the best thing about the team. There’s no script, there’s no demand; it’s just six ideas in a room, and we come up with whatever we come up with.
Theo: No one takes offence to their idea being shot down. Before you came, we were rehearsing for the show. If someone said, “Lets try this…,” [another might say] “No. Shut the fuck up. That’s horrible.” And that’s OK. He’ll fall back.
Frankie Payne: There is no filter.
Adam Bomb: There are a lot of records on there where it’s like, “Who’s going to do this song the most justice? Let’s let them do their thing.” To be able to add to a record is cool, but it’s also good to back off a record.
Previous: EVENT: FREEDOM WRITERS LIVE @ THE MOD CLUB (“NOW” ALBUM RELEASE PARTY)
This is the only place to be Thursday night.
Congrats to Big Sproxx and the whole fam for following through and putting out a project that we’re not only anticipating but that actually contains thought-provoking messages that matter. Mans sacrifice their whole lives for this hip-hop sh*t and I can say from first hand knowledge that the members of Freedom Writers specifically have not only sacrificed to make important music as a group and throughout their individual careers but have also dedicated themselves to bettering their communities through hands on work with the youth. Salute gentlemen! Whether through your music or through your service you are actually helping to make a difference rather than just pimping this music thing for all it’s worth. Congrats again on the release and thank you for your important contributions to Toronto’s hip-hop legacy.
Previous: NEW MUSIC: FREEDOM WRITERS “SOON” (EP)
F-dub continues their debut album (out Oct 10th) push with a 9-track EP of joints that pretty much seems like an attempt to spoil the kids, lol..
Are you thirsty for new FREEDOM WRITERS music? Look no further than the 100% original FW buzz cd “SOON” featuring 6 NEW blazing tracks including fan favourites “The Grille” and the recently released banger “Real”. Special guest Emcees Via Linez, Mathematik and Sese add some heavyweight bars alongside the FW massive.
Grab it now at http://freedomwritersmusic.
bandcamp.com/album/soon for only $3!Limited edition CD’s will be available for $5 at the Manifesto main stage performance on September 22nd 2013. Get em while you can!
Previously: NEW MUSIC: FREEDOM WRITERS “REAL” (PROD. BIG SPROXX)
More new on-point-ness from F-dub.
“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”- Ralph Ellison
“Real” is just that. An on the spot, stake your claim, speak your piece type of track that was the first recorded collaboration of the FREEDOM WRITERS. Amazing lyricist Progress would enter the fray immediately after, but this meeting of the minds between Tona, Theo3, Frankie Payne, Adam Bomb and Sproxx drew from the influences in the studio that day, the throwback feel of the beat and the developing chemistry that would lead to many great songs, concepts and even a full album entitled NOW. Stay tuned, there’s much more on the way.
““There’s a unique vibe when you descend down the dark basement steps at Sproxx’s studio, wind through the corridor and end up in the proverbial shrine to all things late 80’s to mid 90’s Hip Hop. Pristine positioned 12” vinyl records adorn the walls from the likes of Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Gang Starr and Public Enemy. Quotable lyrics from the Source magazine have been meticulously clipped and pinned at eye level. If you didn’t come to write rhymes or immerse yourself in the Boom Bap laced production jumping out of the monitor speakers, you’d be missing a chance to create that classic rap music.” – Theo3
Catch the FREEDOM WRITERS Live at the MANIFESTO Festival in downtown Toronto on September 22^nd 2013 at Dundas Square. www.themanifesto.ca(ht
tp://www.themanifesto.ca/) Don’t miss the FREEDOM WRITERS album release party for “NOW” onOctober the 10^th 2013 at the MOD club with special guests RICH KIDD and DJ’s Grouch, Mel Boogie, D Scratch, Phat Tony and DJs Riccachet & Thera-P of Sweet Touch Foundation. Opening act 5Fingers 1Fist.
Directed by Big Spoxx.
“Olympics got money and so did G20 then, when comes to feeding hungry they ain’t got none.”- Adam Bomb
Toronto, ON.
Originally released with a full length video in 2011, and appearing on the upcoming Freedom Writers project “Now” is the smooth, ominous indictment of the status quo entitled Arizona Bay. Featuring a specific delayed rhyme pattern fashioned by friend to the collective Franz Thomas, and carried on throughout the track by Freedom Writers Adam Bomb and Frankie Payne, this politically charged offering is sure to spark critical thought and dialogue. Big Sproxx delivers dark, airy production constructing the perfect backdrop to the song’s subject matter. Find out more about the creative process behind Arizona Bay as well as the meaning of the unique title in this week’s Freedom Friday installment.
Click here to watch Arizona Bay
Click here to watch the making of Arizona Bay
www.Freedomwritersmusic.com
www.freedomwritersmusic.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/FreedomWritersMusic
www.facebook.com/freedomwritersmusic
www.twitter.com/FreedomWriters_
Previously: NEW VIDEO: FREEDOM WRITERS “THE MAKING OF… BETTER ONES” (DIRECTED BY BIG SPROXX)
Directed by Big Spoxx.
FW begin to roll-out their “NOW” promo campaign with some short virals discussing the making of cuts off the album.
“Hip Hop needs this” – Badperm.com
“The Freedom Writers have potential to break more ground than an earthquake” – Toronto Star“Unprecedented” – Shad KThe time is NOW. Critically acclaimed Toronto Hip Hop collective the Freedom Writers are set to launch their highly anticipated debut album to the World this fall. Armed with a deadly combination of issue driven, thought provoking lyrics, bangin beats and powerful punchlines, the first full length release “NOW” represents over 2 years of dedicated work and collaboration. Every FRIDAY new audio, video, interviews or performance footage will be shared with fans and supporters via FREEDOM FRIDAYS on social media and through the FW page Fdubmusic.com. Get insights from the crew on how songs were crafted and what the vibe was like creating the record.Share, Listen and Enjoy. The FW movement has arrived!.
“The school system doesn’t need more books they need better ones” – Tona
The first track recorded on the Freedom Writers album was the hard hitting track “Better Ones” complete with guest hook and verse from legendary T.O. emcee Mathematik, a bass heavy banger from producer Big Sproxx and rapid fire knowledge from Tona, Frankie Payne, Progress and Adam Bomb. Here’s how it all went down!
www.Freedomwritersmusic.com
www.freedomwritersmusic.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/FreedomWritersMusic
www.facebook.com/freedomwritersmusic
www.twitter.com/FreedomWriters_
Previously: NEW MUSIC: THEO3 – Enticement (FreEP)
Previously: NEW VIDEO: FREEDOM WRITERS “NOW” (PROMO)
Previously: NEW MUSIC + VIDEO: THEO3 – Clouds (Prod. Audible Doctor)
Previously: NEW VIDEO: FREEDOM WRITERS – THE GRILLE (DIRECTED BY BIG SPROXX)
Previously: NEW VIDEO: FRANKIE PAYNE – FOLLOW YOUR HEART (DIRECTED BY TESSEFA FRANCIS)
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