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The best kept secret in music
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On the final episode of MTV’s “Making The Band 2.” the world saw Fred just quit, refusing to return from his Florida home to venture back to New York. In a profanity-laced blaze of glory, the Miami-native cursed out P.Diddy’s handlers (and Da Band’s manager) in a way that truly oozed exasperation and frustration. Things are often different they they seem, especially in reality TV, he maintains. Through the power of editing, he feels as if his (and the entire band’s) image has been distorted unfairly.
Nevertheless, the appeal of the show cannot be denied and its popularity translated into Da Band’s “Too Hot For TV” moving roughly 800,000 units strong. Much of that success grew into emptiness to Fred, who was known for his gritty rhymes and animated stage presence. In an exclusive with Allhiphop.com, Fred speaks on his former band mates, why he feels the show was ended, and the possibility of life after Bad Boy.
AllHipHop.com: Tell the world your side of the story with Puff breaking up Da Band.
Fred: Basically, it was nothing. It is what it is. It’s a show and they did what they had to do. The reason for me leaving is I got my own issues, you know what I’m saying? Everybody in Da Band had somebody that took care of them. I ain’t never came up like that, dog. I’m came up a different kind of way, man. All the issues them motherf**kers have, you know what I’m saying? It’s like, it’s all love and you grow fond of a motherf**ker like they are your brother or sister, but in reality, it’s not. Therefore, why am I suffering for these problems? That’s how I felt. I’m through with that s**t, man. On top of that, the money wasn’t right. Ni**as should be halfway millionaires, but everybody’s getting f**ked. Everybody in the f**king band had problems. The only problem I had was being away from my family.
AllHipHop.com: Rumor has it, the first contract you signed was for something like $8,000?
Fred: Man, that s**t was crazy. We signed contracts before we met Puff. So either way it goes, we was f**ked. We wound up having to get [Diddy’s manager] Phil Robinson [as Da Band’s manager], which was kind of a bad idea and kind of a good idea. In the long run, it hurt us, but at the time we needed him. That kept a lot of money from coming our way. Shows were getting canceled and all types of s**t. I’m the type of ni**a that feels like if I got to get it like that, I’d rather get it on the street. I don’t need to be hustlin’ for another motherf**ker who’s getting way more money than I am off a project. But it’s all love. A ni**a ain’t got no hate. What more can he do for me but take from me?
I’m focused on my own project. I got a clothing line called “Eddie Kane.” The name of my group is “Hardheadz.” My diapers and pacifier game is about to hit the streets in a minute. I’m fittin’ to do it different. A ni**a can’t hold me down. I’m rich. I didn’t make more than $65,000 with Bad Boy, but I’m rich. Not with money, just my face. My face can generate money at any time. I got a couple of deals on the table now, but I’m looking for the major label deal. I got this album fittin’ to come out called Life’s What You Make It. The streets need to know about that.
AllHipHop.com: What did the whole Bad Boy experience teach you about the game and the music industry?
Fred: I learned a lot from Puff. He didn’t teach us nothing, but we watched from the outside. You’ve got some CEOs who’ll teach you about the game and want to see you do good. Then you got some ni**as that’s only about business. We didn’t even have a budget; you know what I’m saying? We don’t know what was spent. We didn’t do too much spending because MTV paid for everything. They was paying Puff rent for us staying in the house and they was making money off the show. Money was generating everywhere for them. I feel them, though, because when you look at something like that, it’s an opportunity. [Puff] looked at it like there was more money to be made.
He didn’t know us from a hole in the wall. In the beginning when he took a crack at it, I could see he was pimpin’ us the first season. He got off hard. The second season, I could still see he was doing it, but he was looking out for ni**as. His whole intention was to show the world that he brought these ni**as from the hood, did something for them, and he didn’t have to. That’s the whole thing they are trying to get the world to believe. If your heart was really like that, around the second season, you would have made sure ni**as was straight. Due to the success we brought them, I would have made sure Da Band was halfway millionaires. You would think he would have the audacity to at least look out for a motherf**ker, but it’s all good. He brought me where I’m at. And he can’t take that from me. That’s something God took me through. I had to go through that to get here.
AllHipHop.com: Talk about some of the portrayals of the band members and if all of what we saw on TV was actually true.
Fred: How coul - All Hip Hop .com
Discography
Bad Boy Da Band "Too Hot For TV"
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Freddy P
Few rap artists have a distinctive sound that can be identified regardless of the tracks their vocals grace. In todays fickle rap industry rappers switch their flow faster than they upgrade their bling. Freddy P.s distinctly raw southern gutter sound is what initially made him a favorite on MTVs first installment of P Diddys Making the Band. As the show progressed fans got up close and personal with all five band members, but Freddy P. remained a favorite, despite drama with his housemates and even fans fascination with his habit of sucking his thumb.
Four years later and Freddy P. is one of the few artists that define the pure unadulterated southern artist. With his passionate vocals and loyalty to his southern roots, Freddy P. is determined to rep Miami to the fullest. Born Fred Watson in Floridas Dade country, Freddy P. was never a stranger to struggling. As a teenager, writing lyrics came naturally and once he discovered his flow, Freddy P. began gaining recognition on the local radio stations and throughout Dade County.
Freddys candid references to a humble upbringing and a life on the streets of Dade County, are sprinkled throughout his contributions to Da Bands first and only release. Shortly after the album release Diddy dis-banded his self-appointed group of misfits. Freddy says his reality TV experience was a blessing, as it afforded him exposure to over 16 million fans, but being a member of a group was never his long term goal. They were advertising on the radio for Diddys group and a friend of mine kept trying to get me to go. I wasnt going anywhere. I was busy trying to make my money. So he paid me to go up to the station and try out. I made it and that was it, Freddy P. explains. He was neither surprised nor disappointed when it became obvious his relationship with Bad Boy was over. We sold over Million copies of that record. It was a success, I have no regrets about anything but Ive moved on.
Currently, Freddy P. is focused on his new solo project entitled All or Nothing. The single Its Whatever is scorching up the charts as it re-introduces Freddy to his old MTV audience and a whole new crop of fans. The single features hot new producer Young Juve (So So Def) and showcases what Freddy P. describes as monster music. Thats what we do; we make monster music, music that is raw. It bounces off the walls. Either youre a monster or youre going to end up hiding up under the bed, he laughs when describing his signature sound.
Besides All or Nothing Freddy P. is spearheading the launch of his production company called PJ1 Productions. Currently the roster boasts two artists: Pressure and Young Rayzor. Rayzors talent is more advanced than most folks out here. He has a passion and energy for what hes doing. Hes my protégé right now. Pressure has the grind. He is a great writer and hes creative. Hes focused on longevity. Im going to put their projects out after my album drops, Freddy P. says.
For those who doubt success after reality TV, Freddy P. is proving to be the exception to the rule. By combining raw talent, street savvy, business sense and honesty along with a natural charisma Freddy P. has validated himself as the real thing and not a gimmicky commercial artist. When asked where he draws his inspiration for his lyrics, Freddy P. simply states, I definitely mean everything I say. If I havent lived it or dont mean it, I cant deliver it.
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