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This volume includes 2008 – 2012 blog entries on my favorite celebrities, rides, and West African cuisine. It speaks about my introduction to Sierra Leone. There is the process of releasing my first and second books with accompanying albums in Canada. These entries reflect the early stage of my music and literary career. Forming alliances was challenging as a newcomer in the city. So, I took the independent route. To me, success is an act of destiny. It led me to establish my independent record, publishing, and distribution companies after connecting with Soul Asylum Poetry & Publishing Inc.—Brazenitout documents my journey through Hip-Hop, sharing my realizations and experiences.
I was aware of the systemic war against emcees/rappers and Hip-Hop. Still, I was fascinated by the digital technologies, such as smartphones, Wi-Fi, and the internet, that were driving cultural shifts rapidly on a global scale. Initially, I focused on seeking media coverage and live performances. Still, I turned to resources outside the country to ensure the best performance quality. I knew my objectives of recording my albums and publishing my books would never succeed if I stayed silent for a short time. That led me to utilize all my talents, becoming an independent record label executive, music producer, publicist, graphic designer, promoter, author, executive producer, publisher, and philanthropist.
That was my challenge: to secure my legacy, I had to find a balance between creativity and the professional side of artistry while adjusting to a new city. I embraced my limitations with empowerment without driving myself to become a perfectionist. However, now that I repeat the same thing in Germany, I have asked myself if the Canadians got their game from here. There are too many similarities between the two. I was a battle rapper who performed live in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Senegal. Then I went to New Jersey, and almost ten years later, it seemed my legacy had been erased.
In Canada, I wrote blogs not only so people could feel my essence but also to display the unique dynamics of Hip-Hop Kulture, practice my writing skills, re-instill some Conservative values, and show that emcees/rappers are some of the most underrated intellectuals in the world. Using social media, I did my best to remain devoted to my supporters and debunked misconceptions surrounding the Hip-Hop community. Despite many obstacles, I showed determination by successfully launching a noteworthy literary and musical career. It is truly monumental for a musician from Freetown, Sierra Leone, who grew into a man on the East Coast of the United States, to achieve such an unusual feat.
Despite my journey’s sensationalized and self-promotional criticisms, I refuse to stay silent. I cannot let my detractors hold me back. The end justifies the means. If I do not share my experiences and speak my truth, they will be lost, and my legacy will fade into obscurity. Ironically, those who have tried to undermine me have also contributed to my legacy. Whenever they create an obstacle, it stimulates me. The idea of staying quiet to avoid appearing boastful is just another tactic to suppress the movement, and I will not give in to it. Hence, I am left with no alternative but to take center stage before the crowd boldly while clutching my masculinity. That is the epitome of contemporary artistry!
Sometimes, a melody needs to express all that must be conveyed. I am immensely grateful to Hip Hop – the Kulture, tunes, legacy, style, dialect, and all – for enabling me to live a gratifying existence, reveling in the triumphs that come with it. As a creator, I have always been vocal. It all began with a news section on my website, www.freddywill.com. However, I soon realized that my news page became a target for an adversary, tirelessly working behind the scenes to hinder my progress. In response, I revamped it into a blog site, blog.freddywill.com, where I have published my thoughts for over a decade. Each entry is marked with a date indicating its original publication. This highlights the significance of the timing.
After reaching maximum saturation, I integrated my blog into The Sandmann’s Journal, a seven-volume eBook series released in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Germany. Presently, the opportunity has arisen to transform these eBooks into physical copies. That is how you can now peruse the initial installment of Brazenitout (the paperback edition of The Sandmanns Journal). The eBook version was initially published in London, UK, in 2016. Fortunately, I am now releasing the paperback version in Berlin, Germany, in collaboration with the African Book Collective, based in Oxford, UK. Once again, some may find these accomplishments and the development of this project unimpressive.
They hold a sense of magic for me and those who admire me. This is genuinely remarkable coming from Sierra Leone, where such blessings are scarce. This is Brazenitout! In the past, I would often wait months to publish something despite constantly writing and editing behind the scenes. Then, in a single day, I would release six or seven articles, many of which would have the same date. In this series, I have taken the time to revise the grammar and structure to enhance them. I have pragmatically retained the same content from the website. You may wonder why I republished them as eBooks and then in paperback, considering they are from years ago. I decided to do this because I was concerned they may become lost over time. By transforming them into physical copies, I have ensured they will always be available.
These writings are my intellectual property, and I want them to be prominent in my legacy. It is worth noting that some of the entries in this journal may incorporate Ebonics or American street slang. To purchase your copy, click HERE!
