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“This blog consists of excerpts from our new press release concerning a recent attack after I was honored with a spot on Miss Kemi’s “Top 10 Canadian Rappers” list featured online on the Nigerian Canadian News. A press release will be posted on the News Page of my website, but I’m posting this blog consisting of my response to the attacks using quotes from my management as well as my own comments”. – Freddy Will
“We manage and promote the Grammy-nominated artist and author Freddy Will because he is a very talented artist, an insightful writer, a good actor and a down to earth person if you get the chance to meet him in person. We are cautious in how we credit Freddy Will’s achievements. But recently, some characters hiding behind the moniker of “M. Matthews” became enraged over Freddy Will’s appearance on Miss Kemi’s Top 10 list. They had choice words that bore no effect. Bear in mind, “M. Matthews” is a group of faceless cowards alleging to have won Grammy’s but would not show proof of their existence. They made it their mission to ignite controversy over Freddy Will’s achievements. We noted what he has done through PR so that it is not overlooked. This has denied them of their ploy which is to hide Freddy Will in a large shuffle of artists. We have addressed all allegations online showing proof where needed, but that was not enough to satisfy them.” – GBE Press Release.
I performed in several countries before I came to Canada. But in Canada, I faced unfair censorship. Many saw me as a new artist looking to break on the scene; not knowing I had already gained respect on the streets in other countries like The Gambia; for example. After several attempts to sabotage or single me out from reaching radio and media acclaim in Toronto, some were disappointed to learn that I am connected within regions of Canada and in some other countries where they have no influence. There were criticisms of my street image/gangster lyrics which led me to write my first book, “My Book of Chrymes” published by Soul Asylum Poetry and Publishing and Freddy Will Publishing (my publishing company). Some tried to suggest poverty but quickly repealed that when I showed up in a late model SUV. Due to some unconventional obstacles, I decided to launch an imprint which would include my record label. (So I won’t depend on a recording contract from Canadian majors), my publishing company (to protect my released material), my websites and blog for PR, my distribution company and Soul Asylum Jamroom (to eliminate any dependency or hindrance by the CRTC systems in Canada). Freddy Will Industries is a compact unit registered in the USA that functions independently with contracted associates and volunteers from across the globe.
I believe those negative comments on Miss Kemi article were an emotional and personal outburst showing outrage for failures of these people to prevent me from succeeding. Miss Kemi, a respected and controversial journalist, published an article with me on the list. That article bypassed some subliminal saboteurs who have had their reasons why a musician from the United States should not succeed in Canada. Even though I came from Sierra Leone, the fact that I entered Canada through the United States has led many to ignore my African side. I suspect that the people hiding behind this fake moniker are previously canned associates of mine whom I do not wish to name until we have definite proof. They zeroed in on three of my current achievements mentioned in the Kemi article and deliberately misinterpreted what was said. These are the comments made in the article:
“Freddy Will born Wilfred Kanu Jr. – is a Grammy Nominated Sierra Leonean Hip-Hop artist and author who had initially survived two genocidal civil wars when he was a kid in West Africa. Almost all of those whom he grew up with were brutally murdered. He spent most of his adult years in New Jersey and recently came to Toronto, Canada to record his album. Today, Freddy Will runs his independent imprint which is distributed internationally and includes his charity foundation that gives back to impoverished hospitals in West Africa. He was recently awarded his own postal stamp in Sierra Leone after he released his second book with a corresponding album in their Krio Language. Some of his best-known accomplishments are: (1) the first person from Sierra Leone to be nominated under a Grammy category after working with both Grammy and JUNO Award-winning artists and producers. (2) the world’s first musical artist to release consecutive albums with similar books and (3) the only Sierra Leonean born artist and author with a significant western fan base.”- The Nigerian Canadian News.
“Freddy Will is the first “artist and author” from Sierra Leone to be nominated “under” a Grammy “category” GBE Management has always credited the album, the producers and all artists on the nominated album. GBE has never stated anywhere that the nomination was a sole hip-hop nomination garnered by Freddy Will only. We all know that every song comes with a title featuring the artist, band or group of singers/rappers who sang on it. It is a custom industry practice. When an artist is involved in a nominated group project, it is not merely to say the “artist” was involved in the project. Along with the executive producers, each artist on the album is also a nominee. Freddy Will even had access to two tickets (one for him and one for his date) to the Grammy award show in Los Angeles with backstage passes like each executive producer and every artist on the album. If the record had won, each artist would have received a Grammy. This is a huge accomplishment for the team of producers, artists and Freddy Will be an independent African artist who is also an author. – GBE Press Release.
I am one of very few artists and authors from Sierra Leone who has come this far artistically. Some have suggested that just by stating my achievements, I am somehow diminishing other artists from the region, but this is not so. I’m repping for the area instead. If I worked with both Grammy and JUNO Award-winning artists and producers, shouldn’t I say it? It does not mean that I’m boastful or cocky when I say I’m the first artist and author from the region to release following books with corresponding albums. There is a lot more than I need do but these are some of my proud achievements thus far. If anything, this should be a ‘BIG UP” to Sierra Leone because one of their own has made it this now paving the way for others.
“Freddy Will is the world’s first musical artist to release “consecutive” albums with “corresponding” books and the only Sierra Leonean born”artist and author” with a significant western fan base. Our independent distribution and publishing company is not linked to the CRTC or Soundscan in any way because our markets are not only in Canada. We ship books and CDs to various countries. His books are even available in libraries within The United States and Canada, and we sell books directly through Soul Asylum Poetry and Publishing and also on Amazon. Our iTunes and CDBABY spreadsheets show downloads from places as far as New Zealand where Freddy Will has never been. We also have a music Jamroom with Double K Records which is another outlet for our music distribution – check the links to listen to one of his albums.” – GBE Press Release.
Yes, there are legendary Sierra Leone artists like Jimmy B, Chosen and Nene Cherry who went worldwide with their music. There were legendary bands that did the same thing too, but they were artists not artists and authors at the same time. Is that a bad thing to say if I have actually done it? www.freddywill.com – it’s all there!!! – Artist and author mean “one person” that is attributed to “both talents” who has released books and CDs. There are other famous Sierra Leone singers and bands inside Sierra Leone and in the United States who are much respected in Sierra Leone, but they are not authors as well.
There are notable authors from Sierra Leone, but they are not artists. I am the first one from the country to put both music and literary writings in one package for each album. If you check out the people who I interact with on Facebook, most of them I have never met. All live in different counties – Spain, Holland, Italy, the UK, several regions in Canada and the United States, the Middle East, all over Africa, I even have people from India, Australia, and Asia. The only place where I have not seen a showing yet is in Russia. These people have either downloaded the album and/or bought the book or checked out my YouTube channels and the majority of them are not Sierra Leoneans. These are who were referred to as my significant Western fan base.
The whole point of this blog is, I wanted to make very clear, that I am proud of my achievements and I also celebrate the accomplishments of the producers and nominees I was fortunate to work with. I am pleased to have been born in Sierra Leone, and I work hard to make Africa proud. I am very grateful for all my homies in the USA and Canada, and I’m thankful to everyone who has supported me. Whatever adverse claims were made against me in those comments were responded to by my management, and now I have said my peace with more details.*
