So give us a general description of you as an artist, what cultures and experiences cultivated this persona of Fredo, and/or this identity of yours?
So real live I've been making music since like sixth grade, and when I first started making music on, you know, when you're in like sixth grade like you don't really have much to talk about, so we were talking about some bullshit, and at the time, when I was in fifth grade, I was like I was popular like people knew of me.
So, I was kind of cool with everybody. I was hanging with the jocks at the time, so I when I made music and like a 6th grade, niggas wasn't fucking with me. So I sort of stopped making music after that shit, just because of people like clowned me and shit. And then when I got to high school, I started making music again and it was a completely different reaction, they started fucking with it.
Basically, my name is Freddie. But like when I when I got to high school and niggas just started calling me Freddo. So Freddo became my name and then I created a platform that I'm still trying bring up, like do merch, create like a record label, all that, eventually, when shit gets popping and that where the Top Hill comes from.
Hopefully, if I get poppin one day I can make something of a Top Hill Records. I have like my own Top Hill store and like sell like my own merch and shit.
What I was thinking when I was reading about Top Hill was that your goal is the top of the mountain like, you're always climbing towards it, that's the aesthetic of it?
Exactly so, the way I made the brand was kind of like you always want to be at the top and never the bottom you feel me? But to get to the top you have to go through the valleys and shit. You got to go through the little hills and little roads, little rough patches, and stuff to make it to the top. And then I just decided I'd make it a brand and brand myself as Top Hill Fredo.
My next question for you is, how would you describe your music to somebody?
My music is very sonic very harmonic and melodic. When I grew up singing I'd be using a lot of autotune and shit. So I mean, it's very upbeat very happy. I try to use a lot of happy beats? I'm not depressed and shit you feel me? I don't know. Very sonic, I would say. Timeless. You can always go back and listen to that shit and it'll still crank no matter, where you are or what kind of place you're in.
I can hear that Top Hill mentality in that too.
Exactly.
Who inspires you for your sound? It doesn't have to be artists doesn't have to be a producer doesn't have to be anyone in the music industry per se, it could be whoever.
I think I inspire myself bro.
I inspire myself every day. Like you wake up and you like, how can I get this bread? You feel me? Like you wake up being like:
"Yo, I'm gonna get to this bag and however, I do it, whether it's my job, whether it's music, whether it's selling clothes, whether it's whatever bro like, I'm just gonna find a way to make some money."
But, we could talk musical inspirations. I get a lot of inspiration from Travis Scott. I love him, got a lot of Uno the Activist, if anyone knows who that is. A lot of Uzi a lot of Carti, a lot of Pierre Bourne.
Oh, yeah, of course.
The only thing I don't fuck with is country music. They can keep that country yee-haw shit on the other side, forreal.
I want you to walk us through the steps that you take to create a track. What is your creative process? Do you happen to just walk into the studio and throw some beats on until one stick? Or is there a more delicate process involved?
For the tape regarding, my boy Ronnie Choc, we produce most of the beats on this tape. So usually it's like, a package is like a four-beat pack so like four beats in the pack.
Like I'll just go through the pack and whatever I'm feeling at the time is usually what I hop on, and then when I first put the beat on, I listen to it a couple of times and I turn on my like presets and everything. But you always have to start with the hook bruh. The hook gotta be the hottest thing on the song.
So you're into this like: "Yo, I need to make every track I make a vibe like this hook has to be infectious."
Bro I'm known for my hooks yo haha, shit has to be poppin. at all times. Like if I'm doing a feature for someone it's a little different. But, usually, when I start off my songs I'll start off with the intro. I try to like to set something up. Then I'll do the hook, and then I'll add a few verses in.
So for features, have you ever been brought on to just do a hook?
Yeah, people have asked me for features where I only sing the hook. I just don't like doing it that way.
To me, if it's your song, you should be on the hook. Cuz the hook, however fire, may not fit on the beat either.
Or the subject matter either, right? Like it’s just the principle of the thing?
Yeah, exactly. But this music shit is saturated. That's why it's hard for talented people to truly stand out.
Exactly, and that's why we're doing this man. To show the talent within this underground community, because everyone wants to be a rapper, everyone wants to be a singer. But you rarely see those willing enough to put the effort, the time, and the energy into making that dream a reality.
Exactly, and that's love, for real. Because not many people put us underground talent on. Speaking of, the tape is a collab tape, with two other artists. The first is BishSzn, and the other is MALO!. It's just a group of us three, close friends who make music so we all just came together and made the tape.
What do you believe is your singularity in the Music Industry? What do you believe you brought into the fold that wasn't there when you came?
I think I bring a sense of modesty to the game. A lot of these niggas in the industry are fake, but if I get a bag, I know I'm really not gonna change. I'll be the same person, just with a lot of money haha. I'll still use my platform, which would be Top Hill, to help put other niggas on.
Build studios around local communities and whatnot, make this a brand that everyone can look up to. Because niggas were really in the same position at one point. But forreal, I would be like the most unfamous famous person bro haha. I would drive my Ford Focus until the tires fall off that shit. Like I can't be somebody that I'm not. For me what makes me happy is waking up and having the freedom to do whatever you want to do.
I'm glad that the aspects you're bringing to the game come from a sense of being grounded. So my next question is kind of off-kilter, but hear me out. Where do you think you would be right now if you weren't pursuing music? What would you be doing at this exact moment?
If I wasn't pursuing music? I would probably be doing something along the lines of clothes and fashion.
So you'd still be in the entertainment industry then.
Yeah, of course. Also if I was a bit taller, I would definitely be in the NBA. But niggas are short, I'm like 5'9" haha. But I work for Nike right now so like I'm tryna go corporate if this music shit doesn't work out, but I'm not even gonna start thinking like that.
Nah, of course not. You should never completely dash your craft completely, you put that in the back burner and work on it steadily until you perfect it.
Exactly. You also need the monetary value, the money, to make your dreams a reality bro. You can have all the dreams you want but without the ability to make them real, they just dream. That’s why if anyone says they’re done making music. They’re either broke or they definitely got another job bro. No one likes to show their failures.
Yup, everyone shows their highlight reel and never their background shit.
Facts.
Big shout out to Top Hill Freddo for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply. If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with him you can find him on Instagram and his music on his Soundcloud which is above. While you there check out his new release collab tape “Last Call Friendly” with Malo, and 1990Bishop you definitely won’t be disappointed!