Ben Freezy Interview

A veteran hip hop artist with a great business savvy, West Columbia(west hell) native Ben Freezy is a
front runner in the rap game. Having previously worked as a producer with big names like Sony (the
company), Clive Davis, Funk Master Flex, and Tyrese, but then making some poor business decisions, he
knows what he wants and how to get it this time around. We met for an interview in downtown
Columbia to catch up on his latest happenings, industry deals, and his upcoming album, Bout my
Bidness. Check it out below:
Minita: Hi Ben, nice to meet you!
Ben: You too! (shaking hands)
Minita: Weve had a time trying to meet but were finally here (smiles).
Ben: Yea. Its been crazy, but Im ready! (chuckles)
Minita: Alright great, so lets get started. Who is Ben Frank (Ben Freezy)? Who is he as an artist and as a
person?
Ben: Well, Ben Frank was a name given to me by my best friend who actually passed so its significant. It
means Im about my money (i.e., Benjamins, Benjamin Franklin). Thats also how I came up with the
name Hustleboy Inc. for my label cause Im always on my hustle. As a person, I can adapt to any
situation no matter who Im talking to. I can have an intellectual conversation just as well as I can get on
a street level.
Minita: Yes, you have to be able to do thatcode switch. Being an artist is not just about rapping theres
a heavy business side.
Ben: Definitely! Ive been in this game since like 1997 and Ive dealt with the snakes, sharks, and the
wolves. You gotta know how to handle them or theyll eat you alive. Everybody cant be trusted.
Minita: I know thats right. Since youve worked with industry heavyweights, you know what to expect.
Is there anybody out there now that you havent collaborated with musically that youd like to?
Ben: Mary J. Blige.
Minita: (interrupts) I love her! (laughs)
Ben: (laughs) Yea and Sade.
Minita: Wow, really!?! Why Sade? Thats a name I havent heard in a while.
Ben: Because her music is the perfect description of a woman Im never gonna meet. See, she breaks it
down like a superwoman and makes it sound so beautiful. Another person is Two ChainsI like his
dialect.
Minita: Ok, yea, her music was nice. Do you have plans to work with SC artists?
Ben: I have already extended my hand to SC artists, so its up to them to choose to collaborate or not.
Weve gotta support each other more in SC because the A&R reps in NY & LA already know the market.
Other cities really push their local artists and SC has to do a better job of that if we really want to get on
the map.
Minita: True. I believe networking is key.
Minita: So lets talk about the music itself. Are you signed to a label?
Ben: Well, I have a distribution deal with Island Def Jam and a Publishing deal with EA sports (IDC
independent distribution collective liscensing music group)
Minita: Thats fantastic! Congratulations! Thats a major accomplishment and step in the right direction.
Ben: Thanks. Im working with producer Bobby Kritical and DJ Lucky Leon on 1
st
Single from
Columbia/Atlanta. Theyre well established.
Minita: Tell me what hip hop means to you, Ben?
Ben: Hip hop is my life. I do this daily. I live it, and tell it well. When people let you down, theres always
a song to get you through. I provide that for my fans just its been provided for me.
Minita: Who are your fans; your listening audience?
Ben: Anybody and everybody. I make songs that everybody can feel in some way. I have some crunk
music, you can see that in one of my videos on YouTube called Wind It Up by the Official Twerk Team. I
got some Down South, laid back, and hardcore music & R&B how ever way im feelin or wanna express
an expierience Ive faced.
Minita: What do you mostly rap about (struggle, hustle, progress, life)?
Ben: My music is about life experiences. I cant talk about anybody elses experiences like I can talk
about mine. I also give advice in my music because, like I said, the game can be dirty and Ive played my
part in it.
Minita: Absolutely. You need good guidance. Speaking of guidance, if you had to choose someone in the
industry as your personal mentor, who would it be and why?
Ben: I would say Damon Dash. I like his business savvy. I met him when I was with Sony (Japan)
producing. I also like Russell Simmons cause hes a philanthropist.
Minita: For sure! Hes iconic.
Ben: Yep.
Minita: So what are your plans for 2012?
Ben: Im actually carrying them out. My resolution for 2012 is setting examplesno more talking.
Minita: Sounds good! And tell us the name of the upcoming album and when it will drop.
Ben: Its called Freezys PlayHouse-Sheet Side/ Street Side double cd. It comes out on February 14. All
of my music can be accessed by Googling my name Ben Frank Ben Freezy, or searching Youtube,
ReverbNation, CD Baby, and ITUNES.
Minita: Any shout outs before we part ways?
Ben: Id like to give a shout out to my family, Hustleboy Inc., Levitate Magazine, Palmetto Fresh,
SwitchSlash, Mugga Man, Santiago, Ant Hustle, Suga Bear, Kryptonite, GeecheeOne, Carminski, Ms.
Sandra Wilson (Blog Talk Radio), H.Dub (Hot 103.9), DJ Prince Ice, Big Homie, Charleston Expose DVD,
and Nobody Grinds Like Us stevo dollas, we got now mixtapes, stack up & blaze, charles stokes,mita
drumline, buddah ratt, goodfella, meko young world ent, metrofficial,haze karolina,dat piff,the us
navy,army,marines, airforce, karen brown,vicky loc-down ent,colors, e-klazz,rezzy entertainment,cynthia
hardy, red room studios, sound check studio,wsouf radio (bosslady), shay shay & robocop (duo goongurl
head bussas) west hell, dixianna, dat west in da chuck da g garden boyz/dodge city HOOD POLITICIAN
HP, Oz laflare (Riverside goonscity) & MY FRANKBOOK FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS & WATCHERS. LOVE
Minita: Its been so nice talking to you Ben. I wish you all the best. Since youre a veteran, Im going to
ask you to give some words of advice to novices in the field.
Ben: FRANKBOOK 100: IN THIS GAME THERES 3 PROSPECTS U WILL DEAL WIT; THE SHARK,SNAKE OR
THE BIG BAD WOLF. AND IF U DONT KNOW HOW TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OR BECOME ONE OF THE
3, U WILL BE EATEN ALIVE, SO KEEP U A BIBLE HANDY AND A 9MM!!!!! FREEZY