Hip-Hop Legend: Fab 5 Freddy

Fab 5 Freddy played a very important role in bringing Hip-Hop into the mainstream media. Along with other Hip-Hop legends like Afrika Bambaataa and Kool DJ Herc, Fab 5 Freddy could be considered one of the most important figures in Hip-Hop.

Fab 5 Freddy at Tribeca Film Festival

Born in the Bedford Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, Freddy (born Fred Brathwaite) began his career in Hip-Hop culture as a young boy writing graffiti throughout New York City as a part of the group called "The Fabulous 5" ("Fab Five Freddy", 2012). One of his 1980 works, a subway car covered in Campbell's Soup cans (an homage to Andy Warhol), is considered to be an all-time graffiti classic.
 From there, Freddy began exhibiting his art in major galleries around the United States and abroad. He also became the liaison between the up-and-coming Hip-Hop culture and New York's downtown entertainment scenes, collaborating in shows with Bboy crews, Djs, Mcs, and other graffiti artists.


Soon after, Freddy brought to the big screen the classic 1981 Hip-Hop film, "Wild Style," which became number seven on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of top 25 music DVDs of all time ("Bio", 2012). Freddy produced and composed all the music for the film. His 1982 single "Change the Beat" is a classic that has been sampled countless times by DJs and producers in other songs.

In 1988 Fab 5 Freddy became the host of the MTV show "Yo! MTV Raps," which became the highest rated show on the channel at the time ("Bio", 2012). Freddy brought Hip-Hop even more into the public eye and it's popularity skyrocketed.

Freddy directed multiple groundbreaking music videos for artists like Nas, Queen Latifah, and Snoop Dogg. He was also known for his in depth essays and articles about pop culture in magazines and newspapers like XXL, Vibe, and the New York Times ("Bio", 2012).

Today, Fab 5 Freddy has returned to making art and is currently working on a show in Los Angles that is intended to examine the history of graffiti art.