Freddy Will

Wilfred Kanu Jr. (born August 11, 1977), professionally known by his stage name Freddy Will, is an American Canadian author, philanthropist and hip-hop recording artist.[1] He is the author of three self-published books published with accompanying hip-hop albums.[2][3]

Freddy Will
Freddy Will at British Museum in February 2018.
Background information
Birth nameWilfred Kanu Jr.
Born (1977-08-11) August 11, 1977
OriginFreetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Author, rapper, blogger
Years active2006–present
Labels
  • Freddy Will Industries
  • Soul Asylum Poetry & Publishing
Associated acts
Websitefreddywill.com

Early life

Freddy Will was born at the Brookland Maternity Center in Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone.[4] He is the eldest son of Rev. Leeroy Wilfred Kabs Kanu,[5] former Plenipotentiary Minister of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and publisher of Sierra Leone's widely read Cocorioko Newspaper.[6]

Toronto, Canada

In 2006 Freddy Will traveled to Toronto, Canada to record his debut album.[7] After revisiting the country a few times, he filed for permanent residency there. While living there he recorded a mixtape, two additional independent studio albums, an EP and released them off his independent record labels, Ghetto Breed Entertainment, and Swift Nightz Entertainment.[8] He also started his freelance writing career, launched his blog website and authored three books that were self-published by Soul Asylum Poetry & Publishing, as well as his publishing company, Freddy Will Publishing in Ontario, Canada. [9] All three books were self-published in a book plus album concomitant. He also launched The Freddy Will Hope Foundation.[10][11]

Literary, Music and Theater Influences

During his interview with award-winning Ghanaian journalist, Jefferson Sackey, Freddy Will stated that he started rapping when he was still living in Liberia.[12] He credited Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J., Queen Latifah, Ice-T, Naughty By Nature, legendary Sierra Leone rapper, Jimmy B, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Scarface, Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B. I. G., Nas, The Luniz and the LOX as some of his primary musical influences in hip-hop. For his writing, he credits his father, John Grisham, Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, Caresse Crosby, Maya Angelou and Pacesetter Novels as his primary influences and Idris Elba, Ice Cube, John Singleton and Spike Lee, his influences in theater and acting.[13]

Healthy Food For Thought: Good Enough to Eat (Grammy Nomination)

In 2010, Freddy Will was featured on a children's compilation album by the "New York Coalition for Healthy School Foods" that The Recording Academy nominated for a Grammy Award.[14]

Discography

Albums
  • While I'm Still Young – The Talking Drums (2008)
  • Dark Horse From Romarong – a city of kings (2010)
  • Laboramus Exspectantes Vol. 1 (2014)

Mixed Albums
  • While I'm Still Young -The Talking Drums 1.2v (2009)
  • Views From The 7 (2017)

EP
  • City of Kings: RELOADED (2012)

Mixtape
  • Stay True (2006)

Collaboration
  • Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat (2010)

Bibliography

Books
  • My Book of Chrymes (2009)
  • The Dark Road From Romarong (2010)
  • Hip Hop Kruzade – Path of a Legend (2014)

eBooks
  • The Sandmann's Journal Vol. 1 (2016)
  • The Sandmann's Journal Vol. 2 (2017)
  • The Sandmann's Journal Vol. 3 (2018)
  • The Sandmann's Journal Vol. 4 (2018)
  • The Sandmann's Journal Vol. 5 (2018)

Grammy Awards
Year Song/album Category Role Result
2011 Healthy Food For Thought, Good Enough to Eat Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children Vocals, lyrics, songwriting Nominated

References
  1. Kamara, Sally (January 30, 2017). "INTERVIEW WITH FREDDY WILL: AUTHOR, ENTREPRENEUR & ARTIST". irepsalone.com/. iRep Salone. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  2. Cowle, Ken (December 10, 2014). "Hip Hop Kruzade". Himanshu Goyal.
  3. Johnson, Andy (June 19, 2009). "While I'm Still Young – The Talking Drums 1.2v (Sierra Leone) 2009". myafrica.allafrica.com. Ghetto Breed. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  4. Kanu Jr., Wilfred (2009). My Book of Chrymes. Ontario, Canada: Soul Asylum Poetry & Publishing. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-9812160-1-0. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  5. Kanu, Kabs (August 16, 2012). "The history and origins of the cocorioko newspaper". Cocorioko.net//. Cocorioko. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  6. Express, Sierra (March 29, 2012). "Kabs Kanu Tag". sierraexpressmedia.com//. Sierra Express. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  7. Kanu, Wilfred (April 19, 2008). "Word to the streets". blog.freddywill.com/. Wilfred Kanu Jr. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  8. "Freddy Will prepares for release of his new Krio album and second book – Cocorioko". Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  9. Kanu, Wilfred (June 27, 2009). "SOUL ASYLUM POETRY & PUBLISHING". blog.freddywill.com/. Wilfred Kanu Jr. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  10. Kanu, Wilfred (July 25, 2009). "MY BOOK OF CHRYMES & WHILE I'M STILL YOUNG – THE TALKING DRUMS 1. 2v". blog.freddywill.com/. Wilfred Kanu Jr. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  11. Records, Double K (October 19, 2010). "Freddy Will - Dark Horse From Romarong ...a city of kings (Sierra Leone 2010)". myafrica.allafrica.com. Double K Records. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  12. Sackey, Jefferson (March 11, 2015). "JSR FREDDY PROMO-people and blog". imperiya.by/. imperiya. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  13. Kanu Jr., Wilfred (September 8, 2016). "My Top 10 Influences in Literary & Publishing Pt. 2". blog.freddywill.com. Freddy Will's Blog. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  14. Otey, Alex (August 3, 2010). "Healthy Food For Thought: Good Enough To Eat (A Children's CD)". facebook.com. Alex Otey. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
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