Hold It Shifting
Fredo Bang is cruising by means of 2025 with no excuses.
Interview: Joey Echevarria
Editor’s Notice: This story seems within the Summer time 2025 challenge of XXL Journal, on newsstands now and accessible on the market on the XXL web site.
None of life’s setbacks are going to cease Fredo Bang from getting the place he’s going. Utilizing his turbulent upbringing and previous label points as gasoline for the long run, the Baton Rouge, La. rhymer is leaving no stone unturned. Nearing the tip of 2025, Fredo, 29, has launched three tasks, 8 Legged Gorilla, a joint effort with Tec launched in March; his first album by way of Empire, The Large Bang, which dropped in Might, and Kreature Muzik, out this month. Whereas persistently delivering high quality bars, Fredo continues to construct momentum with a way of vulnerability relatable to anybody who’s been by means of the battle. Right here, he breaks down plans for much more music in 2025, the brutal life classes that drive his motivation, balancing a rap profession with fatherhood and extra.
XXL: You simply launched your album, Kreature Muzik. The Large Bang and Sure, I’m Unhappy got here prior. What mindset comes together with new tasks?
Fredo Bang: I feel simply the general sound [of The Big Bang], that mellow sound, simply had me pondering extra deeply about it. I used to be naming it one thing that complemented and mainly put individuals in my perspective of once I made it. I actually needed to come back method sooner, however I simply received with Empire. So, I simply needed to seek out me a brand new residence. I at all times simply throw the music out, however I be eager to current it to all people and provides a good shot to hear and stuff like that.
On the music “Gained’t Be Lonely,” you rap, “I don’t appear like half the sh*t I’ve been by means of.” What life classes have you ever discovered that allow you to to maintain pushing ahead to the long run?
Simply dropping individuals, not with the ability to inform them how you are feeling, and even being in contact with them earlier than they died. Doing jail time, lacking out on a lot in life. Questioning the place I’d be and pondering that I’d be method additional in life if I’d have by no means did that point. If I used to be smarter and didn’t make the errors I did.
We undergo issues in life, however typically we nonetheless make excuses for ourselves. However on the similar time, I simply really feel like we let our issues grow to be our excuses to not go additional. We’ve got roadblocks our entire life and we solely let that cease us. So typically, we received to have anyone not be right here and be like, “Man, simply do it.”
What’s subsequent so that you can accomplish in your profession in 2025?
I ain’t stopping. I’m catching my stride once more and I’ll drop one other album earlier than the yr is over with, if not two. Simply staying according to it. Not overthinking it. I’m simply getting again to having enjoyable with and never simply taking a look at it as a job. I’m open to excursions. Now, I’m simply on the lookout for somebody to exit [on tour with who has] the correct demographic, the correct routes, the correct all the pieces with it.
I’m a daddy now. In order that was form of onerous, too, having a number of youngsters in a sure span of time. I’m attempting to stability being a full-time rapper and a full-time dad. Near not possible, however I’m getting there.
How do you go about discovering that stability, particularly with three kids beneath the age of 4 years previous?
With rapping, particularly while you’re lively and also you’re attempting to do stuff and you bought recreation plans, it’s wanted. It’s tremendous, tremendous wanted. After all, my kids come first earlier than something, however on the finish of the day, my job is what feeds them, you are feeling me? It’s like pulling tooth each methods.
With such a excessive quantity of musical output this yr, what message are you trying to ship to your followers?
I received a behavior of telling individuals issues that I want to listen to, too. So, I really feel like these verses is one thing that everyone want to listen to from anyone that would uplift them and stuff like that. Simply make a muthaf**ka day higher. I make music and I put it out, and I simply hope individuals hear. I attempt to make each music particular. I attempt to make each music completely different. I put my all into every
music.
Hearken to Fredo Bang’s Kreature Muzik Album
The summer time 2025 challenge of XXL journal that includes Fredo Bang’s interview is offered to buy right here. The problem additionally consists of interviews with all 12 members of the 2025 Freshman Class and producer Cardo Obtained Wings, in addition to conversations with Key Glock, Larry June, Aminé, Monaleo, Nardo Wick, Tech N9ne, X-Video games snowboarding champion Zeb Powell and extra, plus a glance again at what the 2024 XXL Freshman Class has been doing and a deep dive into who’s the largest and greatest XXL Freshman ever.
