We recently connected with Terrance Gaddy F.R.E.SH and have shared our conversation below.
Terrance Gaddy, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from all the strong BLACK women in my family. I was brought up around nothing but, so I had what could be perceived as an esteemed honor, of witnessing what true struggle is. Father figures weren’t in abundance during my early childhood years, which allowed me to hone into and further appreciate the limitlessness of capabilities that the black woman possessed. The colloquial goes “I can show you everything under the sun, but I can’t show you how to be a man.” I honestly beg to differ. The resilient women in my life put on full display how resentful a women could become when a man isn’t handling his responsibilities as he should. Not handling and appropriating her In whatever manner she believed to be entitled to or deemed fit, but doing and being what a man is structured to do. They gave the game to me, and for free might I add, on how not to be. On how Things aren’t always ideal, but you make happen what you’re capable of making happen regardless of how your cards were dealt. These women persevered and made shit shake with merely nothing other than the love and support of one another. That’ was lightning in a bottle for me. I vowed to never give up on anything that I start, nor on anything that may have had no real intention on being started in the first place, but came to past. Though it may have been more convenient to give up on me, they never did, so I often question myself “why would I?” Life ain’t been great but the beauty in it is knowing that even though you may have failed today, theres the possibility of achieving tomorrow. My mantra is cherish yesterday, live today and always dream tomorrow.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I go by F.R.E.SH. which is an acronym for Frequently Rapping Exquisite Shit. Lol, I frfr went through a couple of names to ultimately land there, Webster, KG (King Gaddy), The Wordsmith, just to kick a few. I thought F.R.E.SH to be a dope name given my ability to utilize my extensive diction in a relatable way, and just how I overall like to attack beats. My all time Goat and inspiration is, who other than Wayne. A lot of my style as far as how I write was influenced by his mastery of metaphor usage and his unprecedented word play. I feel as though I’ve grown up and matured with him and his style. Early Wayne wasn’t the Wayne of today lyrically, but it was enough for my mental capacity to remain entertained and enamored as a fan. What Wayne does now, or has been for the last decade, has helped mold and shape how I articulate my experiences and my overall self as an artist. I’m an overall hustler though. Music has been somewhat on the back burner, you know, just trying to figure out life. This game can get expensive, and a lot of times can be unforgivable when you feel as though you’ve been putting in the work to no avail. I tried to go belly up back in 2011, and just my lack of knowledge when it comes to music, and the industry set me back a pretty penny. It’s not enough to rap, or produce, or engineer for that matter, if you don’t understand your parameters. I wanted to be like the cats with the fame, and notable names back then, but nowadays I’m just doing what brings me joy. What I feel I do naturally, not to be in competition with anything or anybody other than self.
I’m always working on new material. I have a few projects in the holster that I’m frfr excited about. My brother CKB (Charles Broussard) who I work with often, and I got some real heat that’s getting ready to combust real soon, so please be anticipating and stay tuned in for that.
Other than that I’m out here living and enjoying life. I’m continuing to work on new relevant content, collating with new artist such as Millyon, my cousin out in MTV Illinois, King Snake out of DC, Lbn Sticks, just a couple of dudes who I know hungry to make things shake as I am. I’m working to further establish my Brand “Thee F.R.E.SH University”, as well as few non musical collaborative works with my lady @iitsfancy, and my sister @lovepureluxe, so please go support the movement. Growth is infinite, and I’m forever striving for it.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It’s so much that I’ve picked up on and continue to pick up on that makes me out to be so blessed on this journey. I’m big on literature and one thing that Ive always tried to stand on is what Malcom X was quoted saying in his memoir “always be receptive to new informations when it’s presented to you”. I’m not usually entertained with where the information is sourced from, as long as it’s reputable. That’s not to say say that I just take and run off with whatever, of course my own research is forever necessary, but I’m never so consumed in what I thought or previously believed that I can’t at-least entertain an alternative paradigm.
Everybody has a story. Some peoples’ are stretched out over a span of 50 years, and others stretch over a span of 21. Regardless to it, I learned early on, you can always learn something new from anybody. Life’s experiences is what makes you mature, not the age in which you believe you grown. I’ve always felt, you can’t be so shook to jump off the porch, but you also cant be so stubborn to think that your the only one whose ever done so. My struggle ain’t always gone be compatible to the next, so I take heed, basically precaution when approaching a stove that I’ve already been warned is hot. “Smart men learn from their own mistakes, whereas wise men learn from the mistakes of others”..
Hard work out works talent every time. I use to be skeptical of this, only because my talent in certain ventures were superior to those I was compared to. Getting older, I realized it ain’t enough to have the talent, but possessing common sense, and the know how of what to do with it is what makes people great. There are so many talented people who never clutch their full potential for thinking bragging rights were good enough. I’m humble these days, ready to receive what it is I earn.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle I am facing is being relatable in a game that’s saturated with the young gifted talented. Big ups to the young cats who are doing their thing, lightning up the charts, and even more to the seasoned guys who remain relevant so many years in. The hip hop culture is so diverse and is continuing to shift in regards to what and who’s hot and not. I get ridiculed saying my style can be too complexed, saying I need to dumb down lyrics to be easier understood. In all honesty, I’m rocking out to the beat of my own drum. I love the new sounds and cadences being discovered, but I’m also hip to what’s for me and what’s best left to the talents that are doing it best. I’m continuing my trek and creating content that feels good to me and my following.
Contact Info:
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/0l3dxWd-oX4
Image Credits
@Ckbsounds FB-Ckb Ckb
