'We Share Struggle': Why rapper Freeway went to Baltimore

This month, Philly rapper Freeway traveled to Baltimore to join the voices of protest united over the death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old man who died after suffering a spinal-cord injury while in police custody. The National Stop the Killing Committee and the Justice League NYC brought Freeway as their spokesman for #BmoreYouthRise, a May 9 daylong event with various demonstrations.

The 36-year-old rapper commemorated Gray's life by placing his handprint on the memorial mural on Fulton Street near where police stopped Gray. He took part in a youth-oriented panel, embarked on a three-mile Peace Walk, and headlined the Our Moment for Our Movement concert and rally.

Freeway also visited Gilmor Homes, where Gray lived, and spoke with Gray's friends and family. At the basketball court where Gray used to hang out, Brandon Ross, Gray's godbrother, told Freeway that because of the attention the area has received, the city put nets on the basketball rims for the first time in 15 years.

For Freeway, it's personal: In 2007, his cousin Raheem Pridgen, 27, was shot and killed by police. Freeway made it clear he is not anti-police. "It takes a special human being to police people. You have to be better than everybody else to tolerate certain things. You have to know how to act when you're having a bad day and not want to take it out on people," Freeway said.

Going to Baltimore was his way of seeing the city beyond CNN. On the heels of the Philly is Baltimore protest, the "What We Do" rapper said he wanted to show solidarity for the city that so closely mirrors his own.

Why go to Baltimore?

Walking through the neighborhoods, it reminded me of Philly, because we have the rowhomes, corner stores, and tight-knit neighborhoods. The will of the people. It definitely shares a lot of same issues when it comes to poverty, drugs, violence, and children needing a better education. We share a lot of the same struggles. I got a lot of love for Baltimore, because Baltimore is one of the cities that supported me my whole career and I have a lot of people that I care about who live there. It was important for me to go down there and lend my voice.

 What did Freddie Gray's family and friends say?

That he was a good dude and that they loved him. They knew that something like this was going to happen. They were just sad it was him that sparked the revolution.   

A man in Freddie Gray's neighborhood said there is a "natural fear of the police."

I'm a world-renowned recording artist who has been on platinum albums, I'm a businessman, I'm a father, and I pay my taxes, but I'm still nervous when I get pulled over by the cops. I treat them with respect. If I have to reach in my back pocket to get my wallet, I let them know. "Officer, I have to reach in my back pocket to get my wallet."

One of the kids in the crowd said he's scared of the police. If he sees a police officer he's going to run. These are the people who are supposed to protect us. You're supposed to aspire to be a police officer because he's a hero. You shouldn't be scared.

 You said you weren't afraid of the police growing up. Why is it different now?

You can see what's going on. I'm sure people have been getting beaten or killed, but now you have all these people with cellphones and cameras, and they can put this on the Internet. People can see it's really going on. You turn on CNN and you hear about cops killing black kids and it's running on the news six days straight. And you see a cop when you go outside, you're going to think, "I got to watch my back."

Do you think constant media play is a necessary evil?

Now people realize what's going on, and they're getting riled up, and they want to put a stop to it. I think it's good.

During your trip to Baltimore, were there any moments that stuck with you?

The whole thing was surreal. It was a great experience just to be there. The main thing I was hearing from the community was that they're not getting a chance to talk. They said, "Al Sharpton is coming down here, but he won't let us talk." They told me no celebrities came to their neighborhood like I did. You got to talk to the people. I was there listening to the people. I was chilling with them in the projects. Nobody's really doing that.

What would you say to someone who feels your music glorifies criminal activity?

I've never told anybody to go out and do anything criminal. I tell my story and I talk about the things I go through. It's the reality of the things that I see. It's up to the people to make that choice. I'm not promoting violence or negativity. I'm just telling my story. With that story, there are some negative things and positive things. I've traveled the world, I was able to feed my family with music. I talk about all of that, too. That's motivation for people to want to do good things.

You attended the Philadelphia Prayer for Peace Breakfast held by the Second Chance Foundation. Tell me about that.

I felt that it was important for me to be there to listen to any suggestions and to give back to the community. I was given a second chance. I went through the criminal justice system. . . . A person can turn their life around. It's important for people to see a real-life person who has been through it and is a success story. I got locked up in '99 for drug possession with intent to deliver. There's a lot of people that might be in that position. And may think, if Freeway can do it, I can do it.

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