RESPECT. Premiere: Freszko’s "Potential" is Undeniable

With visuals as colorful as the poetry dropping from Freszko‘s tongue, the Northern Cali native shows his “Potential” in his newest video endeavor. The Safe Travels EP contains mentions of his work ethic, differentiation from other modern artists, and the same potential he references, and vividly represents, in his latest visual. “Do what the song say/High off that dedication” furthers the message of hustling that Freszko directs at his audience.

The Guyanese rapper is shown waltzing around the city of Sacramento, from stoops of brick houses, to what appears to be an auto shop, to shots of a graffiti covered van, the video makes sure to grasp all the culture it can from the Californian city.

“Freszko dropping jewels yeah off my mental/All night in the studio with no pencil” shows how far he’s come since starting out his musical endeavors- the ability to walk into your studio space and instantaneously be inspired into dropping lines with zero preparation is a skill to marvel at. The effortlessness is apparent, as the flow matches the calm cadence of the instrumental and culminates in a celebratory song that you can vibe and/or rock out to.

Freszko sat down with RESPECT. to talk about his EP, rap beef, and his plans had music failed.

RESPECT.: What does the name “Safe Travels” refer to?

At the time I just thought it was a cool name since I travel a lot and I’m always on the move. But since I’m from the mud, since I’m from Guyana, if you’re not safe where you are you’re most likely sorry for being there in the wrong place at the wrong time so yeah that played a part in it and that’s how I came up with the name and the Safe Travels EP came about.

RESPECT.: Would you incorporate any Guyanese sounds into your music?

Yeah most definitely, the Guyanese sound is unique and raw, it would bring color to any track. Also being a producer as well, I have a lot of samples from back home I’m just itching to use on the future projects so in future you will hear a lot more of it.

RESPECT.: What would you be doing if music never worked?

Honestly, I don’t know, probably be in the army or something or doing something I didn’t really want to do. But thank God that’s not the case and shit didn’t pan out that way and I’m here talking to you.

RESPECT.: Has your view of the industry darkened or gotten better since coming into it? Stayed the same?

I feel like the industry can be real sticky and tricky at times. It’s mostly if not all the time you’re dealing with the business end of things and I’m cool with that, but sometimes it makes me wonder if people still care about the art and the music itself and not just make money from it.

RESPECT.: Was there anything holding you back from discovering your potential?

Not really, I feel like there isn’t anything or anybody that can hold me back unless that person is Freszko and in that case that would be an easy fix. But I’m the type of person, I look at challenges as a way to prove myself and to show my worth so with that being said if there was something that was holding me back from seeing my full potential it’s now holding me up.

RESPECT.: Do you have any regrets when it comes to anything you’ve done in your career thus far?

For some people, it might sound cliche but no regrets. I had my sticking points, I had my moments when I had to double back and figure out how I’m going to make my next move but all in all I’m enjoying every aspect of the journey. It’s a roller-coaster ride so why not just make it fun.

RESPECT.: What’s your stance on rap beef? Is it ever justified, or should it be settled away from the spotlight?

I feel like in today’s day and age, modern-day rap beef is so heavily influenced by social media, that the masses don’t even judge them off of core hip hop values anymore. It used to be about who got dope bars or who had the best wordplay, nowadays it’s like who got the best jokes on Instagram or Twitter, or which side got the most memes. I’m a true fan of the culture and I love a good rap beef, especially when they stay on wax but when it turns into something else, that’s when it gets out of hand and that’s when it gets ugly. I believe that if it is not entertainment it should be solved away from social media because any situation that spills over to the internet is going to be messy and it is going to be there forever and history has a way of romanticizing the winners and marginalizing the losers, and you probably wouldn’t want to end up on the wrong side of history.

RESPECT.: How do you plan on experimenting with your sound in the future?

With my sound I just let nature play its role and take its course. I believe that every track I make improves my sound so you might hear me on a chill beat spitting some conscious bars or you might hear me on a dope trap beat going in with the lyrics but either way my sound will keep evolving. The flux never stops, it continues.4ew5

You can keep up with Freszko on Instagram and Twitter.