The music industry may be looked at as a cutthroat place sometimes depending on your perspective, but for me personally, I look at it more as a community of individuals who just want everyone to hear great music. Thanks to this outlook, I have been able to connect with and become friends with managers, A&Rs, artists, and others who have either put me onto incredible music or they have connected me with others who proceeded to do so.
Through some friends, I found out about tophillfreddo, a Virginia-raised emcee who has been making a massive splash inside the music business and out of it, even scoring an acting role in what appears to be a pretty highly anticipated film that is due out towards the end of this year. I found out about him right before he released his album FAITH, a 7-song effort that is entirely produced by FISH and boasts no features, serving as a smorgasbord of sounds where freddo is able to show off various aptitudes within his extensive skill set.
The project’s second song “HML”, was definitely a favorite of mine and other fans alike, so when I was put onto the Jack Rottier-directed music video for the cut that was released last week, I knew I had to tune in. Considering this track has such vibrancy and energy, the video had to bring the heat, and that’s exactly what happened.
With some very quick, shaky shots, moments where the screen intentionally lags, and freddo bouncing around, raging to his awesome song, there was never a single second that fell flat, and that is something that I have realized remains consistent across his entire career, whether it’s in his songs, projects, visuals, or anything in between. I know I’m a little late to the party, but tophillfreddo is going to be a star before he even gets a chance to catch his breath following the success of FAITH, making it an album you need to hear as well as “HML” a music video that is essential if you consider yourself a fan of the underground.