By Ahmad Awadallah
South Jamaica, Queens is one of the most gutter, dark and grimy hoods in New York, but ironically it produces some of the brightest Hip-Hop artists ranging from G-Unit to Pharoahe Monch amongst a swarm of other dazzling artists. Well, the downtown Queens neighborhood can chalk-up another spitter in their talented laundry list of emcees, Frenchie. He might not possess the flamboyance of Nicki Minaj or lyrical ferocity of Sticky Fingaz, but his energy and hunger is unparalleled in the saturated rap game. The 1017 signee has created a substantial buzz by flooding the street with his mixtapes and countless internet videos, not to mention the numerous cameos in almost every vlog. In this Planet Ill exclusive he steps out the booth to discuss the brotherhood in 1017 Brick Squad, lyrical ability, influence, haters, the deaths of Slim Dunkin and the late great Stack Bundles and much more. Get into it.
Planet Ill: For the people that don’t know, let them know who you are, where you from and what team you’re repping?
Frenchie: You already know what it is man. It’s your boy Frenchie from Queens and I’m repping that 1017 Brick Squad. We’re all family and we all brothers on this side. So shout out to my niggas.
Planet Ill: How did you get the name Frenchie?
Frenchie: Well that was my father’s name. It was his name on the streets and it kind of passed on to me. He was well known [Queens] and he set his mark and I tried to follow in his footsteps and the name stuck man.
Planet Ill: Do people confuse you and French Montana, because the name similarities?
Frenchie: I mean it never been a problem like that, because he’s French Montana and I’m Frenchie, but I’ve heard it sometimes. It isn’t a problem though. Shouts out to French. We about to link up real soon though.
Planet Ill: How is it that you’re linked to an Atlanta-based team if you’re from Southside Jamaica, Queens?
Frenchie: Well I have a lot of family down there [Atlanta] so I just made the connection that way. I was always running between New York and Atlanta and I have family in the industry that had connections to big names like Gucci [Mane] and he liked my energy, my style and the way I spit and he signed from there. People also have to understand that not everyone can do this rapping shit. You have to have style and be versatile with the music man for anyone to take interest in you and it’s not just about connections, because the talent has to be there at the end of the day.
Planet Ill: You are really in an advantageous position in that you are an East Coast artist that gets a lot of love in the South. Is that advantage all luck or was it strategic?
Frenchie: I think it’s both, because I wouldn’t just jump into just any situation. I seen Gucci’s hustle and I understood his movement so that’s why I signed to his team. I was seeing it grow and he had Waka and Wooh [Da Kid] and they were talented and popping off so it only made sense to get with a strong team like that. Also, I think it’s luck too because God blessed me with family that had connections down south so it’s kind of both and you need both to survive in this game.
Planet Ill: Who were some of your rap influences growing up?
Frenchie: Man…I think everybody had an influence on me growing up. If you had style and you were special and were doing it the most official then I fucked with you. A big influence on me was Kris Kross. I loved their energy and how they used to jump around on stage and wild out so they were big on me coming up.
Planet Ill: I know you spent a lot of time in New York and Atlanta. On a rap standpoint, which region had the biggest bearing on your style?
Frenchie: It’s hard to say because I watched n***s from both regions come up and I kind of took like the best of both worlds. I like the gritty New York shit and I liked that club shit that the South had and I kind of tried to incorporate both in my music. So both of them influenced me equally. I am from New York, but I fucked with the South crazy and you can hear it in the music.
Planet Ill: What’s your relationship with Mazaradi Fox and was up with the big homie?
Frenchie: Shout-out to the big homie man. That’s my scrap and he’s working, doing his music thing and anytime I’m around we jump in the studio and get it cracking. Big ups to the whole Dum Out movement and we still good til’ this day. Like I said that’s my man and it’s just I’m expanding my brand so that’s why people might not have seen me with Fox, but it’s always love.
Planet Ill: Gucci Mane and Wacka have received a lot of flack for not being that nice on the mic and you being from New York, you probably hear that a lot. How do you feel about that?
Frenchie: I don’t feel no way, because no matter what people say, they don’t know them n***as. They both work hard. They’re like machines when it comes to this rap shit. My whole team work hard and grind and these hating n***as are wasting so much energy hating on us. They should use that energy and get on our level. They say “Oh they can’t rap and they’re wack, but they make good club music.” That shit doesn’t make any sense. When these n***as go to the club they fuck with their music so they obviously doing something right. People have to understand that writing a hit song or record is an art and shit is not easy. It takes a lot of charisma and creativity to put something like that out and get people to fuck with it and Gucci and Wacka know the formula. These hating n***gas need to put their energy into something more useful ‘cause we work over here.
Planet Ill: OJ Da Juiceman was the hottest dude from 1017 then his buzz kind of died down. Was good with scrap?
Frenchie: We all feed off each other and we shine when one of us is hot. He had his time and he did his thing and then Wacka came out and did this thing. After Wacka, it’s whoever has that buzz and is getting love in these streets is going to pop next. He had his time and we all good, but once you have that opportunity, then you have to capitalize.
Planet Ill: Slim Dunkin was recently gunned down. How surprised were you about the murder?
Frenchie: I just believe in God and we are all children of God so whatever he has written or planned then it’s going down, no questions asked. God has my boy now and he’s in the best hands. Rest in peace to my brother man. That was the homie and we’re going always remember you and hold you down. Brick Squad forever man, you already know what it is.
Planet Ill: Did his death make the Brick Squad family closer and kind of create some tension in the camp?
Frenchie: We’ve been close and will always remain close. The death is just a test for the family’s bond and I think we’re stronger and tighter than ever. As individuals we just have to be smarter and always keep your eyes open at all times. Streets are always hot so just keep your head up, your eyes open and leave it to God man.
Planet Ill: Gucci is always caught up with some legal matters and other things. So how helpful is Gucci creatively in your music?
Frenchie: I feed off the boss-man’s energy. There are few people that have his work ethic and his grind has such an influence on how I create music. If I see him write two songs then I’ll jump in the studio and do three or four songs. His energy is so crazy that it’s ridiculous. As far as him being available creatively, he tells like what I should leave in and take out and he knows what sounds good. He also helped get my thoughts and rhymes on paper faster. Thank God I have someone like him that is only a phone call away. So I’m blessed.
Planet Ill: You and the late great Stack Bundles were cool. How detrimental was his death to Hip-Hop?
Frenchie: First and foremost that n***a was something special and he was my brother. His death scarred the fuck out of Hip-Hop, because he was an up-and-coming artist out of Queen that was going to bring back New York in his own way. He was out showing the love to everyone and he was above the clouds when it came to talent, but he was humble in his own way. He was just in another league and he would have definitely been a star by now. When he passed it kind of lit a fire under a lot of these rappers and had them thinking twice about how they approach this rap shit. They were like “Damn, my n***a was going so hard and was the voice of New York and they got him,” so it definitely opened a lot these niggas eyes and shit. [Pause] Man that n***a was special. He was the voice of every young n***a in New York.
Planet Ill: What’s next for you brother and when is album coming out?
Frenchie: Well, I’m going hard with Wooh [Da Kid] in studio and we got so much fire, it’s stupid. The project we’re working on was supposed to be an album, but instead it’s a mixtape. It’s just that politic bullshit in the industry, but it’s all good. We just working man and I’m in the studio every day getting this music out and keep my name popping. The n***a with the most love and the hottest name on these streets is going to come out next so stay tuned.
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