Check Out Frsh Waters’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Frsh Waters.

Hi Frsh, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been writing poetry since the 5th grade, just looking up to the street poets in my neighborhood. I’m from the west side of Chicago. I’m in the Austin area. I come from a big family on both sides of my parents; I have seven siblings, six brothers and one sister. So the community is innate to me. In 8th grade, my best friend championed for me to start writing raps. Ever since then, I’ve been in spaces for creating and cultivating artists. Whether recording in makeshift studios throughout high school or learning performing techniques for talent show & community talent shows. After graduating high school me & my Mom reconnected & I started making money in the streets & I moved into my first apartment. I reconnected with an old family friend who stayed in the area who would encourage me to meet his cousins, who he was making music with at the time. That would later be my Pivot Gang members, the Hip-Hop crew I created with Joseph Chilliams. Pivot Gang (Saba, MFnMelo, Joseph Chilliams, & DaeDaePivot, SqueakPivot who is also my younger brother & Dinner w/ John, who is Saba & Joseph’s cousin) was created for friends putting friends on through music.

So at that time, I’ve been in multiple music groups & none worked out but none were from the west side of Chicago either. I became more involved in music when I met my now close friends and also group members. So that brought new opportunities outside of making money in the streets. Finding the “scene” in Chicago at that time was all about getting in front of an audience that would listen to us that we didn’t have to “pay to play”. 2009 we got into Chicago’s open mic scene where we met friends like Chance the Rapper, Noname, Jean Deaux, & Mick Jenkins. We all were just young and happy to have a space to show what we were working on every week. Harold Washinton Library was that space & Mike Hawkins or Brother Mike as we called mentored all of us, to do it ourselves and build with your community. 2017 I was released from prison Dinner with John had passed earlier that year & now the morale of my group was high and low at the same time; we were excited I was home but sad to lose John.

Ever since my release, I’ve been an active member in my community with the John Walt Foundation, a youth artist initiative started to continue the work Dinner with John started by giving Chicago youth an opportunity to have mentorship in the arts & a scholarship program. We passed out food to our community during the pandemic and have annually passed out groceries to our neighbors. I’ve toured the country as an artist 4/5 times since 2018, not looking back on being locked up but how can I live up to the challenges I face and artists coming after me will? I lost my brother SqueakPivot along with my uncle Derion Hood to violence in Chicago & I’ve been living in LA now since 2021. The focus and consistency have been my biggest task and my closest allies, releasing countless singles all last year and this year and now working on a project. My first headliner set is July 27th in Chicago at Schubas Tavern

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The days of just showing up are over & you have to put in work. The business side of things are different than the music side. It hasn’t been smooth it’s been bumps along the way some were major some minor, and small things to a giant so I keep in mind roadblocks are just speed bumps.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist, I rap, I do poetry & I’m a storyteller. what sets me apart from others is my resiliency. I never give up or give in to negativity or pressure. I adapt to every situation, knowing I’m learning from it.

How do you think about happiness?
Roller skating is graceful & based on style; everything can be fast and fierce or smooth and chill.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lh-st.com/shows/07-27-2023-frsh-waters/
• Twitter: twitter.com/frshwaters
• Youtube: youtube.com/frshwaters
• SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/frshwaters

Image Credits
Veesanders Josh Flores Andrew P Jacob King Hannah Got Raps