Freedom Williams

Frederick Brandon "Freedom" Williams (born February 13, 1966), better known by his stage name Freedom Williams is an American rapper, singer and songwriter, who gained fame as the lead vocalist on C+C Music Factory's biggest hits.

Freedom Williams
Birth nameFrederick Brandon Williams
Born (1966-02-13) February 13, 1966
Brooklyn, New York, United States
GenresHip-hop, dance
Occupation(s)
Years active1983–present
LabelsColumbia Records (1993–1997)
RMD Entertainment/Mega Bop (2004–present)
Associated actsC+C Music Factory
WebsiteMySpace account

Career

Born in New York's Brooklyn in 1966, Williams went to school to become an audio engineer and worked as a janitor at New York's Quad Recording Studios.[1] At the time Robert Clivillés and David Cole frequently used this studio. Clivillés and Cole heard and liked Williams' baritone timbre and rhythmic flow and they recruited Williams to rap on "Gonna Make You Sweat."[1] Williams' rapping can be prominently heard on many of C+C's songs from their debut album, including Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)," as well as other major hits "Here We Go (Let's Rock & Roll)" and "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." All three of those songs hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. According to C+C Music Factory founder Clivillés he and Cole had asked him in 1994 to work on new C+C Music Factory material but Williams refused.[2]

Williams' solo debut, Freedom was released on June 1, 1993 on Columbia Records. The single "Voice of Freedom" peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1993, and its follow-up "Groove Your Mind" also charted on the Club Play chart, peaking at No. 33. In 2004 he enjoyed chart success again in the UK with his single "Sweat the Remixes" on RMD Entertainment. The song got national airplay and peaked at No. 8 on the UK Dance Charts that year. Williams contributed all the rap vocals for Eurodance act Masterboy's digital-only best-of-release "US Album" from 2006.

Williams was the majority owner of the Continental Basketball Association's Atlanta Krunk franchise.[3]

In the late 1990s Williams started to worldwide perform shows under the C+C Music Factory, or a variation of that name.[1] In 2005 C+C Music Factory founding member Clivillés labeled this "the biggest insult in the world".[2] Williams also performs C+C's songs, like "Do You Wanna Get Funky", that were created after Williams had already departed from C+C Music Factory.[1] In 2003, Freedom Williams acquired the federal trademark to use the name "C and C Music Factory" for live performances.[4] Williams toured under that name until renewing his trademark to "C & C Music Factory" in 2014.[5][2][6] As of 2014, Williams has owned the trademark rights for the name for all related efforts, not just live performances.[7]

Albums
  • Freedom (1993, Columbia Records)
  • Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) (2004, RMD Entertainment/Mega Bop)

Singles
  • "Voice of Freedom"
  • "Groove Your Mind"
  • "Proud Warrior"
  • "Back In"
  • "Sweat the Remixes"
  • "Another Night"
  • "Into the Future" collaboration with Mark E Walker (who has a hit with Stevie B)
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See also
  • List of number-one hits (United States)
  • List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
  • List of number-one dance hits (United States)
  • List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

References
  1. The Depressing Story of America’s Favorite Pump-Up Jam, VICE (October 4, 2016)
  2. "Robert Clivilles Interview (Part 2)". About.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2009.
  3. Sportsillustrated.cnn.com
  4. US Trademark Office, Serial Number 78341052, Registration Number 2951551
  5. US Trademark Office, Serial Number 86438725, Registration Number 4775972
  6. "Dallas Dance Music - Dallas nightlife, music, tickets, and more > The Chill Room > Party Reviews". Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  7. US Trademark Office: Serial Number 86438725, Registration Number 4775972
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