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Rapper, Free At Last

Roc-A-Fella Records once stood alone as the most powerful label in hip-hop. But after the three owners of the label, Jay-Z, Dame Dash and Kareem Biggs, severed business ties in 2004, Roc-A-Fella began to lose its appeal and many of the artists were left to find a new record label.

Freeway, who was brought to the label by fellow Philadelphian Beanie Sigel, decided to remain with Roc-A-Fella, which is now owned entirely by Jay-Z. With his sophomore album scheduled to be released in October, Freeway hopes to revive the Roc-A-Fella dynasty.

"The whole Roc-A-Fella break up caused everybody who was involved to just sit back and try to get things together," Freeway says. "During my time away, I was getting focused and continued to grind by recording and doing shows." For his new album, Free At Last, Freeway will have two of hip-hop's biggest names in his corner.

"I sat down with Jay [-Z] and 50 [Cent] to see what could be done for this new project," he says. "It made business sense for both of them to executive produce my album, so we got together and it happened."

Free At Last has already become one of the most anticipated albums of 2007, with the Jay-Z featured first single, "Big Spender." But, while Freeway is excited about the release of his upcoming album, he's also focusing on a reunion with State Property. "I'm looking forward to bringing back State Property," he says. "The fans want it and we'll give it to them soon." - amir shaw

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