We had the good fortune of connecting with Fred Ones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fred, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my studio in the Bronx, TME, in order to support my creative personal outlet, especially as the DJ for Sonic Sum and then it became my primary source of income for over 20 years.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My story encompasses two of the elements of Hip Hop culture, DJing and graffiti. I came of age in the earlier days of Hip Hop, DJing my first party at the age of 13 and that has never stopped, to this day. I began writing, first in black books at the age of 12 and eventually in the streets in the early 90’s, primarily in Chicago. It was there that I co-founded THC (The Hash Crew) with other artists who, like myself, also attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Eventually writers originally from Chicago also joined the crew and we became well-known throughout the city. My involvement in graf culture is noted in three sections of the seminal book, The History of American Graffiti. Since graduating with a sound engineering degree from Columbia College, I have had the honor of recording some of the MCs that I have admired since an early age including KRS-1, Just Ice, Kool Keith, T La Rock, and Sadat X, to name a few.As of more recently, I have been DJing a radio show, alongside Rhinoceros Funk, called Guerrilla Grooves Radio. For 8 years, that endeavor allowed us to showcase a multitude of established and up-and-coming independent artists in the culture. My decades long participation in so many facets has given me an eagle’s eye view of all the elements that create this wonderful culture we call Hip Hop.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely bring them to any of the parties that Danny Castro (the founder of Lyricist Lounge) throws as well as Soul in the Horn, a unique party curated by D Prosper. To drink? Definitely would go to Bierwax in Brooklyn, a great spot where DJs spin vinyl. To eat, I would bring them to Wo Hop in Chinatown, that’s a classic, John and Joe’s in the Morris Park section of the Bronx and Maisonetta in the South Bronx.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout-out belongs to Ed Nez who showed me how to scratch, how to read and write graffiti as well as giving me my first black book, which solidified my identity in Hip Hop.

Website: fredones.com

Instagram: @fredonestme

Image Credits
Sun Bronx, Fred Ones, and Lady G

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