MY BOOK OF CHRYMES is the first book written by West African hip hop artist and author FREDDY WILL (under his given name of Wilfred Kanu Jr.) published on August 11^th 2009 by Soul Asylum Poetry and Publishing in Sutton, Ontario Canada nearly a year after the release of his debut album. This book was published with a revamped version of his debut album re-titled “WHILE I’M STILL YOUNG – The Talking Drums 1.2v. The album featured four (4) new songs produced by JUNO Award winner Eddie Bullen and Freddy Will is the executive producer. Most of the songs re-recorded for this revamped version were less explicit than the original versions. The most explicit songs from the debut album did not make it to this album but the lyrics from the original version were illustrated in the book.

Also, the trademark African mask on the cover of the debut album was replaced with a fiery African mask designed by St. Catherine, Ontario's photographer and graphic designer Shane Reed. The fiery mask was used on both the book and album covers. The 2009 album featured three (3) new singles; Look At Me Now, While I'm Still Young II, Providence – feat. Five (5) time Grammy Award winning gospel singer Carvin Winans and Franklin. Also remixed on the album were the 2008 hit singles; City Boy, Strangers and How Would I Know feat. Jay NY. The album was physically and digitally released and distributed through Ghetto Breed Entertainment and Double K Records in New Jersey, USA and Ontario, Canada respectively using a number of online digital distributors including Napster, CdBaby, iTunes, Double K Records digital store and Amazon. Guest features include reggae singer Winnie Culture, rock n roll singer David Butlar, New York R&B singer Jay NY, JUNO award winners Diane Seaton & Liberty Silver, New Jersey rappers Filthy Rich, Quality, Chris Cruz, and Toronto R&B singers  S. Davis and Nigel Woods and 5 time Grammy award winner, Carvin Winans

Concept

The concept for MY BOOK OF CHRYMES had never been done before. No hip hop artist had authored a book without a ghostwriter and then released it on the same day as its accompanying studio album before this date. My Book of Chrymes is a non-fiction book which chronicles Freddy Will's abrasive childhood experiences. This book unearthed intense moments of his life that inspired gritty lyrics which were intrinsically woven into his album - While I’m Still Young – The Talking Drums 1.2v. It presents readers with an insight of the inevitable pitfalls along his musical journey. The aim was to get his fans to understand the context of his lyrics. Careful not to be categorized as just another gangster rapper but also determined to tell his story through lyrics that often revolve around street loyalty, war, naughty romance and violence, he wrote this book to explain what inspired the lyrics on the album. 

Background

FREDDY WILL re-called his debut album from its previous distributors (Soulkiss Entertainment/dep/Universal Music Canada) on January 23rd, 2009 after a breech of their distribution contract became irreconcilable. Upon this recall, he established a new marketing, promotion and distribution department (Ghetto Breed Distributions) in his record label and rebranched the label  as Freddy Will Industries. The rebranched company would now be a parent company to Ghetto Breed Entertainment, Freddy Will Publishing, Ghetto Breed Distribution (including a new blog site, a ten (10) page website, a promotional facebook, myspace and Twitter pages as well as a revamped internet networking presence) and his charity foundation - The Freddy Will Hope Foundation.

Freddy Will also signed a joint publishing and distribution contract with  then up and coming Soul Asylum Poetry and Publishing & Double K Records in Ontario, Canada and completed his first manuscript to be published and released on his birthday in the summer.

Reception

Both My Book of Chrymes and While I'm Still Young - The Talking Drums 1.2v  were received with very positive reviews from the media, magazines and internet newspapers and they sold considerably across the world.  For more information on where to purchase the book & album (CD) click the links (above) in this article or go to FREDDY WILL.COM.

Singles

   

LOOK AT ME NOW is the first single off Freddy Will's album WHILE I'M STILL YOUNG - THE TALKING DRUMS 1.2v. released on March 22nd, 2009. It was produced by Eddie Bullen at Thunder Dome Sounds in Toronto, Canada. This song received a substantial amount of digital downloads throughout the internet with radio air play in the Caribbean, West Africa, Canada, Europe and USA.

    

WHILE I'M STILL YOUNG II  feat. AYA MUSIC is the second single off Freddy Will's album WHILE I'M STILL YOUNG - THE TALKING DRUMS 1.2v. released July 4th, 2009. It was produced by Eddie Bullen at Thunder Dome Sounds in Toronto, Canada with additional vocals performed by Aya Music. This song also received a substantial amount digital downloads throughout the internet with radio air play in the Caribbean, West Africa, Canada, Europe and some parts of the USA.

    

PROVIDENCE  feat. Carvin Winans is a third single released off Freddy Will's album WHILE I'M STILL YOUNG - THE TALKING DRUMS 1.2v. It was released on September 23rd, 2009. It was produced by Eddie Bullen at Thunder Dome Sounds in Toronto, Canada with additional vocals by five (5) time Grammy award winner Carvin Winans. This song received a substantial amount of digital downloads throughout the internet with massive radio play in the West Africa, Canada, Europe and USA.

      


FRANKLIN is a fourth single released off Freddy Will's Album WHILE I'M STILL YOUNG - THE TALKING DRUMS 1.2v. It was released December 15th, 2009 produced by Eddie Bullen at Thunder Dome Sounds in Toronto, Canada. It is a tribute song to Franklin, Somerset, New Jersey his home town in the Garden State. This song also received a substantial amounts of digital downloads through the internet with radio play in the Caribbean, West Africa, Canada, Europe and parts of the USA.

www.freddywill.com