9.8.2020

Video: Freddie Dredd – “DARKO” (Dir. by Alex Machin)

The Canadian Rapper Shares a Haunting Claymation Clip for a SUFFER EP Highlight

Critical Praise:

“Hip-Hop Is Under Construction, and Freddie Dredd Is Rebuilding It” – Ones To Watch

“As we delve deeper into this interesting phenomenon, it will become apparent that Freddie Dredd is truly one of a kind; there is something spectacular about this rapper-producer extraordinaire. In a musical climate where originality is on the decline, where ‘everybody wants to be somebody else,’ Freddie exists as a standalone exception. Freddie Dredd is everything contemporary artists, underground and mainstream alike, ought to be. He is an exemplary creative mind, and there is a lot to learn from him.” – The Kollection

The Video:

Freddie Dredd turns rap music on its head with his gory lyrics and pure-evil aesthetic. Translating his twisted worldview into vivid claymation, Freddie prepares to haunt your dreams with his new video “DARKO.” A horrorcore banger with rumbling bass and distorted sound effects, Freddie embodies the human mind’s deepest and darkest thoughts, urging his followers to commit unspeakable acts: “I’m the one who gonna tell you what the f*ck to do/Swing the axe so fast it’s gonna split your head to two.” Directed by Alex Machin, the “Darko” video tells a modern-day ghost story, as Freddie confronts a hypocritical preacher under the influence of a mysterious shadowy figure. With echoes of films like Donnie Darko and Beetlejuice, the “DARKO” video finds Freddie succumbing to his worst instincts and battling Lovecraftian monsters…but was it all a dream?

“DARKO” is the latest boundary-pushing video to come from Freddie’s SUFFER EP, following the visually striking animated video for “DEVIL’S WORK.” Home to several highlight singles, including the noisy, industrial “DARKO,” the ultraviolent “SPEAK UP,“ and the fan-favorite diptych “NECKLACE,” and “TOOL,” SUFFER EP filters rap music through Freddie’s playfully sadistic point of view. Influenced by the more extreme sub-genres of Southern hip-hop, especially the strain of horrorcore embraced by Memphis artists like Three 6 Mafia, Freddie’s music (produced by constant collaborator Ryan C) packs scores of sonic ideas into bite-sized bangers, often featuring shifts in tempo and vocal pitch. Flashing a dark sense of humor in his consciously over-the-top lyrics, the 23-year-old rapper amuses himself and his fans with his extreme imagery and creative threats. SUFFER EP is currently streaming everywhere.

A member of the Doomshop/Sixtet collective of underground artists, Freddie found his greatest success in 2019, fueled by his popularity on TikTok, whose users were drawn to his vibey combination of ethereal samples and hard-hitting low-end. His single “Cha Cha“ struck gold, racking up over 53 million streams on Spotify alone. Freddie trended on TikTok yet again earlier this year with his bossa nova-sampling single “Opaul,” inspiring over 2.7 million video creations and earning 38 million streams on Spotify alone. In July, Freddie shared the video for “GTG,” one of his biggest hits to date, which earns up over 100k streams per day nearly two years after its release (42 million total Spotify streams). Directed by Lazy Eye Productions and recently surpassing 1.5 million views on YouTube, the video artfully leans into the song’s morbidity, positing the Ontario native as the heir apparent to serial killer antiheroes like Dexter and Hannibal Lecter.

Watch “DARKO”: https://freddiedredd.lnk.to/DarkoVideo

Buy/Stream SUFFER EP: https://FreddieDredd.lnk.to/Suffer

Please contact Michelle or Kerry for more info.

The Background:

Freddie Dredd (born September 19, 1997) is a Canadian rapper and producer based in Oshawa, Ontario. He is originally from Durham, Ontario. Best known for blending gritty, lo-fi sounds, vintage samples, and intense—often dark—lyrics. Freddie’s unique style started gaining traction in early 2019 after several of his songs became viral hits on the short-form mobile video app, TikTok. In addition to his solo work, Freddie frequently collaborates with other underground hip-hop artists, such as Baker, RAMIREZ, and Slim Guerilla. He is also an active member of DoomshopRecords and SIXSET.