You no longer have to be from Port Arthur, Texas to hold the Underground King title. Just ask Frayz. He was named Underground King in the 2008 DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) Entertainment and Music Awards. This may not be the most prestigious honor to mention. You may not even care. But the DC Metropolitan area did. They cared enough to give a Puerto Rican rapper from Brooklyn, NY the title over other DMV natives, most of who had been on the local hip-hop scene much longer. No mixtape, 202 area code, or even Nike Boots to keep the cliché alive. Just a couple songs, couple shows, and a movement that has surpassed the potential to be the envy of any hip-hop clique. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Frayz.
It wasn’t until 2004 that Frayz began to emerge in the city most musically recognized for go-go. Virginia based mixtape DJ, DJ Chub, featured Frayz on his “Street Report” mixtape series’ that flooded the Northern VA and DC club scene. Listeners caught on to an emcee that was not only lyrical, but had the ability to speak with conviction, a trait that artists from all regions still lack. Remixing everything from Rick Ross’ “Hustlin” to Diddy’s “Last Night”, Frayz continued to display versatility with ease.
“I’m brushing shoulders with southern niggas all day, so it comes out,” Frayz says. “Some mornings, I may wake up and feel a little New York. Or I may just feel like chilling on the corner with my vatos out in LA. But this is all me.”
His mass appeal would eventually lead to the establishment of Midieast, a music and entertainment movement comprised of everything from rappers to local radio personalities. Created by himself and business colleague Text Sosa, the term “Midieast” represents the location of the area he now calls home. Or as Frayz puts it, “Bottom of the north, top of the south.” Through his consistent release of music in the mixtape circuit, tearing down stages, and the ever-growing internet music trend, Midieast has moved into the forefront of the DMV hip-hop movement. In addition, Frayz’s music has been featured on both prominent urban radio stations in the area (WKYS and WPGC), his most recent mixtape, Catch Frayz, has been distributed in numbers that easily rest in the company of 5 figures, and he’s shared stages and opened up for numerous industry headliners, including the Dipset’s Jim Jones.
In October 2008, Frayz’s lyrical presence was once again sought by residents of the DMV. This time, to open up for T-Pain and T.I. through a contest held by The Hometeam on WPGC 95.5FM. Going up against five other artist over a seven day period, Frayz blew out his competition, gaining 38,834 votes by listeners to secure the gig. This was just another milestone that re-asserted Frayz’s comments after the announcement of the winner for Underground King at the DMV Awards in January: “I’m from here, too.”
To end his act at the Patriot Center, Frayz performed “I Made It”, an anthem that celebrates the adversity he’s overcome throughout his life. And tonight, he did make it. Frayz made another step from the stairs of the underground and into the light that the surface offers. However, circumstance or position will never change the title he’s gracefully accepted. Just as UGK’s name has remained intact throughout their career, so will Frayz’s. He is the Underground King.
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