What up gang.
Back with the real you know what’s the deal. Louisiana been on since way back when. Right now, there’s so many popping artists from the city it’s name is always in the headlines, but sometimes while for great things musically
Other times it’s for tragedies in the rap game turned street beef
Insider Hotspot Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRomM7ZedDRRo8bPBG8XuFA/videos
In this vid we’re going to look at one of the artists who knows this all too well, Fredo Bang.
Having been shot at, charged with attempted murder, did jail time, lost best friends to beef, and still rising to be a superstar, he’s survived it all. It’s time to break down his come up, struggles, and position as TBG honcho. Let’s chop it up and break it down.
Baton Rouge has been buzzin’ and thugin’ for a minute, but this new generation of rappers are coming with the heat on beats and in the streets. Fredrick Givens II aka Fredo Bang is one of the rappers doing his thing and becoming a success. Coming up in the Uptown Southside Baton Rouge Louisiana, he endured regular struggles with his moms and pops but hustling was always in their blood https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (1:13-1:17) https://youtu.be/wE694DMHv14 (0:15-0:30) The street influence though was still very much present. According to Fredo Bang, his brothers were going to prison for everything under the sun, one doing 10 years for a dope charge, another for guns https://youtu.be/wE694DMHv14 (0:30-0:47) With them in and out of jail, he was learning life by himself a lot of times https://youtu.be/wE694DMHv14 (0:09-0:14)
On the other side, Fredo Bang wanted better for himself and tried his best to not follow the same path. He was killing it in school and excelled to go on to college. Music was something he always had a passion for, and was even offered a scholarship https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (3:10-3:49) https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (4:00-4:18) Fredo had love for his moms and turned down the scholarship to be there for her when his parents were getting divorced https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (4:19-4:24) He was like that kid who held the family together on all ends, maybe that’s why he eventually lost control of his emotions https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (15:40-16:04)
With him being there for moms and staying on top of school, beneath all that the streets was too much to resist and he was in the trenches with his henchmen putting in work https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (5:22-6:00) Music eventually found it’s way to him when he was kicking it with his day one Krazy Trey
vibing with the homies recording in a home studio in the closet. He would hop in, spit a bar and the homies told him he was nice with it https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (1:19-1:34) One of his homies called him Fredo after the Chiraq legend, Fredo Santana (RIP) and that’s how he got his rap alias Fredo Bang https://youtu.be/_3IjyF6oxpQ (2:07-2:30)
The Bang Man was slowly losing grip on being a civilian, sinking deeper and deeper into the hood environment and with it taking substances like lean https://youtu.be/_3IjyF6oxpQ (2:34-2:39) But still kept his focus on the money https://youtu.be/_3IjyF6oxpQ (4:21-4:33)
Eventually, hood shenanigans led Fredo Bang into a couple skirmishes that nearly took his life. He’s been jumped, shot at, have bullets buzz past his ear and to this day he has a scar over his right eye from scrapping with the opps https://youtu.be/qSRCgH7n22U (2:47-2:57) https://youtu.be/qSRCgH7n22U (3:10-3:27) Fredo Bang was making a name for himself and became aligned with TBG aka Top Bog Gorillas along with his childhood homie turned brother Gee Money https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (33:32-33:47)
The two first met in elementary school and bounced up again around the 5th grade. Remember the homie Krazy Trey before? Gee used to rap at his home studio setup and him and Fredo began rocking more https://youtu.be/wE694DMHv14 (3:28-4:00)
Later they started collaborating on tracks like “EASY” with Lil Issue and Kevin F https://youtu.be/J0U0JTVP2yE, and their solo single “Yeah Yeah” https://youtu.be/lAQ9bIZ-38o after tragedy struck Gee. But before those events could be set in motion, Fredo Bang’s life would change when he caught his first charge for second degree battery after breaking someone’s nose. That tossed his promising school life out the window https://youtu.be/wE694DMHv14 (1:04-1:26) Him and Gee became partners holding it down for TBG. That friendship turned into a brotherhood after Fredo Bang lost his day one homie, Krazy Trey to gun violence. On March 28, 2014 at a birthday party/show with Fredo Bang at the Baker Civic Club, 16-year-old Nakeydran Williams
offloaded the strap murking 3 people and injuring two,
one of the victims was Diontrey Claiborne aka Kray Trey
Fredo Bang and Gee Money both went way back with Krazy Tray and his passing turned them into brothers https://youtu.be/wE694DMHv14 (5:15-6:06) https://youtu.be/aDqBPjiNQk4 (4:30-4:50)
The two started applying pressure, putting TBG on the map
And it was right on time because now that Fredo dropped out of college and getting a job just didn’t feel right anymore, he turned his focus to music and the streets https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (13:20-14:25) That lasted for about a year before getting hemmed up again by law enforcement, this time he caught a charge for attempted murder in 2016 for a shooting he did in 2015 https://youtu.be/wE694DMHv14 (2:36-2:51) This was sparked by a situation where the name The Bang Man became known for real for real to his opps. Fredo was bussing at everyone even the opps moms.
Fredo Bang got into an argument with a rapper, Louis Badazz because he snitched on Fredo’s cousin https://youtu.be/86EvTitjaiA (0:58-1:28)
The back and forth led to Fredo seeing him outside on IG and pulled up on business leaned up https://youtu.be/86EvTitjaiA (1:55-2:25) They moved from in front Louis grandma apartment to square up and threw hands for about for 5 mins before his pops came through with the sucker punch on Fredo https://youtu.be/86EvTitjaiA (2:26-2:55) Fredo hit that boi with the over the top power bomb and started stomping him out. It turned into a royal rumble handicap match with the whole apartment complex rushing Fredo Bang https://youtu.be/86EvTitjaiA (2:56-3:15) Fredo dipped to his car, grabbed his strap and started bussin’ and everybody started bussin’ https://youtu.be/86EvTitjaiA (3:16-3:40) Even moms nearly became a pack https://youtu.be/86EvTitjaiA (4:30-5:24)
Louis Badazz and his moms would rat Fredo out to the cops which got him the murder charge https://youtu.be/86EvTitjaiA (4:20-4:27) Fredo Bang was taken to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison where he was charged with attempted second degree murder, illegal use of a weapon and aggravated criminal damage to property with a bond set at $70,000.
https://www.xxlmag.com/fredo-bang-arrested-for-attempted-second-degree-murder/
TBG would pay the bond https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (4:42-5:17) and he would be back out thuggin’ which was the title of his next hit single https://youtu.be/pLQYs0LKg40
However, within just 16 days of being out, he was right back in the pen after being caught with a stolen firearm that was registered for being involved in 5 shootings https://youtu.be/CCTCbya5PrM (1:16-1:22) Fredo was at the studio when a chick that was stalking him pulled up and blocked him in, leading to an argument and he kicked her out. Nothings worse than a woman’s scorn. Fredo learned that the hard way https://youtu.be/CCTCbya5PrM (1:25-1:41) She called the cops and that’s how they found him in the whip with the stolen pole https://youtu.be/CCTCbya5PrM (1:41-2:41) Fredo Bang was 19 and looking at 40 years behind bars https://youtu.be/CCTCbya5PrM (2:42-3:02) Luckily ole boi Louis and his moms dropped the charges but the prosecution wasn’t going to just let him slide and kept him on hold for 2 and a half years still fighting the case to be free https://youtu.be/CCTCbya5PrM (3:05-4:15) He would eventually be released on parole for 5 years https://youtu.be/CCTCbya5PrM (8:14-9:26) As for Louis Badazz, he was murked in 2018 https://youtu.be/86EvTitjaiA (052:055)
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_db13c880-4e4e-11e8-ba28-ef70e1a04fd4.html Louis was actually homies with Nussie, the rapper that was one of the victims Boosie’s shooter Marlo Mike allegedly claimed for Boosie
Even though Fredo was back outside, his heart was heavy, and his emotions were cold. While behind bars, Gee Money lost his life to gun violence allegedly over a beef with past TBG affiliate and friend NBA Youngboy
The beef spiraled out of control when YB felt a way that Gee Money laid the pipe on his sister https://youtu.be/39QcxRPvSo4 (2:43-3:07) Garrett Burton aka Gee Money was caught lackin’ in a parking lot outside the music studio on Dallas Drive. He suffered fatal wounds after being sprayed up
On record, police charged NBA affiliate Deandre Fields aka NBA Lil Pap for the hit
Fredo bang had now lost his best friend Krazy Trey and who he considered his brother, Gee Money https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (1:46-1:59)
Describing hearing the news while in prison is sad. You could see the pain in his eyes and hurt in his voice https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (2:12-4:38) What’s even worse Gee wouldn’t have still been in Baton Rouge but he stayed waiting for his brother Fredo Bang to be released that week https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (8:48-9:30)
When he finally got to see the body, it was after being escorted in shackles https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (9:30-10:55) And he broke down all over again trying to come to turns with the truth https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (11:05-11:45) Fredo’s mind was messed up from the pain and loss of the streets. He was suffering with PTSD and trauma and wanted everyone to feel his pain https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (28:13-29:48) https://youtu.be/qSRCgH7n22U (2:30-2:34) In his interview with DJ Smallz he fought the tears until he couldn’t anymore and had to wipe his eyes when asked what he missed most about Gee https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (29:50-30:48)
Fredo Bang to this day has Gee Tatted on his body, got him on his chain, and released a project “In The Name Of Gee” holding it down for bro and living out their dreams https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (30:49-30:59) https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (31:35-31:49) https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (32:46-33:23)
After the project dropped, Fredo healed up and carried on the legacy of his bro https://youtu.be/Yt0t48C7z3A (1:25-1:55) He released the song “Father” dedicated to Gee and Krazy Trey https://youtu.be/YFtu5dhZADM https://youtu.be/QOcP59bv9wQ (2:30-2:40) https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (38:36-39:05) and “Dawg Gone” detailing hearing of Gee’s passing https://youtu.be/e9L1cRi12Ag (0:26-1:04) https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (37:58-38:32)
He vowed that the situation would be handled and that Gee’s death wasn’t going to slide https://youtu.be/aDqBPjiNQk4 (7:51-8:25) Fredo was a man of his word. Bodies around YB started dropping. TBG’s top shooter Lit Yoshi was watching all this go down and stepped up and he was a real hitter and became like a right hand to Fredo Bang https://youtu.be/t_Zy-7yv3q0 (2:10-2:22) Yoshi would target Lil Pap riddling bullets his direction nearly taking his life https://youtu.be/TG21FrkGPRM (0:47-1:05)
Next YB’s homie Dumb was murked
Then the rumored assistant hitter on that mission Blvd Quick, disrespected YB moms and the get back came his way after YB responded to his disrespect online https://youtu.be/GvT2ZZ_LWAQ (0:00-0:48) https://youtu.be/3POITHoWE-4 (6:29-6:49)
With both sides losing homies, YB and Fredo continued to take jabs at each other online https://youtu.be/aXX06RsE5m8 (0:39-1:48) Things further escalated when an attempt was made on YB’s life at the Trump International Beach Resort in Sunny Isles Beach, Miami when shots were fired hitting his then shawty, grazing a child, and taking the life of an innocent bystander.
https://www.local10.com/news/2019/05/13/man-killed-woman-wounded-in-shootout-involving-rappers/ https://youtu.be/jaSiWsYcafc (0:18-0:22) https://youtu.be/mwisAEjGI4Q
July 2021 feds swooped down on Fredo’s crib arresting Lit Yoshi and then Fredo under allegations of being involved with YB’s attempted assassination and the other bodies dropped in the YB camp https://youtu.be/TrJHZ0LPGSs (0:01-1:35) https://youtu.be/gNOpwbvV0L0 (0:10-0:25)
Lit Yoshi is currently fighting for his life with charge after charge but Fredo Bang was released from prison in November 2021 and keeping out of harms way https://youtu.be/ko_0wljLnlg (0:20-0:39) I did videos on the entire arrest and case breakdown and also detailed events of the bodies dropped in previous videos so you can check them out to see how it all played out.
For now, Fredo Bang has since leveled up with the big boys, moving to Miami and inking a deal with Def Jam and releasing his latest album “Murder Made Me.” https://youtu.be/Kcl3CgoXKUg (27:50-28:04)
Bro been through hell and kept it 100 in the streets. Wishing nothing but continued success and safety for everyone still alive and RIP to those lost in the beef.
So there you have it. Thanks for kicking it with yah boy, appreciate the love and support. Catch ya’ll in the next one. Long Live Gee Money. Peace up and peace out https://youtu.be/zsqPtmDVLrw (34:29-34:51)
Insider Hotspot Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRomM7ZedDRRo8bPBG8XuFA/videos
Chad is a professional journalist specializing in Hip-Hop culture and writing music reviews.
