Born as Frederick Brathwaite on the 31st August 1959 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York City USA, Freddy is a TV personality, visual artist and director, but probably best known to the world as the host of the MTV show “Yo! MTV Raps” (1988-1995), and for being involved in the New York underground graffiti scene.
Have you ever wondered how rich Fab Five Freddy is, as of mid- 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Freddy’s net worth is as high as $2 million, an amount earned through his successful career in the entertainment industry, which has been active since the late ‘70s.
Fab Five Freddy Net Worth $2 Million
Unfortunately, there is no information about Freddy’s life before his career took off. He joined the graffiti group Fabulous Five in the late ‘70s, which until then only worked in shadows, painting over New York Subway cars. Nevertheless, with the help of Freddy, they took a step forward, and from graffiti moved to the more conventional art world. In no time, Freddy and one of the members of the group, Lee Quiñones, held an exhibition of their respective works in Rome Italy, at the Galleria LaMedusa. Thanks to his rising popularity, he and Lee Quiñones, were cast in the film “Downtown 81”, written by Glenn O’Brien, which was more of a documentary as it follows artist Jean Michael Basquiat in his daily life. After the success of the film, Freddy tried to put his own ideas onto the screen, and with the help of filmmaker Charlie Ahearn, created “Wild Style” released in 1982, which followed a day in the life of Freddy’s friend and colleague Lee Quiñones. Back in 1981, he was co-curator of the art show Beyond Words, which was held at the Mudd Club, in which works from Futura 2000 artists were showcased. Also, the exhibition comprised works from Jean Michael Basquiat, Keith Haring, Rammellzee and Kenny Scharf among others.
Slowly Freddy and the rest of the graffiti-group began to surface from the New York underground scene, and in 1988 he was named as the host of the MTV show “Yo! MTV Raps”, thanks to the popularity of which, Freddy’s own popularity grew ever higher, and he became one of the most prominent figures of the rap scene. His stint on the show lasted until the mid-90s, and since then has been focused on careers as an actor, producer and director, but also has continued to encourage young hip hop and graffiti artists to follow their dreams, despite obstacles they encounter on their way to success.
Freddy has been referenced in the song “Rapture”, performed by Blondie, while his other imprints on the music and art scenes include the hit single “Change the Beat”, and numerous exhibitions throughout the world which he has held with other graffiti artists, and has inspired many artists, such as Bansky, Shepard Fairey, and Barry McGhee, among others.
To speak of his career as an actor, Freddy appeared in the film “American Gangster” in 2007, and the same year portrayed murdered rap artist Terrence ‘Fulla T’ Smith in the TV crime drama series “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” in one episode of the series, while most recently he had a minor role in the biopic about the former President Barack Obama – “Barry” (2016), and also appeared in an episode of the TV crime drama series “Blue Bloods” (2016).
Regarding his personal life, Freddy’s most intimate details such as marital status and number of children remain hidden from public eyes, as Freddy tends to keep such information as secretive as he can.
Full Name
Fab 5 Freddy
Net Worth
$2 Million
Date Of Birth
August 31, 1959
Place Of Birth
Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York City USA
Profession
TV personality
Nationality
American
Nicknames
Fab 5 Freddy , Frederick Brathwaite , Fab 5 Freddie , Fred Brathwaite , Fab Five Freddy Braithwaite , Fred Brathwaite aka Fab 5 Freddy
Twitter
IMDB
Albums
Wild Style Breakbeats
Movies
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, American Gangster, The Freshest Kids: A History of the B-Boy, Downtown 81, Murder Was the Case, Wild Style
TV Shows
Yo! MTV Raps
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Fact
1
Is mentioned in the 1980 Blondie song "Rapture" and appears in the video of the song, which synthesizes disco with the then-emerging rap music and hip-hop. A pioneer of rap, Fab 5 Freddie met Debbie Harry and other members of Blondie at a club and they became friends. When Freddy suggested that Harry write a song about the rap scene, she did. The result is the rap that is the second half of "Rapture," which begins "Fab Five Freddie told me everybody's fly." The song's title is a pun on rap music. Also mentioned in the song "Have You Seen Her" by M.C. Hammer.
2
Was the first choice for the character of Russel Walker in Krush Groove (1985) .
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Blue Bloods
2016
TV Series
Atticus
Barry
2016/II
Rameek
Rachel Getting Married
2008
Rehearsal Dinner Guest (as Fab Five Freddy)
American Gangster
2007
Smalls Patron
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2007
TV Series
Terrence 'Fulla T' Smith
The Manchurian Candidate
2004
Political Pundit
New Jack City
1991
Master of Ceremonies
She's Gotta Have It
1986
Dog 10 (as Fab Five Freddy Braithwaite)
Downtown 81
1981
Graffiti Artist
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
6th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors
2009
TV Movie co-executive producer
5th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors
2008
TV Movie co-executive producer
4th Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors
2007
TV Movie co-executive producer
3rd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors
2006
TV Movie co-executive producer
2nd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors
2005
TV Movie consulting producer
Hip-Hop Honors
2004
TV Special consulting producer
New Jack City
1991
associate producer
Wild Style
1983
Documentary associate producer - as Fred Braithwaite
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Nas: Video Anthology Vol. 1
2004
Video video "One Love"
Murder Was the Case: The Movie
1995
Video short video "What's My Name?"
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Wild Style
1983
Documentary performer: "Down By Law" / writer: "South Bronx Subway Rap", "Military Cut Scratch Mix", "M.C. Battle", "Fantastic Freaks at the Dixie", "Subway Theme", "Cold Crush Bros. At the Dixie", "Cuckoo Clocking", "Double Trouble at the Amphitheatre", "The Chief Rocker Busy Bee, D.J. A.J. At the Amphitheatre", "Gangbusters Scratch Mix", "Rammellzee and Shock Dell at the Amphitheatre", "Down By Law"
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Wild Style
1983
Documentary original concept - as Fred Braithwaite
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Wild Style
1983
Documentary
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Wild Style
1983
Documentary musical director - as Fred Braithwaite