Bre-Z vs. Freda Gatz: Meet the Philly MC
The rapper-actor talks her career beginnings, similarities to her ‘Empire’ character, and women in hip-hop.
REVOLT recently sat down with Bre-Z, one of Empire’s brightest stars. She plays Freda Gatz, a troubled signee of Empire Records whose sharp rhymes and kick-ass attitude have kept us on our toes since we were first introduced to her last season.
In discussing the similarities between Bre-Z and her character, REVOLT learned that the real woman, more playful and happy than her role would lead you to believe, has grown and developed as a woman.
The Philly-born rapper started out as a barber in the AUC in Atlanta where she recorded between cuts prior her role on Empire. Her character, however, is still going through her deployment process and is currently locked up and awaiting release from jail after shooting Jamal in the Season 2 finale. However, Bre-Z hints that the frustration we see in Freda may smooth out as she gets back to her craft of making music.
“Being in the streets, the trials and tribulations you experience as a young woman just growing up in that particular environment, I can definitely relate,” Bre-Z said. “I think we relate on a whole lot of different levels; it’s just that I’m blessed to have grown from that person. Bre-Z is a lot more playful and Freda is serious. I think the more and more things brighten up for her and she is given the opportunity to get back to the music, we will see things brighten up for her.”
Watch and read excerpts from our interview below.
Additionally, Bre-Z talked about being grateful for the awareness that Empire has brought to her music as well, namely the recently-released “Say What U Want” where she talks about the glow-up.
“They never thought this shit would happen / They thought that I would be on the corner fucking rapping / Instead, I show up on that big screen / I told them sleep on me, I’ll show up in your damn dream.”
And she’s doing just what the lyrics promised, making her mark in entertainment for the ladies. And as people connect to her outside of the show, they’ll see that her character is a representation of Bre-Z, The Artist.
It’s a great time for ladies in hip-hop and Bre-Z notably gives props to a few.
“As far as the Young M.As, The Def Loafs, and Nicki Minajs, I love it,” she said. “I just think that the moment is coming back around. The moment where we had Angie Martinez, we had Lil’ Kim, we had Foxy, we had Left-Eye, we had Da Brat. Those moments are just coming back around, myself included. Like, I’m happy for everyone because it’s time. I think history always repeats itself, and I’m happy to throw my little piece in the puzzle.”
Stay tuned to Empire tonight to see what happens next with Freda Gatz.