Free (rapper)

Marie Antoinette Wright (born February 7, 1968), better known by her stage name Free, is an American media personality, television producer, choreographer, rapper, and philanthropist. She became known as the first host (alongside A. J. Calloway) of Black Entertainment Television's '' 106 & Park'' until 2005. She was later as a disc jockey at KKBT 100.3 The Beat in L.A., serving as a morning drive co-host at WPGC-FM in Washington, D.C., and is the former co-host of The Ed Lover Morning Show on Power 105.1 in New York.

Career

Free was born as Marie Antoinette Wright to African-American parents. She became involved in the arts as a child in Boston, Massachusetts. She attended the Roxbury Center for Performing Arts for 11 years, but traveled and toured as part of a young dance troupe. Inspired by her hometown group New Edition, she was part of a few groups in Boston performing and winning talent shows, while improving her singing and rap skills. One of her biggest breaks in her dancing career was performing in the 1991 hip-hop music video of ''Good Vibrations'' by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

Free left Boston to immerse herself in her true passion: music. One of Free's "stepping stones" was an internship at a radio station in Massachusetts, where she began to make a name for herself. She then made career moves between Los Angeles and New York City in an effort to build the structure of her calling. She appeared on ''Patriots'', the second track on Can-I-Bus, the debut album from critically acclaimed hip-hop artist Canibus. This appearance was her first major appearance and the album eventually went gold. Her appearance on the album was a direct result of her professional connection with Wyclef and his Refugee Camp crew.

Free stated: “What influenced me to chase after my dreams was music itself; its power and creative medium." Fate led her to a casting held by BET, where executives chose her to co-host (with AJ Calloway) their signature show based in New York: '' 106 & Park: Top 10 Live''. During her 5 years at ''106 & Park'', Free interviewed notable people such as Michael Jackson, Denzel Washington, Aaliyah, Halle Berry, Mariah Carey,
Maxwell, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, and Beyonce.

In 2003, Free began to record a full-length debut studio album titled, ''Pressure Free'', which was expected to be released in Spring of 2008. Free went on to promote the album and release rumored singles via underground mixtapes from early 2003 throughout 2007. A rumored single, ''Uh Huh'', featuring Busta Rhymes, leaked via Internet in the aspiration of she, again generating rumors for the album. Contributors for the debut included Faith Evans, Bink, Scott Storch, Rockwilder, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Rah Digga, Timbaland, and Missy Elliott. As of 2012, there is no confirmation if the album will be released.

On December 1, 2009, Clear Channel Radio's Power 105.1 (WWPR-FM, New York) had (along with added R&B, hip hop, and old-school jams) announced that Malikha Mallette would move to co-host on ''The Ed Lover Show,'' from 5:30 AM until 9:30 AM; meanwhile, DJ Envy would be Power 105.1's new afternoon personality, between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM on weekdays. The announcement was made by Cadillac Jack, Power 105.1's program director. Free stated on her Twitter page, "Ok that's a Tuesday morning for ya: As of now I will no longer be heard on Power 105 in the A.M.: NY thanks for the laughs..rock on."

In October 2010, Free returned to BET once again to produce and star in ''106 & Park’s'' two-episode anniversary show, titled ''106 & Park: 10 Years & Counting'' and ''106 & Park: The Celebration, 10 Years Live!''. Both shows earned the highest ''106 & Park'' ratings in BET history.

She could also be seen yet again on BET, as a presenter at the inaugural ''Black Girls Rock!'' on November 7, 2010.

On May 9, 2011, Free began co-hosting ''The Big Tigger Morning Show'' on “The People’s Station” WPGC-FM, WPGC (95.5 FM), serving the regions of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia; she hosted alongside Big Tigger, Darian "Big Tigger" Morgan from 6:00 AM until 10:00 AM, weekdays. Several months later, Big Tigger was fired, and Free continued the morning radio show without him.

On December 19, 2014, Free again returned to BET, hosting the final episode of ''106 & Park'', titled "The Final Act" (with Bow Wow (rapper), Bow Wow, Terrence J and Rocsi Diaz, Rocsi).

Philanthropy

In 2002, Free founded the Free4Life Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to empowering young people in disadvantaged neighborhoods through programs that encourage literacy, financial education and creative arts. The Free4Life Foundation has created opportunities that inspire, support, encourage and strengthen the healthy development of young people in Boston's underserved communities. Initially focused on eradicating domestic violence and improving financial literacy, Free is currently in the process of expanding the depth and breadth of the foundation's scope. Through the foundation, Free also launched the successful fundraising event, Break! Break!.APBSpeakers.com: Free Speaker Profile

Free is also an advocate for breast cancer awareness. In October 2010, she participated in the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" charity walk in honor of her late mother Selina "Tina" Wright. She later formed team "Walk 4 Tina," as she and her family walked 5.7 miles to help raise donations and awareness.

Personal life

As of 2023, Free lives a quiet and private life away from the media and the public eye. She maintains residences in both her hometown Boston and New York City. She has one child, a daughter.

Discography

* 2004: ''Free's World'' (mixtape)
* 2007: ''Pressure Free'' (shelved)

;Album appearances
* 1998: Canibus – " Can-I-Bus" (On "Patriots")
* 1998: Pras – "Ghetto Supastar" (On "What'cha Wanna Do") and (On "Can't Stop The Shining)
* 2000: Wyclef Jean – ''The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book'' (on "Da Cypha")
* 2001: Erick Sermon – ''React (Erick Sermon album), React'' (on "We Don't Care")
* 2001: Ed O.G. – ''The Truth Hurts'' (on "Just Because")
* 2009: Lisa Lopes, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes — ''Eye Legacy'' (on "Spread Your Wings")

;Remixes
* 1999: "Bring It All to Me, Bring It All to Me (Triple Threat Mix)" — Blaque (feat. NY Glaze, Jazz-Ming Mackey, and Free)
* 2003: "21 Answers" — Lil' Mo

;Soundtracks
* 1996: ''The Associate (Soundtrack), The Associate'' (on "Mr. Big Stuff" with Queen Latifah and Shades)
* 1999: Life (soundtrack), Music Inspired by the Motion Picture ''Life'' – (on "What Goes Around" with Khadejia)
* 2000: The PJs (soundtrack), ''The PJs: Music from & Inspired by the Hit Television Series'' – "Holiday" (with Earth, Wind & Fire)
* 2003: ''The Fighting Temptations#Soundtrack, The Fighting Temptations: Music from the Motion Picture'' (on "Fighting Temptation" — Beyoncé Knowles, Beyoncé (feat. Missy Elliott, MC Lyte, and Free)

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Free
African-American women rappers
American television personalities
Living people
Rappers from Boston
1968 births
Musicians from Boston
People from Dorchester, Boston
21st-century American rappers
21st-century African-American women
21st-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American women
21st-century American women rappers