FreddyO

Ciara The Diva

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December 28, 2008

Ciara knows she is a star, and she is not about to let anybody forget it! FreddyO caught up with Atlanta’s own Princess of Crunk&B, and in this clip CiCi is serving full diva — the attitude, the confidence, the whole superstar package. This is not the shy girl from Riverdale anymore. This is a young woman who knows exactly who she is.

Can you blame her? Ever since “Goodies” shut the clubs down in 2004, Ciara has been one of the most complete packages in the game — she sings, she dances better than almost anybody, and “1, 2 Step” and “Promise” are already classics in this city. Right now she is working on her third album, Fantasy Ride, and word is she is coming with a whole new level of grown-woman energy for 2009. Moments like this one are just a preview.

What we love about this clip is that it is all in fun. Ciara is playing with the camera the way only a real diva can — big personality, big smile, and that ATL confidence that made her a star in the first place. The same girl who makes wishes come true for her fans and will hop on a bowling lane and clown with everybody also knows how to turn the diva all the way up when the moment calls for it, and you can see both sides in the gallery below.

Press play above and watch Ciara do diva the Atlanta way, then check the gallery for the other side of CiCi — making a fan’s wish come true and trying her hand at bowling. Diva or down-to-earth, Atlanta is going to ride for her either way.

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

Floyd Mayweather Talking Junk

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November 21, 2008

Floyd “Money” Mayweather is talking junk again — and when Floyd talks, the whole boxing world listens! The undefeated champion may be retired right now, but nobody would know it from the way he is running his mouth. FreddyO caught up with Floyd and he had plenty to say, so press play and hear Money Mayweather talk that talk like only he can.

Love him or hate him, Floyd Mayweather backs it up in the ring. Thirty-nine wins, no losses, titles in five different weight classes — the man they called Pretty Boy, now Money, has beaten everybody they put in front of him, from Diego Corrales to Zab Judah to Oscar De La Hoya to Ricky Hatton just last December. He is the pound-for-pound king, and he will be the first one to tell you that, whether you asked him or not.

That is what makes Floyd, Floyd. The flash, the cars, the houses, the jewelry — and the junk talking. He sells a fight like nobody else in the game, because half the people pay to see him win and the other half pay hoping to finally see him lose. Even outside the ring he stays in the spotlight, from taking on Big Show at WrestleMania this year to flashing his money wherever the cameras are rolling.

So is this just Floyd being Floyd, or is Money Mayweather getting that itch to come back and remind everybody who runs boxing? With Manny Pacquiao about to face Oscar De La Hoya, the fans are already dreaming about the next super fight. Hit the comments and tell us: is Floyd the best talker in boxing, and if he comes back, who should he fight first? Keep it locked to FreddyO!

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

Ciara Make A Wish

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November 18, 2008

This is exactly why we love Ciara. Atlanta’s own Princess of Crunk & B took time away from the stage and the studio to make one young fan’s dream come true, teaming up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a day that little girl will never forget. Forget the glitz and the glamour for a second — this is CiCi with her heart wide open, and FreddyO was there to catch every sweet moment.

For those who don’t know, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children facing life-threatening medical conditions, and when this young lady’s wish was to meet her favorite singer, Ciara showed up and showed out. There were hugs, happy tears, pictures and plenty of girl talk, and the smile on that child’s face said everything words couldn’t. Ciara didn’t rush in and out either — she sat down, listened, laughed and made sure her guest of honor felt like the true star of the day.

It’s been a big year for Ciara. She has had the clubs moving with ‘Go Girl’ alongside T-Pain, she is putting the finishing touches on her third album, Fantasy Ride, and her live show remains one of the best in the business — nobody out-dances her, period. But moments like this remind you that the biggest stars are the ones who understand what their fame is really for. Long after the cameras stop flashing, that little girl will remember the day her wish came true and her idol treated her like family.

So salute to Ciara for leading with love, and to Make-A-Wish for the incredible work they do for these babies every single day. Watch the full video above, try not to tear up, and drop some love in the comments for this beautiful young fan and her unforgettable day with CiCi.

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

Granny Say Put Some Clothes On.. Freddyo.com

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November 10, 2008

Only on FreddyO.com, baby. FreddyO was out and about with his camera crew when he ran into a granny who had something on her mind — and like any good church mother, she did not hold back one bit. Her message to the young ladies of Atlanta dressing like it’s spring break in the middle of the city? Simple, direct, and delivered with all the love in the world: put some clothes on.

This is one of those FreddyO street moments that reminds you why real people will always be funnier than anything scripted. Granny looks at the fashions these young girls are wearing — skirts up to here, tops showing everything God gave them and a little bit extra — and she just shakes her head and says what half the city is thinking. No filter, no script, no worrying about who might get offended. When an elder speaks, you listen, and when she delivers it this funny, you laugh first and take the lesson second.

And let’s be real: underneath the comedy, granny is preaching. Her whole point is about self-respect — that a lady can be beautiful, fly, and turn every head in the room without giving the whole show away for free. That’s old-school Atlanta wisdom, the kind our grandmothers, aunties, and church mothers have been handing down forever. The young queens might roll their eyes today, but one day they’ll be the grannies saying the exact same thing to their granddaughters.

Press play above and get your laugh for the day — granny does not disappoint — then keep scrolling for more FreddyO exclusives. Make sure you share this one with your mama, your auntie, and that one friend who definitely needs to hear it. Talk back in the comments: is granny right, or should the young ladies live their lives?

Come Get Your Daughter: Ms Empress Pearl

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

TI Wants Yall To Go By His Album

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September 26, 2008

The King has a message for the people! T.I. wants y’all to go out and buy his new album, Paper Trail, when it hits stores this Tuesday, September 30, and he said it himself right here on FreddyO. Tip has been through a lot this past year, but the music never stopped, and now the King of the South is back to reclaim his spot with the biggest album of his career.

You already know the run he is on. ‘Whatever You Like’ is sitting at number one all over the country, ‘Live Your Life’ with Rihanna is about to take off, and ‘Swagger Like Us’ with Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne just shut the game down. After the year Tip has had in the headlines, Paper Trail is him telling his own story, his own way, pen and pad out like the old days, and Atlanta is standing behind its king one hundred percent.

This is bigger than one album for the A. From Trap Muzik to King, T.I. put Bankhead on his back and carried Atlanta rap to the top of the charts, and Grand Hustle has the whole city watching. When Tip speaks, the streets listen, and his message right now is simple: support the music, support the movement, and go get that album the day it drops.

T.I. Pays Respect To Gucci Mane & Shawty Lo

Press play and hear it straight from the King himself, then tell us in the comments: are you picking up Paper Trail on Tuesday? You heard the man, go buy his album!

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

Tip Akoo

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September 23, 2008

Atlanta, stand up — the King is expanding the kingdom. T.I. has never been content to just run the rap game, and this fall the Grand Hustle boss is stepping into the fashion world with his brand-new clothing line, Akoo. FreddyO got the early look at what Tip is cooking up for fall 2008, and if you know anything about how this man moves, you already know it is not going to be some lazy celebrity logo slapped on a plain tee.

The name itself tells you everything about the mindset behind the brand. Akoo carries the spirit of being a king of oneself — carrying yourself like royalty no matter where you come from, and nobody embodies that message better than a kid from Bankhead who turned himself into one of the biggest stars on the planet. The line is built around premium denim, sharp graphic tees, knits, and outerwear with the kind of detailing that makes a fit look expensive the second you put it on.

Timing could not be better. Tip is one of the most talked-about men in music right now, with all eyes on his next moves, and the streets have been waiting to see what a T.I. clothing line would actually look like. Rappers launching fashion lines is nothing new, but the ones that last are the ones that feel real — and Akoo feels like Tip’s own closet: clean, confident, Southern, and just flashy enough to let everybody know you arrived.

Press play above and hear it straight from the man himself, then tell us in the comments — will you be rocking Akoo this fall? We already know Atlanta will be first in line. And keep it locked to FreddyO, because where Tip goes, we go, cameras rolling and all. Check out more exclusive FreddyO videos below.

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

Jazmin Sullivan Live FSO

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September 15, 2008

Atlanta, if you don’t know the name Jazmine Sullivan yet, remember this moment — because a voice like this does not stay a secret for long. The Philly songstress blessed the FSO stage and sang like her life depended on every note, and FreddyO was right there to capture it. Church-raised, Missy Elliott-discovered and blessed with runs that make other singers nervous, Jazmine is the real deal, and this performance is all the proof anybody needs.

Jazmine’s timing could not be better. Her reggae-tinged single “Need U Bad,” produced by Missy Elliott, has been sitting at No. 1 on the R&B charts, the new single “Bust Your Windows” is already the ladies’ anthem of the fall, and her debut album “Fearless” arrives in stores next week. Watching her live, you understand the hype — it’s not studio magic. She opens her mouth and that big, raspy, gospel-soaked voice fills the whole room, flipping from a whisper to a wail without ever losing control.

Atlanta shows love to real singers, and this crowd gave Jazmine every bit of it back. FSO brought out a lineup that reminds you how deep this city’s music scene runs, but when Jazmine stepped up, the energy shifted — phones came out, hands went up, and by the last song the whole place was on its feet. She’s only 21, which is the scary part. If this is Jazmine Sullivan at the beginning, the R&B game is in serious trouble.

Press play and let Jazmine take you to church, to the club and straight to your feelings in under four minutes. “Fearless” hits stores September 23 — go get it, and say you heard her here first.

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

Jackson State Marching Band & Drum Majors .. Hall of Fame 2008

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September 4, 2008

If you know anything about HBCU football culture, then you already know the game is only half the show! FreddyO was on the scene as the Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South and its high-stepping drum majors put on a performance worthy of the Hall of Fame, and we have got the video to prove every single second of it.

From the moment the drum majors hit the field with those back bends and that signature strut, the crowd was on its feet. The Sonic Boom has been the heartbeat of Jackson State for generations, and on Hall of Fame weekend, with alumni back in town and legends being honored, the Boom made sure the whole stadium felt the history, the pride, and that unmistakable Mississippi thunder.

This is what makes Black college football unlike anything else in sports. The band is not a halftime break; the band IS the main event. The precision, the power, the showmanship: the Boom’s horns cut through the night while the drum line kept the energy at a level the football teams had to work hard just to match. In the SWAC, bragging rights live in the stands just as much as they do on the scoreboard.

Press play on the video above and turn your speakers all the way up, then tell us where the Sonic Boom ranks among the greatest HBCU bands of all time. Keep scrolling to the gallery for more band action, including the Jackson State band tearing up “Neck” and Alabama State’s Mighty Marching Hornets representing for 2008.

Jackson State Marching Band ‘Neck’ Part 2

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

Monica & Ludacris First Performance — ‘Still Standing’

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September 3, 2008

Atlanta got a treat at Club Opera, where Monica took the stage for the V-103 Soul Session and gave the crowd the very first live performance of her new record “Still Standing,” and she did not come alone. Ludacris jumped on stage with her and the room went up. FreddyO was in the building with the camera rolling for this exclusive moment from two of the A’s finest.

Monica has been Atlanta’s own since she stepped out as a teenager with Miss Thang, and with records like “The Boy Is Mine” and the After the Storm album she earned her spot in R&B for good. She has been in the studio working on her new album, and “Still Standing” is a personal one: a testimony about everything she has been through and the fact that she is still here, still singing and still standing tall. Hearing her deliver it live, with that voice cutting through the room, is a reminder that nobody does sincere like Monica.

And when Ludacris hit the stage, the energy went to another level. Luda is Atlanta royalty, the Disturbing Tha Peace captain with Theater of the Mind on the way, and his verse on “Still Standing” gives the record that perfect balance of soul and swagger. Two hometown stars, one stage, one brand-new record performed for the very first time — the V-103 Soul Session crowd knew they were witnessing a moment, and the cheers said it all.

Salute to Monica and Ludacris for a first performance Atlanta will not forget. Press play and enjoy this FreddyO.com exclusive, and let us know in the comments: is “Still Standing” about to be Monica’s next big one?

Watch more exclusive videos on the FreddyO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@freddyo1983

Atlanta, Celebrity News

Jackson State Band “It’s No Crime” 2008

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September 2, 2008

In HBCU culture, the football game is only half the show. FreddyO brings you pure band-head gold in this one: the Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South doing what they do best, turning the Babyface classic It’s No Crime into a full-blown marching band experience. When those horns hit and that percussion line locks in, there’s not a band in the land that can stand next to the Boom — and footage like this from the 2008 season is exactly why.

Jackson State’s marching band isn’t called the Sonic Boom of the South for nothing. From the legendary drum majors — the J-5 strutting with that unmatched precision — to the high-stepping, the dance routines, and a wall of brass that can blow the paint off the press box, the Boom treats every performance like the fifth quarter is the only quarter that matters. And taking on a smooth R&B slow jam like It’s No Crime and flipping it into bandstand funk? That’s the kind of musicianship that separates the good bands from the institutions.

Band culture at schools like Jackson State is bigger than halftime entertainment. It’s scholarships, it’s tradition, it’s family — generations of JSU alumni who marched in that same uniform and still argue that their year’s band was the coldest ever. It’s also a recruiting tool: half the students in the stands with instruments back home are watching performances like this one deciding exactly where they want to spend their college years. This 2008 footage captures the Boom right in their element, and FreddyO is proud to put a spotlight on it.

Press play above and let the Sonic Boom take you to church — It’s No Crime, Jackson State style — then keep scrolling for more FreddyO exclusives. Sound off in the comments, band heads: where does Jackson State rank in your all-time HBCU band list?