Freeway is the Philadelphia rapper who is best known for his lengthy tenure on Roc-A-Fella Records, and his affiliation alongside Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. But he is also know for the long beard that he keeps because of his Muslim faith. He was a member of the rap group Ice City, and is a member of the group State Property.
Freeway began his career by participating in freestyle battles while in high school, which is were he first met fellow Philadelphia rapper Beanie Sigel. Not long after he made his first appearance with Roc-A-Fella when he was featured on the Dynasty: Roc La Familia, on the track “1-900-Hustler” with Beanie, Jay-Z, and Memphis Bleek.
After Jay-Z's "retirement" album and the uncertainty over what direction the label was headed, Beanie Sigel was convicted and jailed on a charge of attempted murder. Relations between Beanie Sigel and State Property soured after the incarceration of Sigel, and State Property essentially broke up, with Sigel stating he was unsure he would work with them again. Members like Oschino and Peedi Crack fell out of the loop, has crew were having a fallout with their label, and Freeway found himself in a spiritual crisis that almost caused him to leave the rap game.
Freeway went on hiatus for a few years and journeyed to Mecca on Hajj. And when he returned renewed he put out a second album that featured Jay-Z and 50 Cent. 2009 brought an announcement that he would be working on his third album amidst his regrets over hearing Jay-Z had stepped down as Def Jam president from the internet, as opposed to staff or Jay himself[19]. Shortly, the rapper announced his release from Def Jam and that his next album would be entitled The Stimulus Package, produced by Jake One. And a little after that he released Philadelphia Freeway 2. He recently signed on to Cash Money Records.