Freekey Zekey
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image =|
| name = Freekey Zekey
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Ezekiel Jiles
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|10|13}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = Rapper, record executive
| years_active = 1996–present
| label = Koch, Big Cat, Diplomat, 730 Dips
| associated_acts = The Diplomats, ByrdGang
| website =
}}
Ezekiel Jiles (born October 13, 1975), better known by his stage name Freekey Zekey, is an American rapper best known as a founding member of the Diplomats, a group he helped form in Harlem in 1997 alongside his childhood friend Jim Jones and cousin Cam'ron. Freekey also serves as the owner/CEO of 730 Dips Records.Edwards, Brandon. [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=7697 "Freaky Zekey So Harlem Pt. 1"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304123306/http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=7697 |date=March 4, 2007 }}, XXLmag.com, February 13, 2007. Accessed April 5, 2007.
Aside from The Diplomats, he is also a member of fellow rapper Jim Jones' ByrdGang, and has made a habit of yelling his name in songs; it is his signature on tracks, whether he is featured or the solo artist.
Career
Jiles, along with his cousin Cam'ron and their friend Jim Jones formed the hip-hop group the Diplomats in their hometown of Harlem, New York in 1997. Jiles adopted the stage name Freekey Zekey and the group began writing and performing songs together. In the early years of the group, Zekey served mostly as a hype man, yelling adlibs or his name during other members' songs and performances.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/freekey-zekey-mn0000163117|title=Freekey Zekey - Biography, Albums, Streaming Links - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=April 10, 2018}} Zekey was responsible for writing and performing almost all of the skits on Diplomat mixtapes and Cam'ron's albums, and did this until he was sentenced to 35–42 months in prison in February 2004. While in prison, Zekey began writing his own songs and honed his skills as a rapper. Just a few weeks after being released from prison in November 2006, Freekey signed a contract with Asylum Records to release his debut album, Book of Ezekiel. The album was released on July 24, 2007, and featured guest appearances from other members of The Diplomats, including Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana. The album peaked at #23 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. After The Diplomats effectively disbanded in 2007, Freekey went on to form his own label/group, the 730 Dips, and also joined Jim Jones' new group, ByrdGang.[https://www.youtube.com/user/730DipsOfficial 730DipsOfficial YouTube] YouTube. Accessed August 28, 2008.[http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh9yXQPBp7Q3ziL420 All those clicks are real gangs.v=wshh9yXQPBp7Q3ziL420Jim Jones, Freekey Zekey, & Byrd Gang Interview On Rap City! "Kanye West You Betta Watch M**** Mouth, Before I Pull You By That Glow In The Dark Pink, Stickin & Learn In The Nerd Lane"] WorldStarHipHop. Accessed August 28, 2008.
Personal life
Jiles is the first cousin of Cam’ron, and was a childhood friend of Jim Jones and Damon Dash.
= 2003 shooting =
On April 25, 2003, Jiles and his crew were involved in a minor car collision outside of a Manhattan nightclub, after another car collided with the back of the vehicle Jiles and his crew were inside. After stepping out of their vehicle, the men in the other car attempted to rob Jiles and his friends. Jiles was shot once in the abdomen and sustained minor injuries after the incident. In total, over 44 bullets were fired at Jiles and his crew during the altercation, and one member of Jiles’ entourage, his bodyguard Eric Mangrum, was killed. In December 2005, Chauncey Dillon was sentenced to 30 years in prison for both robbery and the murder of Mangrum.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/04/today-in-hip-hop-freekey-zekey-gets-shot/|title=Today in Hip-Hop: Freekey Zekey Gets Shot - XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=April 25, 2016 |access-date=April 10, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/2006/11/21/freekey-zeeky-talks-about-being-home-from-prison/|title=Freekey Zeeky Talks About Being Home From Prison - Exclusive Hip Hop News, Interviews, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos - Allhiphop|last=AllHipHop|website=allhiphop.com|date=November 21, 2006 |access-date=April 10, 2018}}
Legal issues
Jiles was sentenced to 35–42 months in prison on February 5, 2004, for running an ecstasy ring. Jiles served 33 months at the Durham Correctional Center in Durham, North Carolina before being released on November 20, 2006.{{cite news|last=Winn|first=Patrick|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/513089.html|title=Freaky Zekey' free from prison|work=The News & Observer|date=November 21, 2006|access-date=April 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113231444/http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/513089.html|archive-date=January 13, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hhnlive.com/news/more/633|title=Freaky Zekey Released From Prison|work=HHNLive.com|date=November 21, 2006|access-date=April 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035444/http://www.hhnlive.com/news/more/633|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"|Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:200px;"|Title !colspan="3"|Chart positions !rowspan="2"|Certifications and sales |
|---|
| width="60"|U.S.
!width="60"|U.S. R&B !width="60"|U.S. Rap |
2007
| style="text-align:center;"|154 | style="text-align:center;"|23 | style="text-align:center;"|8 |align="left"|
|
=Mixtapes=
- 2008: Blame It on the Henny
- 2008: Henny & a Cigarette
- 2010: Gangsta Ambition
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="3"| Chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|U.S. Hot 100
! style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|U.S. R&B ! style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|U.S. Rap |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|2007
|align="left"|"Hater What You Lookin' At" | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"|Book of Ezekiel |
| align="left"|"Like This"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |
| align="left"|"Livin' It Up"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |
| style="text-align:center;"|2009
|align="left"|"I'm Poppin'"[http://www.gigacrate.com/Albums/4450 "I'm Poppin (Single)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601185818/http://www.gigacrate.com/Albums/4450 |date=June 1, 2009 }} | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="3"| Chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|U.S. Hot 100
! style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|U.S. R&B ! style="text-align:center; width:40px;"|U.S. Rap |
| style="text-align:center;"|2004
|align="left"|"Hey Lady" (Cam'ron featuring Freekey Zekey) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:left;"|Purple Haze |
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Other artist(s) ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Disgusting"
| 2012 | Young Cutta, Tito Green | Where's The Fire |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/26/nyregion/rapper-is-hurt-and-2nd-man-is-slain-in-gunfire-after-traffic-accident.html?smid=url-share]
External links
- [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/26/nyregion/rapper-is-hurt-and-2nd-man-is-slain-in-gunfire-after-traffic-accident.html?smid=url-share]
- [https://www.twitter.com/FREEKEY730/ Freekey Zekey] on Twitter
{{The Diplomats}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freekey Zekey}}
Category:21st-century African-American businesspeople
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:20th-century American male rappers
Category:American shooting survivors
Category:American music industry executives
Category:American prisoners and detainees
Category:Businesspeople from New York City
Category:Rappers from Manhattan
Category:The Diplomats members