I was introduced to Fab 5 Freddy—born Fred Brathwaite in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn—by Patti Astor. The New York scene of the early 1980s was wildly exciting. We were hanging out with innovative artists like Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, and Zephyr. I was attending New York University Graduate Film School at the time. For my thesis film, Bachelorette Pad, about Barbie dolls that came to life, Fred performed brilliantly as a disco dancer at Club Negril.

Fred is featured in my award-winning book How To Be the Star of Your Life: Lessons From Hollywood & Beyond, where he shares stories of his inspired life. Fab 5 Freddy was the first host of the groundbreaking Hip-Hop video show Yo! MTV Raps. He was a popular international artist who merged graffiti with fine art when he sprayed-painted an entire subway car with Campbell Soup cans as a homage to Andy Warhol. Fred conceived, produced, and created the original music for the first Hip-Hop film, Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn. He co-starred along with Patti Astor, Lee Quinones, Lady Pink, and Zephyr. His acting credits include New Jack City, The Manchurian Candidate, and American Gangster. Fred's 2019 Netflix documentary, Grass is Greener, examined the history of cannabis, American music, and people of color. His new memoir (2026), Everybody's Fly: A Life of Art, Music, and Changing Culture, is a highly acclaimed, vibrant account of the 1970s-90s NYC street culture.

Fab 5 Freddy is a true Renaissance man and a great friend. What I admire most is that his creativity flows seamlessly across acting, rapping, directing, and painting. And now to writing.