Freddie Demarus Gladney III,[1] known professionally as Bankroll Freddie, is an American rapper from Helena, Arkansas. He is signed to Quality Control Music and Motown Records.[2]

Bankroll Freddie
Birth nameFreddie Demarus Gladney III
OriginHelena, Arkansas, U.S.
GenresSouthern hip hop
OccupationRapper
Years active2017–present
LabelsMotown, Quality Control Music

Early life

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Gladney was born in Helena, Arkansas.[3] His mom moved with him to Conway, Arkansas after his cousin was shot and killed in 2009. Gladney graduated from Conway High School in 2013.[4]

Career

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Gladney started his music career in 2017,[5] releasing the freestyle Lil Baby.[6] As part of the #ActUpChallenge, he created a freestyle over "Act Up," a song by City Girls under the label Quality Control. A short time later, Quality Control's CEO Pierre "P" Thomas reposted the freestyle on Instagram, and then invited Gladney to Los Angeles to meet.[3][4]

Gladney released a 2019 single, "Drip Like This."[7] He released the mixtape Saved by the Bales in July 2019, and Quality Control later released a remix of a track on the album, titled Drip Like Dis and featuring Young Dolph and Lil Baby.[8][6] After the single's success, he officially joined Quality Control's label.[9] In November 2019, he released the single "Lil Mama" (featuring Renni Rucci).

In 2020, he released the album From Trap to Rap, featuring Moneybagg Yo, Lil Yachty, Young Dolph, Lil Baby, and Trapboy Freddy.[10] He later created a remix of the album track "Rich Off Grass", featuring Young Dolph.[4] In May 2020, he released the track "Quarantine Flow".[11] He signed with Motown Records, and his first release under the label was the track "Add It Up", released on January 30, 2021, alongside an accompanying music video.[7]

He released his second single in 2021, titled "Pop It" (featuring Megan Thee Stallion). The single was from his 2021 album, Big Bank, released by Quality Control and Motown.[12] The 14-track album features EST Gee, 2 Chainz, Young Scooter, Megan Thee Stallion, PnB Rock, Young Dolph, BIG30 and Gucci Mane.[10]

Personal life

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Gladney lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.[2][6] He wears a diamond-encrusted ring on his pinkie, in the shape of the state of Arkansas.[4][2] According to an interview he gave to VladTV, he has five children.[13] In 2021, he appeared on an episode of WorldStarHipHop's Welcome to My Hood, visiting the neighborhood he grew up in at Helena-West Helena, Arkansas.[14] In May 2021, it was reported that Gladney was shot; later that day, he posted "I'm good" on an Instagram story, which showed a wound under his chin.[15]

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It was announced on April 17, 2022, that Bankroll Freddie was arrested on drug and weapons charges after being pulled over for speeding. Freddie was allegedly in possession of 21 pounds of marijuana—which is banned in the state—171 grams of promethazine, and a firearm.[16][17]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Heat.
Big Bank[18] 2
[19]

Mixtapes

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Heat.
Saved by the Bales[8][20]
From Trap to Rap[21]
  • Released: January 17, 2020
  • Label: Quality Control
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
From Trap to Rap 2[22]
  • Released: July 29, 2022
  • Label: Quality Control, Motown
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
6
[23]

Singles

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  • "Drip Like This" (2019)[7]

References

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  1. ^ "ADD IT UP". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Smittle, Stephanie (April 22, 2021). "Helltown, born and raised: A Q&A with Bankroll Freddie". Arkansas Times. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Bartee, Richardine (October 23, 2019). "Quality Control's new artist Bankroll Freddie shares 'Drip Like Dis' remix video featuring Young Dolph and Lil Baby: Watch – GRUNGECAKE". Grungecake. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "MUSIC: Arkansas native gets seen on the rap scene". Arkansas Online. April 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Powers, Stephanie (June 17, 2021). "'Pop It' rapper Bankroll Freddie plays Tampa's Whiskey North this weekend". Creative Loafing. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Simpson, Paul. "Bankroll Freddie". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Okon, Wongo (January 30, 2021). "Bankroll Freddie's 'Add It Up' Video Comes With His Signing To Motown". Uproxx. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Bankroll Freddie, Young Dolph & Lil Baby Share Visual for "Drip Like Dis" Remix". Hypebeast. October 26, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  9. ^ Seabrook III, Robby (April 14, 2021). "The Break Presents: Bankroll Freddie". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Powell, Jon (April 7, 2021). "Bankroll Freddie is "Active" in new visual". Revolt. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Eustice, Kyle (May 25, 2021). "Quality Control Rapper Bankroll Freddie Posts Graphic Photo After He's Shot In The Face". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Joins Bankroll Freddie for New Song "Pop It": Watch the Video". Pitchfork. April 3, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  13. ^ Todd, Jessica (July 21, 2020). "Exclusive: Bankroll Freddie on Having 5 Kids by 5 Women, Losing Over $400K Gambling". VladTV. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  14. ^ Allah, Sha Be (May 25, 2021). "Arkansas Rapper Bankroll Freddie Shot, In Stable Condition". The Source. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "Bankroll Freddie Says He's 'Good' After Reportedly Being Shot". Complex. May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  16. ^ "Arkansas rapper Bankroll Freddie Arrested for Drugs and Firearms". Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Arkansas Famous Rapper "Bankroll Freddie" Gets Busted". YouTube. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "Bankroll Freddie Unleashes His Fiery New Project Feat. Megan The Stallion, 2 Chainz, Young Dolph & More". HotNewHipHop. April 2, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "Heatseekers Album: Week of April 17, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  20. ^ "Saved by the Bales by Bankroll Freddie". Spotify. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  21. ^ "Bankroll Freddie Drops "From Trap To Rap" Feat. Lil Baby, Young Dolph, Moneybagg Yo, Lil Yachty & More". HotNewHipHop. January 18, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  22. ^ "Bankroll Freddie Drops New Project, 'From Trap To Rap 2'". Yahoo. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  23. ^ "Heatseekers Albums: Week of August 13, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  24. ^ a b c Powell, Jon (May 20, 2021). "Bankroll Freddie is the "Last Real Trap Rapper" in new video". Revolt. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  25. ^ Powell, Jon (December 17, 2020). "Young Scooter and Zaytoven connect with Bankroll Freddie for "Trap Slow"". Revolt. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  26. ^ Juon, Steve (February 9, 2021). "Doe B :: The Last Definition of a Trapper". RapReviews. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  27. ^ Daly, Rhian (April 2, 2021). "Megan Thee Stallion joins Bankroll Freddie on new track 'Pop It'". NME. Retrieved July 29, 2021.