Freedom Williams

Freedom Williams knows how to set the world in motion. As front-man and rapper for C+C Music Factory, he led ubiquitous anthem “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” to No. 1 around the globe, including five weeks at the top of the U.S. Club Play chart and a reign on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B charts in 1990. His iconic rapid-fire machismo also appears on follow-up C+C singles “Here We Go” and “Things That Make You Go Hmmmm”—both No. 1 dance hits—leading accompanying album “Gonna Make You Sweat” to sales of more than 8 million worldwide. Raised in Queens, N.Y., Williams was rooted in the burgeoning hip-hop movement from an early age. He attended junior high school at P.S. 192, located on the famous 205th Avenue in Hollis, Queens, home to such staple acts as Run-D.M.C., Jam-Master Jay and LL Cool J. Williams wasn't just an observer of hip-hop culture; he was among its innovators and an early hands-on creator, rocking basement parties as MC Tiny Tim—a name he adopted from ‘70s and ‘80s funk outfit the Fatback Band’s release “King Tim III (Personality Jock),” which pre-dated the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rappers Delight” in 1979 as the first commercially successful rap record. William’s first commercial success was on independent label Nu-Groove Records, launched by Frank, Karen and Judy Russell in 1988, which specialized in house music. Song “Freedom,” from seven-member group Total Science out of East New York, was issued in 1989, featuring Williams and Underground Network founder Barbara Tucker on vocals. His next single, “Get Dumb,” distributed by Vendetta/A&M Records and co-produced by Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez of the now-celebrated Masters at Work group (which also includes Little Louis Vega), was the B-side to hit “You're My One And Only (True Love)” by Seduction in 1989, assembled by mega-hit producers Robert Clivilles and David Cole—founders of C+C Music Factory, who met Williams at Quad Recording Studios, where, in addition to his other talents, he was working as an engineer. They were impressed with his deep voice and rapping abilities—and the rest, of course, is history. Following his multi-platinum success with C+C, Williams worked on film projects, community activism and solo music. His first project, “Freedom,” was released in 1993 on Columbia Records, spawning top 5 dance hit “Voice of Freedom” and follow-up hit “Groove Your Mind.” In 1994, single “Sweat the Remixes” on RMD Entertainment scored top 10 dance success in the U.K. His 2009 single “Mindbounce” with production trio Speakerbox, reached No. 19 on the Billboard Dance chart, while Williams is also featured among the hit remixes on top 5 club smash “Underlying Feeling” by international dance diva Sylvia Tosun. He is also involved with social networking Web site Vhopnation, is working toward authoring children’s books and a historical three-volume manuscript on the African Origins of Civilization from the Middle Ages through Europe. Williams also counsels and interacts with other single fathers through organization Young Fathers and Real Dads Network.