Fitz Fonzarelli
Gary, Indiana, United States | SELF
Music
Press
So just who is Fitz Fonzarelli? A upcoming Hip-Hop artist, a bi-product of Gary Indiana and soul music influence, the coolest rapper in the world… All are acceptable answers. - 7 days of Hip Hop
What makes him different is that he is a lover of soul, not an abuser. In his music there is an appreciation and an ode to his love of soul, not just a bunch of mixed samples. - New Prentiss Productions
PODTHEMAG: TELL THE STREETS ABOUT FITZ FONZARELLI.
FITZ: Fitz Fonzarelli is the new face of Mid-west Hip-Hop. He brings the thoughts of a young black ambitious male from Gary, IN to the microphone. Born and raised in Gary, IN. Now co-owner of "The Future" Barbershop, Fitz has released a mixtape (Happy Daze) and singles from his up & coming album "NEW VINTAGE...NO SAMPLES" in between his busy barber schedule.
- Promote Or Die The Mag
PODTHEMAG: TELL THE STREETS ABOUT FITZ FONZARELLI.
FITZ: Fitz Fonzarelli is the new face of Mid-west Hip-Hop. He brings the thoughts of a young black ambitious male from Gary, IN to the microphone. Born and raised in Gary, IN. Now co-owner of "The Future" Barbershop, Fitz has released a mixtape (Happy Daze) and singles from his up & coming album "NEW VINTAGE...NO SAMPLES" in between his busy barber schedule.
- Promote Or Die The Mag
What’s a Fitz Fonzarelli? I wanted to know so I requested to sit down with the up and coming rapper in his barbershop in Indiana. Born and raised in Gary, IN Fitz began rapping at an early age and has been honing his skills ever since. Mixing old school styles of hip hop and soulful music creating the vibe of samples without any samples, his highly anticipated album, New Vintage is coming soon. Fitz’s aims to create a original vibe and build a sound for the midwest encouraging all artists of the Midwest to be themselves. Buy his latest two singles on iTunes, be on the look out for more music and check back to see when the album drops. - thelisabexperience.com
What’s a Fitz Fonzarelli? I wanted to know so I requested to sit down with the up and coming rapper in his barbershop in Indiana. Born and raised in Gary, IN Fitz began rapping at an early age and has been honing his skills ever since. Mixing old school styles of hip hop and soulful music creating the vibe of samples without any samples, his highly anticipated album, New Vintage is coming soon. Fitz’s aims to create a original vibe and build a sound for the midwest encouraging all artists of the Midwest to be themselves. Buy his latest two singles on iTunes, be on the look out for more music and check back to see when the album drops. - thelisabexperience.com
Tell us about where your from and what company you represent?
I hail from Gary, IN. My hometown known as the Home of Michael Jackson as well as Gangsta Island. I represent Fakulty Studios, which is composed of 6 producers, 5 artist, 3 engineers, photographer, etc. We are connected mainly throughout NW Indiana, Chicago, and Atlanta. - Hip Hop Stardom 101
Check it!
Buy Fitz single Love Struck on Itunes!!!
- Nevar The Enterprise
Fitz Fonzarelli ( @FitzFonzarelli ) – Is bringing back the old “AZ” style of rapping. One of the few artists not in Indianapolis but on the rim of INDIANA near Illinois. He doesn’t give you that Gary sound but has one foot in HIP HOP ready to jump! A little more promotion and he’ll be successful!! - Onblast Online
Too $hort Show / Vizion's Drunk At Church CD Release Party will be one hell of a night! Expect to see rap artists such as Father Tyme, Jeune, J. Christ, Vonnie, and Brett Eastburn doing their thang while the vibe be kept alive throughout the night by DJ Navic. Oh, and let's not forget about the coolest rapper in the world, Fitz Fonzarelli, and Too Short himself, who will also be featured in this cool release party. - The Attic Genesis
I like to Introduce Fitz Fonzarelli to Soulsimplicity and the People! He is
Chicago's newest hip hop artist releasing his new upcoming project, "New Vintage No Samples"...Fitz can be seen in this promotional video wearing Soulsimplicity clothing! Check it out! Fitz is also the artist behind the Introduction track to our Soulsimplicity website, "Pompous me, (feelin' myself)"...Enjoy!! - SoulSimplicity
I like to Introduce Fitz Fonzarelli to Soulsimplicity and the People! He is
Chicago's newest hip hop artist releasing his new upcoming project, "New Vintage No Samples"...Fitz can be seen in this promotional video wearing Soulsimplicity clothing! Check it out! Fitz is also the artist behind the Introduction track to our Soulsimplicity website, "Pompous me, (feelin' myself)"...Enjoy!! - SoulSimplicity
Produced by Jesse Black of Traxster Inc.
Gary’s Fitz Fonzarelli & G-Scott eat the beat (too much?) on this new joint. Sounds like Gary’s hungry. - Fake Shore Drive
It was way too nice out today for blogging, plus it was a Holiday, so here we have all of today’s posts wrapped into one giant Memorial Day Round-Up. Thank me later. - Fake Shore Drive
I have no clue who this kid is or where he is from. All I know is that I LOVE what I hear thus far. Therefore, I am promoting this cat hard until all of y’all recognize! - Emilio Sparks
I have no clue who this kid is or where he is from. All I know is that I LOVE what I hear thus far. Therefore, I am promoting this cat hard until all of y’all recognize! - Emilio Sparks
Coolest rapper in the world - It's that dude with a bottle of Snapple, a packet of Skittles, huge beaded necklace and a massive natural flow from Indiana, US ! Working together with his producer, Jesse Black, they're set to impress the rap world with their vibe. The video captures the day to day basis of how Fitz makes his way to the studio and getting his tracks laid. Great videography! Can't wait for "New Vintage (No Samples)" droppin' this year!
- The Attic Genesis
My homie Fitz Fonzarelli just dropped his new single "Love Struck" here on amazon.com and itunes.com. This song is off the chain as well as the behind the scenes video shown above! He's a busy man these days, but we we're able to rap alil. Download the new song twice & check out the exclusive from Fitz shown below...
1
BFM: What hood you reppin Fitz?
Fitz: Gary, Indiana.
2
BFM: How long you been writing/recording/performing and how did you link up with you current team?
Fitz: I has be writing/recording/performing for 2 years, I linked up with my team through my Producer Jesse Black while recording my first solo Mixtape "Happy Daze".
3
BFM: I'm feeling the music from your upcoming album, "New Vintage (No Samples)". What's the concept behind the album & what unique can we expect from it?
Fitz: The concept of the album was created by me and Jesse Black, we wanted to do a hip hop album but not make it sound like the normal sample heavy Hip Hop. New Vintage is a combination of music that we grew up listening to. From James Brown, to Al Green, to Jay-z, to Naz, to Common, to Prince, to Linkin Park, to Sublime, to Black Keys and many more, but without sampling from them. Majority of my music can be played by a band which sets me apart.
4
BFM: Where do you anticipate being as an artist & as a man within 5 yrs from now?
Fitz: As of right now I and my partner Ant own "The Future Barbershop" and in five years I plan on opening a chain of shops, I wants to have a grammy by that time, 3 albums completed, just getting married, a kid, open a studio, and possibly do some engineering. - chi bangerz
Gary, Indiana’s Fitz Fonzarelli and G-Scott team up on a remix to a song Fitz dropped a few weeks back by the name of Dinner Time. The song serves as something to hold listeners as both Gary emcees begin work on their upcoming projects. The track was produced by Jesse Black of Traxster Inc.
- Your music my world
This is a a dope video introducing an independent artist on the rise. "Who Is Fitz Fonzarelli" is the 1st single from Fitz Fonzarelli's upcoming album "New Vintage (No Samples)". He will be releasing a single from the new project once a month leading up to the release of the album on September 06, 2011. Stay in tune! - Chi bangerz
This is a a dope video introducing an independent artist on the rise. "Who Is Fitz Fonzarelli" is the 1st single from Fitz Fonzarelli's upcoming album "New Vintage (No Samples)". He will be releasing a single from the new project once a month leading up to the release of the album on September 06, 2011. Stay in tune! - Chi bangerz
Born and raised in Gary, Indiana Fitz Fonzarelli has been writing since age thirteen. A young and clever artist, he wrote his first verse on a family road trip to Birmingham. Fitz recalls that on this trip his mother scolded him for writing curse words in his rhymes. He knows that she was upset about the curse words, but more importantly she was very proud of his talent as a writer.Fitz was a very athletic high school student, until a heartbreaking injury changed his plans of becoming a hoop star. He then turned his full passion to writing music.
He discovered a natural talent for cutting hair and became a licensed barber. Fitz describes himself with title “Rapper Barber” to relate his hustle. It is reflective of his titles of artist and barber, each fueled by his passion for creating good-feeling hip-hop music.
Upon his return home he was introduced to another lyricist named Rodge. Together they formed GoodFella/ BadGuy. They eventually combined forces with The Beat Fakulty, an affiliation of several local producers, each with their own different production styles on a mission to make timeless Midwest music!
GoodFella/ BadGuy participated in the Quality Control tour, an artist-prepared Indiana college tour that stormed Vincennes University, Indiana University, and Purdue University. They have performed with live bands at The Palace in Gary. They also performed in open mics throughout Chicago and Northwest Indiana. GoodFella/ BadGuy will release their “NeckTies n ChuckTz” project in 2011.
Fitz Fonzarelli releases his solo mixtape titled “Happy Daze” on Valentine’s Day 2011. He continues to record with producers such as Jesse Black in the quest to craft a sound described as “New Vintage”. They will collaborate to present Hip-Hop heads with a project in 2011.
He is on a mission to bring you music that not only feels good, it feels right. He intends to share his love for music by sending the world into a “Happy Daze”…… B.O.N.G. - Onblast Online
I love new artists that make me like to post shit again, and that’s the case with Fitz Fonzarelli. He’s a Gary representer that has wordplay, and prides himself on that fact. In an age, like the “Bling Rap” era, where rappers, are trap stars, gangsters, pimps, and have their swag on a trillion, Fitz brings us back to a place where rap should be…..real life.
Take notice people…..this is the BUSINESS right here!!!! - Rob Villain
I love new artists that make me like to post shit again, and that’s the case with Fitz Fonzarelli. He’s a Gary representer that has wordplay, and prides himself on that fact. In an age, like the “Bling Rap” era, where rappers, are trap stars, gangsters, pimps, and have their swag on a trillion, Fitz brings us back to a place where rap should be…..real life.
Take notice people…..this is the BUSINESS right here!!!! - Rob Villain
My man Fitz recruited G-Scott to hop aboard the “Dinner Time” Remix. The track was produced by none other then Jesse Black of Beat Fakulty and Traxster Inc. Be on the lookout for the New Vintage project from Fitz coming soon, and make sure you DL G-Scott’s latest offering here: - Rob Villain
Discography
Happy Daze (Mixtape)- 2-14-11
Love Struck (single) [feat. Ben]- 7-5-11
Lights On (single) [feat. Ambition]- 8-16-11
Heart Of A King (Mixtape)- 2-14-12
Photos
Bio
What makes him different is that he is a lover of soul, not an abuser. In his music there is an appreciation and an ode to his love of soul, not just a bunch of mixed samples. What makes him different is his intelligence, and his versatility. Soul is always the beginning, his beginning.
Fitz Fonzarelli was born on 8-21-1984 as Benford L. King. In the early 90’s gang culture took over Gary, IN, which was soon known for its soaring murder rate. Most grew up cutting their teeth on the popular rap of the era such as Easy-E and Bone Thugs N Harmony. However, Fitz was nurtured by the warmth of vinyl from soulful artists like Teddy Pendergrass and Barry White. This is evident in his strong instrumental arrangements on songs like "Love Struck".
Music was always his first love yet when he was accepted to an “audition only” gifted arts High School, he decided to study art instead. Choosing art instead of music proved to be more of a challenge than he anticipated. He became more interested in visual arts, which in turn has made him a more efficient lyricist. Not only can he tell you a story, he can verbally paint a picture. Eventually Fitz was accepted to the Indiana Academy in Muncie, Indiana. Leaving everything he knew behind at such an impressionable age was a difficult thing but proved to be a pivotal move in not only his talents as an artist but in his becoming a man.
"It was a culture shock to say the least."
The school took him away from everything he knew, including his passion for art. His time at the college prep had him focusing solely on academics. While hitting the books, his only creative outlet was rapping. This brought him back to his first love, music. The new found diversity at school made his taste in music more well rounded. Appreciating the artistic quality of bands such as Linkin Park, Sublime, 311, Nickelback , and Fallout Boy he began to think outside the box.
Prepped for college, Fitz went on to Purdue University, constantly switching his majors from Graphic Design to Fine Arts, and back to Graphic Design. He lived the picture perfect college student life: Hitting the books, studying, writing papers, drinking and partying. While being a staunch intellectual, he still maintained his Gary, IN hustler mentality. That same mentality was a make or break for him. He decided to end his college career to pursue his art in music.
Coming home was a hard pill to swallow, but it had to be done. Hard work is what made him stay afloat, what made him survive. Through various social circles he came back to his love, back to music. Music finally worked its way to the forefront of his life and he began to take it more seriously. He then became one half of the rap group GFBG (Good Fella Bad Guy) along with Rodge aka Hajjimus Prime. They created their first demo comprised of four songs and hit the streets with it. They began to notice a demand for their music, so they set their sights on creating a free college tour. Money wasn’t a factor, experience was. Through their dedication and persistence they were able to perform at IU, Purdue, and Vincennes University. The tour got them even more exposure in the state of Indiana which is exactly what they wanted. This experience put Fitz in an artist mindset, where he needed to be.
The group GFBG helped Fitz and Rodge form a stronger friendship which led to them being roommates. Living together would allow them to become stronger as a group as they could easily feed off of each other creatively and artistically. Motivation and dedication were no longer an issue for Fitz and Rodge. They were in the studio constantly, honing their craft. However such dedication and drive has a road block called life. Between moves, short stints in the studio, and job loss their next project called "Rent Money" was created. They chose the title Rent Money because the success of the album was leveraged by their looming eviction. As circumstances and the economy may have it, their bond as roommates was severed.
As a result of having to find new housing and jobs, Rodge ventured south and Fitz remained in the northwest. As you would expect, this put a strain on the group and they decided to remain best friends but to break ties creatively. After an end to a college career, a group, and a beginning of a profession as a barber, Fitz realized that becoming a solo artist was his destiny.
Fitz then met producer and engineer Jesse Black while recording his Happy Daze mixtape at Fakulty Studios. Fitz wanted to create a new sound, still utilizing his soulful roots, so he and Jesse Black collaborated and created New Vintage.
The buzz and excitement is now all about his debut album: "New Vintage, (No Samples)". Fitz Fonzarelli’s declaration as a brilliant artist, his dedication to past musical influences, and his determination to be a lyrical force is all too evident in this new sound of music.
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