One of the pillars of West Coast Styles is music, and one of the creators responsible for some of the music which inspired this very site is Mr. Farid Karam Nassar, better known to fans around the world as producer Fredwreck. And therefore, we would be foolish not to wish the man a Happy Birthday today, June 23! (In my time zone, it’s already about 1:00 AM on the 24th.)
Born in Flint, Michigan, and then relocating to California as a kid, Fredwreck first worked as a DJ. Then, in the mid-’90s, he was hired by Hank Shocklee (a member of the legendary Bomb Squad production team) as an A&R. After parting ways with the company a few years later, he focused entirely on production, and that led to work with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Fredwreck even signed with the latter’s Doggystyle Records as a producer, which landed him major placements on Snoop’s Paid Tha Cost to Be da Boss.
Over the next several years, he continued producing hits for some of Hip-Hop’s biggest names. Some of his best music from this period includes, but isn’t limited to, “Follow My Life” by Obie Trice, “Gangsta Nation” by Westside Connection,” and “Have a Party” by Mobb Deep. In 2007, Fredwreck found success in pop music when he worked on Britney Spears’ Blackout.
In more recent years, he has appeared on Vh1’s Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party and crafted soundscapes for Eminem and Anderson Paak. Fredwreck even won a Grammy for his work with Paak on his 2019 album and an Emmy in 2021 for the tribute he helped create to celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant.
