am now at least , and I can be proud . It says a lot when I can talk to my parents and just tell them about the cool stuff I ’ m doing . I ’ m able to help them , and it ’ s fulfilling . I can help my family . I can help my sisters .
How was your recent shoot in Ghana ? Shooting a video in Africa was definitely amazing . It wasn ’ t my first international production , but it was definitely my biggest . I went out there and I actually shot two different music videos in a span of two weeks . It was definitely intense . It was my first time ever in Africa , so for my camera , or my skills with my camera , to be the reason why I would end up there is really amazing . I got to know a lot of different people . I got to see a culture that , I feel like , is close to me . I learned a lot on a production scale as well . It ’ s amazing . It was an amazing experience . I would absolutely go back there again . I love Ghana . They put me on to all this Afrobeat music and honestly resparked my passion .
What do your tattoos mean ? My tat specifically is a dedication to Taino . I ’ m into ancient cultures and things like that . That ’ s my own little weird thing that I do . I delved very much into the Mayan and Aztec stuff , and they ’ re cousins of the Native American , and ultimately , the Taino that was occupying my island , where I was born .
Where does your motivation come from ? My main motivation is my creativity and my grandfather . My grandfather passed away a couple years ago . The last conversations that we had were very powerful . He believed in me a lot , at a time when no one did , and I didn ’ t even believe in myself at that time . He just saw something in me , and this was before any video , anything . I was really confused . I was always getting into trouble ; I was in the street a lot , gangs . All that stuff that you ’ re not proud of when you talk about it later , but I wasn ’ t confident within myself in those times . After my grandfather passed , a lot of really cool things started happening , and even to this day . I did the Wyclef video a couple weeks back and every time I just wish he was here to see it , because he was right .
How important is social media ? I find social media very important because if it wasn ’ t for social media , a guy like me wouldn ’ t exist . I ’ ve gotten some of my first looks off of social media . It allows you to put your art out there and possibly either get noticed or even get a response . Lucky for me , I was able to do things like that . A lot of people do . You ’ ve got guys that are not ready to broadcast themselves as a service and they do that anyway . It muddies the waters for a person like me , but I think throughout time , all that shit weeds itself out and as long as you stay with your integrity and be mindful of your brand and who you represent , I think things will just come clearer with time .
How can we reach you on social media ? On Twitter and IG — Instagram — is what I ’ m most active on . The handle on that is the same thing , which is @ iamfredfocus . You can find me on there , check out a lot of my work on Instagram mainly . I should be on Facebook more . I do have a Facebook . I don ’ t use it . I will start using it .