Freekey Zekey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Freekey Zekey
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| Birth name | Ezekiel Jiles |
| Born | October 13, 1975 |
| Origin | Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
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Ezekiel Jiles (born October 13, 1975), known as Freekey Zekey, is an American rapper. He is famous for being a founding member of the hip-hop group The Diplomats. He helped start this group in Harlem, New York, in 1997. His childhood friend Jim Jones and cousin Cam'ron were also part of the group. Freekey Zekey also owns and leads 730 Dips Records.
Besides The Diplomats, he is also a member of Jim Jones' group, ByrdGang. Freekey Zekey is known for shouting his name in songs. It's his special way of marking his presence on a track, whether he's the main artist or a guest.
Contents
Freekey Zekey's Music Journey
Starting with The Diplomats
Ezekiel Jiles, along with his cousin Cam'ron and friend Jim Jones, formed the hip-hop group The Diplomats. They started the group in their hometown of Harlem, New York, in 1997. Jiles chose the stage name Freekey Zekey. The group began writing and performing songs together.
In the early days, Freekey Zekey often acted as a "hype man." This means he would add exciting shouts or say his name during other members' songs and performances. He also wrote and performed most of the short, funny parts called skits on Diplomat mixtapes and Cam'ron's albums. He continued this until February 2004.
Developing His Own Music
While he was away, Freekey Zekey started writing his own songs. He worked on improving his rapping skills. After being released in November 2006, he signed a contract with Asylum Records. This was for his first album, Book of Ezekiel.
The album came out on July 24, 2007. It featured other members of The Diplomats, like Cam'ron, Jim Jones, and Juelz Santana. The album was quite successful, reaching number 23 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. After The Diplomats group changed in 2007, Freekey Zekey started his own record label and group called 730 Dips. He also joined Jim Jones' new group, ByrdGang.
Freekey Zekey's Personal Life
A Challenging Event in 2003
On April 25, 2003, Freekey Zekey and his friends were in a minor car accident. This happened outside a club in Manhattan. Another car hit the back of their vehicle. When they got out, the people in the other car tried to rob them. Freekey Zekey was shot once in his stomach. He had minor injuries from the event. Sadly, one person with Jiles, his bodyguard Eric Mangrum, died during the incident. Later, in December 2005, a person named Chauncey Dillon was sentenced to prison for the robbery and for Mangrum's death.
Freekey Zekey's Music Releases
Studio Albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications and sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | |||
| 2007 | Book of Ezekiel
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154 | 23 | 8 |
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Mixtapes
- 2008: Blame It on the ...
- 2008: ... & a Cigarette
- 2010: Gangsta Ambition
Singles
As the Main Artist
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | |||
| 2007 | "Hater What You Lookin' At" | — | — | — | Book of Ezekiel |
| "Like This" | — | — | — | ||
| "Livin' It Up" | — | — | — | ||
| 2009 | "I'm Poppin'" | — | — | — | — |
As a Featured Artist
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | |||
| 2004 | "Hey Lady" (Cam'ron featuring Freekey Zekey) | — | — | — | Purple Haze |
Guest Appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Disgusting" | 2012 | Young Cutta, Tito Green | Where's The Fire |
