Everybody's Fly

“Read Freddy’s book. You might become smarter, sexier, cooler, hipper, more stylish, and get more out of life—if you’re lucky!”
—Debbie Harry, lead singer of Blondie and author of Face It

“Fab 5 Freddy comes out of Brooklyn at a pivotal moment for art, politics, music, and culture. From Blondie’s ‘Rapture’ to Wild Style and the birth of loud sound systems, new DJs, and new genres, he had a front-row seat—and was involved. He’s a father of the art form, a pure artist, pioneer, and historian who helped shape, cultivate, and nurture it all in hip-hop, from graffiti to movies and television. He’s better than a myth—he’s real. Let’s all appreciate his story.”
—Nas, rapper and entrepreneur

“An exuberant recounting of how a culturally omnivorous kid from Brooklyn willed himself into the wider, shinier world—like Moss Hart’s “Act One,” but with beatboxing and cans of Krylon spray paint.”
—The New Yorker

“If you trace the arc of hip-hop, rock, visual art, television, and performance across the decades, Fab 5 Freddy has figured in all of it: He is a connector, a luminous, ever-present character. In his smart, thoughtful memoir, he brings the reader along as he centers himself in the thick of popular culture as both participant and observer. The book is an engrossing, intimate portrait of a fascinating man and of an indelible cultural moment.”
—Susan Orlean, author of Joyride

“Fred is like a wise old oak whose leaves absorbed the light and sounds of New York’s gritty streets and then chlorophylled the city with his art, music, cinema, and boundless energy. Everybody’s Fly is proof that the influence he has on our culture is rooted everywhere you look.”
—Griffin Dunne, actor, director, and author of The Friday Afternoon Club

“The man who lived it right and exact has taken the time to give it back. Fab 5 Freddy has served as one of our cultural pillars for hip-hop and the art scene for decades. An early pioneer of blending both of these cultures in their infancy, his memoir shines a light on how adventurous aspiration and diverse inspirations can lead to images and voices that help evolve a generation.”
—RZA, producer, director, and founding member of Wu-Tang Clan

“In the world of art, music, and style, Everybody’s Fly is a sonic sign of life. The groove here is that Fred was the thread and needle of Even Lower Manhattan.”
—Richard Prince, fine artist

“A rollicking memoir of the downtown art and music scenes of 1970s and ’80s New York City . . . For readers interested in the birth of hip-hop, this is a must.”
—Publishers Weekly

“A crucial figure in hip-hop’s development recalls its (and his) evolution. . . . A fine snapshot of a pivotal moment for street—and American—culture. A rich, gritty remembrance of an artist’s journey.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review