Frenchie

Greg Hogan (born May 15, 1985), better known by his stage name Frenchie, is an American rapper. He was in Gucci Mane's 1017 Brick Squad and So Icey Boyz and Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad Monopoly. Frenchie is credited for introducing Nicki Minaj and French Montana to Debra's Mizay Entertainment before their mainstream breakouts. He is currently serving a twelve year prison sentence after being convicted of burglary charges in Suffolk County. Early life Frenchie was born and raised in Queens, New York. He spent much of his life travelling back and forth between Queens and Atlanta. His cousin is Southern rapper Waka Flocka Flame. His childhood friend is East Coast rapper Lloyd Banks, and his neighbors included other members who founded G-Unit namely Tony Yayo and 50 Cent. According to interviews Frenchie's father Big Frenchie was a notable gangster and drug dealer in borough in the early 1990s who 50 Cent referenced and idolized in his earlier work most notably on 50 Bars and Ghetto Quran. Frenchie wanted to become a rapper having been inspired after watching Kris Kross' song "Jump" on Video Music Box at an early age. He is of Guyanese ancestry. Career Frenchie hails from a musical family background with several of his relatives in the industry. His cousin Bimmy was an A&R for Def Jam Recordings while his uncle from his father's side DJ Hurricane worked with Beastie Boys. His cousin/aunt Debra Antney was manager to Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman. Frenchie was rapping when he was 19 and would go on to record his first professionally produced track Shirt Off in late 2008. Prior to the record appeared in various street DVDs performing freestyles and cyphers. 2008–2011: So Icey Entertainment, So Icey Boyz and 1017 Brick Squad During a trip to Atlanta to attend a family reunion Frenchie's aunt Debra Antney had introduced him to Gucci Mane who signed him to his So Icey Entertainment. The song "Shirt Off" from Gucci Mane's The Movie mixtape released in September 2008 which featured Frenchie, Wooh Da Kid and OJ da Juiceman as So Icey Boyz – would be Frenchie's breakout track becoming a hit on Atlanta radio. Since then he had been managed by Debra Antney's Mizay Entertainment.