Come Walk the Red Carpet with Fresh
If Fresh I.E. wins a Grammy, Winnipeg wins a Grammy
Mike Warkentin

If Fresh I.E. wins a Grammy, Winnipeg wins a Grammy.

In fact, if the 33-year-old rapper leaves the 48th Grammy Awards with the hardware from the catch-all best rock gospel album category, the city can expect a duplicate trophy.

“With the Grammys it’s very easy to get your head puffed up, but I want to share this whole experience with the whole city and let them know that me getting nominated for a Grammy is not something just for me, but it’s for the city.

“I mean, if we win the Grammy — and we have a good shot at winning it this year — I plan on sharing that Grammy with the city, even to the point where I will buy an extra one and give it to the city,” Fresh says.

While it remains to be seen if Truth Is Fallin’ in tha Streetz (2005) will take the prize in L.A. on Feb. 8, Fresh is sharing the thrill of the nomination with Winnipeggers on Feb. 6 at Trinity TV. Called Come Walk the Red Carpet With Fresh, the shaker will feature artists delivered by Hummer to the venue, where they’ll strut down a red rug. After the performers have entered, Fresh will invite everyone else to walk the carpet as well.

“I just wanted to be able to share this experience with as many people as we can get in the place,” Fresh says. “It only seats 500.”

The rapper may have to book a bigger venue for a victory party if he beats out rock acts Audio Adrenaline (the 2004 winner in this category) and Day of Fire and hip hop groups The Cross Movement and Grits. Nevertheless, he’s thrilled just to be nominated again. His debut album, Red Letterz, dropped in 2003 and came from nowhere to be nominated for a 2004 Grammy, also in the best rock gospel album category.

“I hope I’ll just be able to enjoy the moment, even if I don’t win it, enjoy the moment and know that I’ll always be remembered,” Fresh says of his second nomination. “I planted my flag on this planet, especially in this city, where people will remember what I’ve accomplished in my life and what I came through, and that will be a testimony for other people who go through it.”

That’s why Fresh is so big on sharing his moment. While the father of two presently ministers to inner-city youths and preaches the word through his music, at one time he was involved with crime and drugs. Then he found God, reformed himself and cleaned up his life. Now he wants others to know they can do the same.

“Our young people are just out of control today,” Fresh says. “There’s so much happening — the drugs, the crystal meth — that’s terrorizing them, so we need to distribute something that’s going to push them away from that.”

What could push people away from crime and substances is a positive message and a success story that proves miracles do happen. How else do you explain Grammy nominations for each of the first two albums from a gospel rapper living in Winnipeg?

“It (my success) is a banner to lift up for young people so they don’t have to get wrapped up in activities that will lead them to prison or to early death — and (the message) is reaching them.”