Freeway & Beanie Sigel in Philadelphia

Freeway is an American rapper from Philadelphia, born Leslie Pridgen, who became known through the Roc-A-Fella Records collective and the group State Property. His 2003 debut album, Philadelphia Freeway, included “What We Do” featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, and “Flipside” featuring Peedi Crakk. In 2003, Freeway joined Jay-Z at his retirement concert at Madison Square Garden, a performance documented in the film Fade to Black. His 2018 NPR Tiny Desk Concert in Washington, D.C., presented songs including “What We Do” in a compact live-band set.

Beanie Sigel is an American rapper from South Philadelphia, born in 1974 and known for direct, hard-edged East Coast hip-hop. After signing to Roc-A-Fella Records, he released The Truth, The Reason and The B. Coming; his best-known tracks include “Feel It in the Air” and “Roc the Mic,” recorded with Freeway. He also led the Philadelphia rap collective State Property. In 1999, he appeared on Jay-Z’s Hard Knock Life Tour, which was documented in the concert film Backstage. In 2017, Jay-Z brought him onstage during the Philadelphia stop of the 4:44 Tour, reuniting the two rappers at Wells Fargo Center.