James A. Freeman

James A. Freeman, known professionally as Freezy the Barber, was raised in the Bronx during the foundation of hip-hop, the height of the crack epidemic, and the depths of poverty. Growing up in the projects, he witnessed hardship firsthand—his mother’s resilience, the struggle of addiction in the family, and the power of creativity as survival. Despite the chaos, the projects felt like a safe, self-contained world. From the elementary school and churches to the bodegas and the basketball courts where early hip-hop legends brought the jams, every corner of his neighborhood offered rhythm, soul, and story.

Without modern distractions like tablets or streaming, James found wonder in books. A donated bookshelf filled with encyclopedias introduced him to research, history, and storytelling. He and his brothers read about World War II, baseball legends, and their own grandfather—a veteran who died stateside after the war, when their mother was just two years old. That sense of legacy sparked his desire to write.

His poetic voice was nurtured early by his mother—a gospel soloist and poet—and his art teacher, Mr. Steinklein. His first poem was published in a calendar at just seven years old. Since then, James has evolved as a songwriter, singer, comedian, illustrator, and author of rhyming children’s books. Many of his songs began as poems. For him, poetry is therapy, connection, and legacy.

Though much of his work draws from personal experience, his poems often speak to universal truths: the pain and triumph of women, the humor in cultural quirks, the resilience of brothers, and the beauty in being seen. He writes not for everybody, but for anybody—anyone who can find a reflection, a tear, a laugh, or a moment of truth in his words.

As a barber, Freezy considers his craft a form of art and healing. The barbershop becomes both stage and sanctuary—a space for listening, advising, storytelling, and reflection. He pours the same energy into poetry, blending his roles as therapist, artist, and entertainer.

Painting With Words is his first literary work for adults, following several acclaimed children’s books he has written and illustrated. He believes poetry is a missing piece in both early literacy and adult expression—capable of opening hearts, ears, and imaginations. This collection, like his legacy, is meant to last.

If asked who he is, he’d be quick to say:

“I’m Freezy the Barber.”

Because by now, if you know—you know.

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His art isn’t for everybody. But it’s for anybody—

Anyone who needs to feel something real.