We recently had the chance to connect with Jean Velems Altidor and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jean Velems, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
The most misunderstood part is when people assume my creativity is not original. I can tell you from personal experience , people have copied my ideas and even ran off with ideas they claimed they wanted to collaborate on. The numbers don’t pay as much as you think. Sometimes , a lack of response on socials may be the sole reason for a song or project not to be released due to low demand from the audience.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jean V Altidor, better known as Tony Fresco. I’m a musical artist but my skillset goes far beyond being a musician. I’m a pop-rap artist , most of my work is available on all platforms. I’ve been creating my own graphics when it’s time to release the music and i also handle every part of my musical journey. From A to Z , I’m involved in the entire process.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
There was a party invite at one point & i just had to be there. When i arrived , i realized most people who were there had nothing in common with me. I felt out of place and no one wanted to be around me or have a dance & that was ok with me. It just so happened the ones i did know were always together ,so their chemistry was working for each other, leaving me with no seat at the table they invited me too. I was getting all sorts of bad looks and it made me feel unwanted. I have nothing to offer them and i’m not a part of anything i didn’t arrive with. So from that day , i looked at their invites as a form of disrespect from that group & i no longer “rub elbows” with them. I’m not a part of that world.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being punished for fighting back. When delinquents keep poking me , the main reason i choose not to poke back is because it will end up going somewhere i have no business going. I call it harassment , most people who have witnessed it usually wonder why i’m not fighting this person. Let’s just say by the time it gets to that point , many other items have been used as a form of intimidation. So it’s either win and they come back with items or live another to handle this. I’m not looking for anything so usually . a bystander might be the reason i do fight this person. Let’s not forget how some of the same people causing trouble usually have people who enable their behaviors. I see through it. There’s a lot of shady activity done before they feel bold enough to intervene.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. I always attended life with no mask. Only thing i ever kept from the public was my actual sports career. I posted the pictures and no one engaged with it. It wasn’t fun , i really wanted to go far with it. I always told the ones who knew about it , the wrong things. If we won( which we did a lot) , i would still tell them i lost. To this day , my club teammates and i still get to talk about our trophies. So when someone sees my medals in my room , they wanna ask “who’s medals are those?” Not knowing , i lived a life without them when it mattered most.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
Most of the people around me only pretended to be friends of mine until they could no longer hide their true colors. The friendliness is a part of their schemes. Most of my most played song aren’t my favorites. My biggest record is being enjoyed by the underground scene. I wish i could have released more music for those who support me , I started taking a business approach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://itstonyfresco.wixsite.com/1tonyfresco
- Instagram: itstonyfresco
- Twitter: itstonyfresco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Tony-Fresco-100063661204739/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOaq3nLAEcE
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/itstonyfresco
