Fred the Godson

Frederick Thomas came into the world in 1985 and later performed under the name Fred the Godson. The Bronx native took up freestyling at the start of the 2000s, earning notice both locally and farther afield before the decade closed. Two projects arrived in 2010: the debut mixtape Armageddon and the DJ Drama-hosted City of God. XXL magazine placed him in its 2011 Freshman class, the yearly cover spotlight on rappers still awaiting mainstream breakthrough, where he appeared with Kendrick Lamar and Mac Miller. Releases continued at a measured pace, among them Gordo Frederico in 2012 and Fat Boy Fresh in 2014, roughly one each year, while he also served as a recurring guest DJ on New York’s Hot 97. Activity slowed briefly before rebounding with fresh momentum. Between 2019 and 2020 he issued three consecutive mixtapes—God Level, the Jay Pharaoh collaboration Training Day, and Payback—each carrying the East Coast edge and quiet wit that defined his writing and gave God Level its distinctive character. In April 2020 he entered the hospital with asthma and kidney complications tied to COVID-19 and died on the 23rd at age 35, capping a run built on steady 2010s output and work alongside more prominent rappers.