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Chuck Fraz’ Breaks Down His Journey In “Life Is A Race”

Powerhouse force Chuck Fraz’ (pronounced like Frazier) DA Original truly lives up to his name—a creative who embodies the

By TCR Staff

April 11, 2025

Chuck Fraz’ Breaks Down His Journey In “Life Is A Race”

Powerhouse force Chuck Fraz’ (pronounced like Frazier) DA Original truly lives up to his name—a creative who embodies the life-changing power of focus and resilience, uniquely exploring inner mysteries and weaving spiritual lessons into his soulful tracks. Growing up in inner-city Baltimore, Chuck faced many struggles. Finding himself getting into trouble “coming off the steps” on the streets, he knew he wanted more from life—and his deep love for melodies and freestyling became his anchor. “I am music,” he says. The essence of music in his soul—never fades despite the obstacles. Determined to keep moving forward, he refused to let his circumstances define him.

Now settled in Atlanta, Chuck channels his gratitude and ambition into making his dreams a reality. With a distinctive truth-seeking mindset, Chuck encourages listeners to pursue their dreams with a full heart and sound mind, having made it out the other side himself. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres—including rap, R&B, and the soulful sounds of 80s rock—he crafts tracks brimming with authenticity fueled by his compelling consciousness. And fans have a lot to look forward to—his upcoming new EP—serving as a precursor to a full-length album set for release shortly after. With his unwavering passion and resonant lyricism, Chuck Fraz’ DA Original proves that originality and vibrant artistry are born from within, and have the power to take one anywhere.

Throughout his life, Chuck has faced countless hurdles—but “stop” is not in his vocabulary. “Born from the darkness, raised for the limelight”—he resolves to “keep running” through this wild race of life until he reaches greatness. The track pulses with ferocious momentum, driven by a high-energy beat that injects a refreshing burst of energy. Chuck’s flow is smooth yet commanding—gliding over the rhythm with a sense of determination and grit. Speaking from real-life experience, he offers an unexpectedly vulnerable point of view—reflecting on his past, upbringing, and his relentless drive to create a better life for himself and his family. It all comes together like a tightly wound ball of rubber bands, ready to snap back with an undeniable bounce. More than just an anthem of encouragement and achievement, the track carries layers of deeper meaning, with spiritual wisdom brewing just beneath the surface—a brilliant signature for Chuck Fraz’ DA Original.

The accompanying music video, created in collaboration with longtime friend J. Jackson, embodies the classic underdog spirit—featuring a track star jumping hurdles on a football field. It’s a timeless metaphor—and as Chuck passionately delivers his bars and cheers the runner on, even joining in the race himself—his dedication and sincerity are palpable. This is his story—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and he’s unafraid to share it, now standing in a much better place. For those soaking in the sage wisdom of someone who “stayed down ‘till he came up,” the final shot offers a powerful moment of reflection. As the camera drifts into the sky, leaving Chuck lying in the center of the vast football field, he spells out the overarching spiritual message: “You are in a dream, wake up to the true light”—a thought-provoking takeaway for his viewers. As one of his first visuals to partner with a song, it’s a stellar introduction to the evolving artistry of Chuck Fraz’ DA Original—an artist whose journey, vision, and sound promise to not only be impactful—but unforgettable.

You’ve been through a lot to get to this point in your personal life and career—talk to us a little bit about your journey thus far.

You know, it’s funny you asked that because my first album is entitled “Journey of The Hero”, so go check it out and you’ll have your answer but really though, that album is a great summary of my life up until this point. I mean from dealing with all types of issues in the streets as a thug or a hooligan, to evolving into a legit business man and spiritual adept, so far it’s been a great race. I’ve been through a lot, learned from mistakes so I won’t repeat them, and continue to learn and grow more each day.

Who are your biggest musical influences, both in hip-hop and beyond?

2Pac, Heavy D, Scarface, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stephen Marley, Journey, Erykah Badu, Sounds Of Blackness, and Michael Jackson to name just a few.

In what ways does “Life Is a Race” reflect your personal drive and determination? Do you feel as though “Life Is a Race” tells your story?

When I think of “Life Is A Race”, I think of a young inner city kid from the West Side of Baltimore experiencing some of the most adventurous action packed days any human being could ever experience. During those wild years, I took a lot of penitentiary chances and played hide and seek with the grim reaper, but the whole time I knew I was destined for greatness. Even though I knew this, I felt like I had to attain riches and wealth before my time was up. So when you think about, if you’re a person that wants the most out of life like myself, every day you wake up in this third dimensional reality, no matter how hard each day might be to get through, no matter how many people get you to that boiling point where you’re ready to crash out and blow it all, don’t do it. Keep runnin, do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for all the kids who need a success story to look at. That’s what drives me. And so “Life Is A Race” tells only a small part of my story, attaining wealth and riches is not just about materialism. What most people fail to realize is that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. So don’t put all your eggs in one basket. There’s more to the story. A lot more.

Talk to us a little bit about the collaborative process of crafting this track. How did you bring this song to life?

Well when my boy JMan, who’s one half of the hit production team GGAmighty sent me the track, I played it once, I played it twice, and by the third time the melody just popped in my head. From that point I created the hook. As I’m driving and moving around throughout the day I’m thinking about life experiences and carefully crafting the verses. By the end of the day the song is done. That’s how it goes most of the time.

Tell us about developing the concept for the “Life Is a Race” music video. What encouraged you to go for a sporty theme?

Well we pretty much wanted people to grasp the idea of Life being a race, you know, keep running until you achieve your goals. Never cut it loose when you still get the juice.

Spirituality plays a big role in your artistry—tell us more about what motivates you to infuse spiritual messages and philosophies into your music.

Some souls on this planet happen to be a lot older than other souls. The older souls must help uplift humanity in different ways. This is my way.

Looking back, is there anything you learned about yourself during the process of crafting this song and music video?

It is. I have been putting songs together since “86”, and I just realized I still have a lot more to say.

You have a new EP coming out after “Life Is a Race.” Are there more music videos or visuals in the works? What can fans look forward to?

Well, the ep is entitled “Living In A Dream”. The next visual will be “Morals & Principles” feat. Kenny Ripken. The ep will feature 8 songs and it’ll drop sometime this summer. Stay tuned in at Chuckdiesel_og on IG for updates, also @www.frazdaoriginal.com…and remember “Life Is A Race”, keep running’ till you win.