Philadelphia rapper Fahdy Goon sat down for a gritty, insightful episode of Philly First 48, pulling no punches as he opened up about his roots in North Philly, his sudden pivot to music, and why he’s not waiting on co-signs to make his mark.
Raised near 29th & Jefferson but repping 16th and Allegheny where he “jumped off the porch,” Fahdy kept it real about his early days. “Rap wasn’t the plan,” he admitted. “I was heavy into football. Had scholarships lined up. But once I started smoking weed, I realized I could make some fast money through music.”
That laid-back decision at 20 sparked a career built on his gravelly voice, street perspective, and calculated hustle. “Money motivated me more than rap ever did,” he said. “I knew I sounded different. That’s when I decided to go all in.”
The rap game wasn’t his only connection to the streets—his uncle Skinny is a respected rapper currently locked up, and he recently reconnected with his father, who also has a legal past. “I’ve seen what the streets can do,” he said. “I’ve learned from other people’s mistakes.”
Fahdy’s not interested in the glorified version of the grind. He’s lived it, studied it, and now he’s making it work for him.
Fahdy Goon’s breakout came with “When You See Me” alongside Poundside Kanye, racking up over two million views. He’s since avoided typical routes—rarely paying for features and working mainly with producers he’s found on YouTube. “I move in my own world. I don’t chase people down,” he said. “And I don’t need no validation.”
Inspired by moguls who built leverage before signing deals, Fahdy’s more focused on the business of music than flashy attention. “They wanna hand you a check, but I’d rather build the machine myself.”
Recently released after being arrested for an alleged gun charge—one he insists was falsely reported—Fahdy opened up about the reality check that came behind bars. “I was in Miami when I found out about the warrant,” he said. “But I used the time. I recorded like 50 songs in my head. First Day Out was one of them.”
The experience added a new layer to his mindset. “You can’t cry about it,” he said. “You just gotta move smarter.”
Fahdy kept it honest about his city. “Philly artists don’t support each other like they should,” he said. “People act like they too big to help the next man up. It shouldn’t be like that.”
Still, he shouts out names like YTB Fat, Peanut Live, and Leaf Ward. He acknowledges his tension with OT7 Quanny too—though he left it at that.
His Top 5? “Beans, Meek, Quani, Bucks, and Pam,” he said without hesitation. “Pound changed the scene too, especially with the zoo gang movement.”
Fahdy’s attention to detail goes beyond music. Known for rocking fits before they hit the mainstream, he name-dropped Rick Owens and a relationship with Sinclair, a designer who gives him access to exclusive drops and invites to NYC showrooms. “I don’t wait for trends. I wear what they ain’t seen yet,” he said.
As his profile grows, so does the need for safety. “I move with security now. Real ARs. I ain’t going out stupid,” he said, recalling a moment he was locked outside a club while his boys were inside. “I don’t even want my guys fighting anymore. We’re leveling up. Handle it smart.”
Beyond rap, Fahdy is planting roots in business. He’s invested in Nerf Lux, a Germantown-based restaurant, and is developing a hair salon that sells bundles and offers mobile delivery. “I’m not waiting for rap to pay me forever,” he said. “I’m building something bigger.”
He also teased a 3–4 song EP dropping soon and hinted at a neighborhood basketball tournament with real prize money. “I’m giving back because I know where I came from,” he said. “I still buy kids in the neighborhood what they need. That don’t change.”
Above all, Fahdy is about ownership, independence, and securing the bag. “I don’t need people around me. I’m in love with Benjamin Franklin,” he laughed. “I’ve learned to take lessons from everything—wins and losses.”
His eyes are set on leaving Philly in five years. “You gotta move once you reach a certain level. That’s the game,” he said.
