If you have ever been surprised by Freddie Gibbs’ ravishing stamina at his live shows, you have Travelle Gaines and his fitness company, athletic girdles, thank. From Mustard to Saweetie, the celebrity trainer and businessman has helped change rappers’ relationship with fitness over the past decade — on and on stage.
“To [Freddie’s] shows, he hops energetically for an hour and 90 minutes. Imagine what shape you have to be in to run, jump, rap, scream, shout, engage, and all that. You have to be in pretty good shape,” Gaines told REVOLT.
The Athletic Gaines founder explained how his dedication Freddie Gibbs is about his fitness on the road, why rappers are prioritizing training more than ever, and why his company is the one your favorite artists trust. Read our exclusive conversation below.
You formed Freddie Gibbs on “The Album of the Year Tour” to support his Bandana project in 2019. How did you connect?
I connected with him in 2018. Freddie’s an interesting person because he did everything, as he says in his raps. When you meet his people from Gary, Indiana, everything he talks about is true. Freddie played Division I college football at Ball State University. So he has a sports background. Freddie was briefly in the army. He made several stays in prison (laughs). He has quite an eclectic background. With his brief military and football experience, he knows the concept of coaching and coaching. He’s always been a really fit guy. With me, he wanted to take his training to another level. We got along really well. Not only has Fred been a customer for five years, but we send someone with him on all of his tours. He’s also a friend of mine.
How did he train for live performance?
As a director, I prepared his meals directly with a cook who would travel with him. I would set up his actual training with a trainer, James Mayew, from Athletic Gaines. Then I would set up her massages and stretches. Freddie will practice 20 minutes before going on stage. Fred practiced twice, sometimes three times a day. It has always been in the morning. So he’s always up, ready to go early in the morning. He always trained in the morning. Freddie said he felt more energy from those endorphins before going on stage.
How did you make sure he got the right workout no matter where he went?
On tour, Freddie would stay at Airbnbs. He made sure he either had a gym or a place to train. I would map all of this for each city. So when he arrived we knew they either had a gym at the Airbnb or an empty room. Working with Lambo, his manager, we always found places with a gym or an empty room where he could do his workouts. Freddie followed the Athletic Gaines Workout App when our coaches weren’t there.
What were the shows on this tour like?
Fred did very well. He has a lot of fans, so he attracts thousands of people per venue at each concert. He gives a lot on stage, man. He’s drenched in sweat when he comes off stage. So his cardio has to be top notch.
What is Freddie’s personality off stage?
Freddie Gibbs is one of the most talented people I know. He can rap, write and make beats. Moreover, he can act. He is super talented. He is also a very good father. He has a few children and is very active in their lives. He’s hilarious and constantly a ball of energy. I’ve never seen him in a bad mood.
How did you see him reconcile fatherhood and travel?
When he was on tour, his children were back in LA. He was doing FaceTime calls and stuff like that with the kids. I didn’t dig too much into his personal life, in terms of him being the father of his kids, but he was definitely there when he could. Whether his children come to certain stops on the tour based on their school schedule and availability, or whether he is always in constant communication with them. Then he would pack his tour by traveling 20 cities in a month. Then he’ll pull through and go home with a few million dollars in his pocket.
How have you seen his formation manifest in live performances?
I saw it in his energy. During his shows, he jumps energetically for an hour and 90 minutes. Imagine what shape you have to be in to run, jump, rap, scream, shout, engage, and all that. You have to be in pretty good shape.
Sometimes artists don’t have time to eat well on tour. How have you helped him maintain healthy habits?
It wasn’t very hard because Fred already eats well. He’s a Muslim, so he eats clean enough already. It also has a great chef who can do it all. So we have a pretty well-oiled machine (laughs). He usually ate about an hour before a show started.
Who else have you helped get fitter?
Maybe it wasn’t on tour, but I was with it puff dad for a while. I was with him daily and learned a lot from him. Training-wise, it was similar to Freddie. I worked with his boss, his physiotherapist and everything for his body. Puff is an extremely hard worker. Besides him, I’ve worked with everyone from DJ Mustard to Hit-Boy. We also worked with Saweetie. Many artists have trained at Athletic Gaines.
Athletic Gaines is the ultimate training venue for artists…
Our physiotherapist was just on tour with The Weeknd, so he did all his stretching, body work and stuff. My wife and I went to his show in Los Angeles. It was an incredible show. The weekend give a big turn. He makes stadiums. He did three consecutive shows. His energy was great. His attitude was great. His state of mind was great. You can see from his performance that he really cares about his health and nutrition.
To what extent do today’s artists prioritize health?
He has changed drastically. Whether it be big-sean, Drake or Travis Scott, they give so much energy, and they all have a coach when they are on tour. The old days of sipping a 40 and then hitting the stage in Timberland boots and baggy jeans while standing tall are over. People want to see a show. A lot of the artist’s money is based on touring, so a lot of energy has to be put in, and people take their fitness seriously. Their physical condition is directly linked to touring.
Who do you plan to work with in 2023?
I’m going to work with an artist who has just done a residency in Las Vegas. That’s all I can say for now (laughs).
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