Honestav | |
|---|---|
| Born | Av Freeman Pierce City, Missouri, United States |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2024–present |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. [1] |
| Genres | |
| Labels | Rebel Music/gamma [2] |
Av Freeman, known professionally as Honestav (stylized in all lowercase) is an American musician from Missouri, best known for his 2024, "I'd Rather Overdose". [3]
Freeman was raised in rural Pierce City, Missouri, the youngest of eight siblings. [3] [4] Freeman said of his siblings, "They all wanted to be rockstars...I was a little kid going and watching my sixteen-year-old brother play screamo shows in bowling alleys and pizza joints. I was hooked. I wanted it bad." [4] Freeman's parents struggled with drug abuse, and he described his childhood household as "violent." [3] He spent half the month with his mother, and half the month with his father. His mother was arrested multiple times for selling methamphetamine. [4] Freeman has said his dad was "more stable" than his mom, but that he did not have air conditioning and experienced food insecurity. [4] He wrote his first song when he was twelve years old. [3] When he was fifteen years old, he found his brother's body after he died by suicide. [4]
After graduating high school, Freeman began selling marijuana and later worked for a moving company for four years. [4] Freeman began posting videos to TikTok, earning enough money that he could quit his job and spend time in the studio. In January 2024, Freeman's father died by suicide. Following the event, Freeman wrote "I'd Rather Overdose" and uploaded it to TikTok. The song became a huge success, appearing on Billboard music charts. [4] [5]
On November 8, 2024, Freeman released his first extended play, hara-kiri, which included "I'd Rather Overdose". [3] Freeman later signed with Rebel Music/gamma. [5] He opened for Mod Sun and Lovelytheband on the 2024 Here's Your Flowers Tour. [5] [6]
On May 16, 2025, Freeman released his first album, hara-kiri (Deluxe). [7]
In October 2025, Freeman performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. [7] On November 7, 2025, Freeman released the song "Wasted", as the lead single from his upcoming 2026 EP. [7] "Wasted" was produced by Take a Daytrip. [7]
Freeman is scheduled to open for MGK on the Australia and New Zealand leg of the Lost Americana Tour. [7]