The Professor’s Chair features interviews with local musicians. This week, D-Tre, a hip-hop artist and producer, sits down in the Professor’s Chair. The interview will air on RadioX’s Local Show between 6 and 9 p.m.on Oct. 24 and on SUTV online.
Tell us a little about your musical style. Who or what do you sound like?
Most people say Three Six Mafia, more southern rappers. Mississippi rappers, Atlanta — that’s the style I have. And I’m just basing my music on life events and a positive thing that we bring to rap, as we see what it is now. So, I’m just doing my part as far as bringing the positive-ness to it and changing other’s minds that we can make positive music also.
I know that a lot of hip-hop artists have a message in their music, and I see that your shirt says “Freedom over all,” so what’s your message? What does that mean? “Freedom over All”?
“Freedom over all” is an acronym: FOA. And it is basically saying freedom over any type of depression or oppression. Freedom over all is freedom over abuse, from husband or money, or money that we lacking, or anything that’s taking away our ability to be ourself, or anything that’s stopping what you want to do in life.
Your music sounds like it’s a lot about empowerment. So what inspires you to stay empowered and be positive? What’s your motivation?
Well, my motivation is basically based on the things I want to do and see in life. So I basically said, “You know what. I know it’s going to be hard, but I need to have some type of motivation.” So I create in my mind the scenarios I know that could make a change. So, I use those thoughts as my motivation, because if I see it happening, then it’s already happened. And it’s happening right now, as we’re on this radio.
Your single is called “Motivated.” What’s that about?
That song in particular was something that my spirit just moved me to do. After realizing, like I said earlier, about seeing real life situations: [that] I use that as a fuel to make music. Music is the only way to get to the people’s minds effectively and it’s like a gateway to the heaven,or to the realm of peace. I use that as my relief.
What sounds or instruments do you love the most when you’re producing tracks?
Lex Luger, he came out with some styles that I had before, but I can say that I give him props. I like the edelweiss bass sound that he uses. For example, the one that’s in Juicy J’s song, or Rick Ross … Big Meech — that unique sound a lot of people never usually use, but he tweaked it and customized it, and I did also.
Tune in to RadioX, 6 p.m. to midnight, on 88.5 FM in the tri-county area. Or, catch it live online 24/7 at nova.edu/radiox/listen.html or through the TuneIn Radio app, available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry.
