R&B Artist Tre Williams Speaks His Street Gospel to AC

There are millions of people, men and women, who wish to be in Tre Williams' place. Compared to several others, his background sounds more of a rapper's lifestyle.

From growing up in the mean streets of Daytona Beach to being shot, the newest R&B star was recently signed to rap phenomenon Nas' label, Ill Will Records. Williams has already made a name for himself in the music industry by releasing his own mixtape, Street Gospel, which has been selling in high volumes.

Tre Williams speaks candidly about his love for the music game, how he got involved with Nas and what listeners should expect from his first album.

You have had a very interesting past. How do you feel your background has influenced who you are today?
You can gain a lot of strength and knowledge from being poor and going through all of the hardships that I've seen and been through. That lets me know where I want to be and the type of life that I want to give my family. Even though I made it through, I don't want my kids to know the feeling of struggling. I've done it for them.

How long have you been singing?
I've been singing truly from the age of 4 yrs old. My family is heavy in the church and my mother would take us to choir rehearsal. While my bothers and sisters were playing, I was listening and understanding, that at a young age this is what I wanted to do, "sing". So momma put me in the youth choir and at 5 yrs old I was the leader. True story right there.

What made you decide to go professional?
Poverty. (ha ha ha) Being broke will make you reach down inside and find whatever it is you do best and go for the gold. For me this is what it was. It's not often that we get a chance to make a good living doing something that we love to do; God has blessed me with that opportunity.

Nas' CD is titled Hip Hop is Dead. Do you believe it is dead?
I'm R&B so I'm not a good dude to ask that question, but music on a whole has to be revamped to me. I mean at one point we as a people were finally starting to make a power movement in this industry. With what Master P did with No Limit, Cash Money and Rocafella, we were owning s#$@. We turned around and sold it back. So, now we are back at square one, employees and not owners. We have no control over our music, our sound or our image. We make up most of the industry.

BET recently had a special about events that misshaped Black America and hip hop was one of them. Do you believe hip hop has negatively influenced young black America?
Not at all. How can we look at entertainment and say that it has more influence than parents do? Hip hop is the biggest scapegoat that America can come up with. Does Pres. Bush's daughter listen to hip-hop? I doubt it. What about the kids that act up that only listen to rock? We are not taking responsibility for our own children. We are letting BET, MTV and Myspace raise our kids and blaming Hip Hop. It's bigger than Hip Hop.

With all the R&B artists out now, how do you believe you differ from the rest? What makes Tre Williams distinguishable from the rest when I hear one of his tracks?
Listen to the answers I'm giving you to the questions you ask me and that's my music. I give you me, my life, my world. You're going to laugh with me, cry with me and grow with me. I'll be the voice of a group of people that we don't get a chance to hear. I'm no teacher or preacher; just a realist and that already distinguishes me from many.

How did you hook up with Nas & his record label, Ill Will Records?

I never shopped a deal to Nas: it was God's will that I'm here. I had just returned from Nebraska after opening up for the late great Gerald Levert and I was contacted by Mike Brinkley (Dir. of Ill Will Records). He told me that he wanted to meet with me. I was like OK where you want to meet and he said I'll come to you. Soon after, he pulled up and handed me his phone. Nas was on the other end and expressed that he'd love for me to join his label. So, a few days later Nas and I met and chopped it up and from that day, I've been Ill Will.

I read that your next album will be titled, "The Depth of My Soul." Why did you decide to name it that?
I wanted to give the people ME on my first album. I want them to know Tre Williams, so what better way than to give them "The Depth of My Soul". This is going to be a classic, believe me.

What other artists/producers would you like to work with?
Aw man. That's a mean list but I'll narrow it down. Artist wise first and foremost has to be Mary J. She has always been a dream of mine to work with. So if she reads this, holla at me I'm in Y.O. (Ha ha ha). After that has to be Lauren Hill.

I'd like to work with Jamie Foxx. It would be interesting what we would come up with. Trick Daddy, Outkast and T.I. I feel those dudes. Producers Babyface, Missy Elliot and Rodney Jerkins, I would love to work with them.

When is your album coming out?

I wanted to come out around the middle of the year or maybe early next year. There's no concrete date, but I am getting it done. I'll sit down with Nas and Mike Brinkley and we'll come up with a mean game plan.

Who do you working or will work on your album?
Well, Nas of course. I'm looking at a few different people. We'll keep that under raps for now.

Do you write/produce your own songs?
I pretty much write everything and co produce sometimes. I'm not opposed to doing other peoples material. I'm pretty much ego free, so if it's a hot joint, we gonna lay it down fa sho'.

Who are some of your musical influences?
Again, my biggest influence has to be poverty. That's what drives me. After that, I'd say my mom for her love for what I do. Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Gerald Levert and Tupac are definitely strong influences on what I bring to you.

How does Tre Williams relax?
My kids are into sports now, so anytime I'm not working I'm at one of their events or practices. I'm still pretty active in sports myself. I have a softball team and I play in a basketball and rough touch football league, so I stay in good physical shape.

What advice do you offer for individuals who are interested in entering the music business?
Try to stay grounded and have thick skin. Things aren't always as rosy as they look. I've had a chance to watch people rise and fall. It all stems from your humbleness; it can make you or break you.

And sorry, ladies. He's already taken and very much the family man.

With his positive and philosophical outlook on life, I believe he will travel far in the biz.