Not many 25-year-olds can include artist, manager, professional and former pro-basketball player to their résumé, but our featured artist can. Dondre Perry, better known as Black Dre, is a talented hip hop artist from Allentown, Pennsylvania. After playing ball in the EU and Mexico, an unfortunate injury led Dre back to his roots where he revived his love for music. When he is not working on his craft, he is running his own management company, GAWS (‘SWAG’ backward) Ent., and working at the Mentor Network, an organization that provides quality, community-based services and support to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and other catastrophic injuries and illnesses.
Dre draws a lot of inspiration from his hometown and upbringing. He describes how the harsh realities of his environment help shape his sound, stating, “growing up [in Allentown] gave me soul, that’s why I believe my music is a one of a kind because nobody else can explain a story, express their feelings, or be vulnerable like I can.” He hopes that his example of hard work and perseverance will influence the youth and other members in his community to want to achieve bigger and better things. Dre is not the type to let any obstacle get in his way. Throughout his hardships, he remains steadfast and focused in pursuit of his dreams. His work truly speaks for itself, as does his determination. His latest project “Why Me?” is definitely worth listening to. He recently performed at the A3C Festival in Atlanta and has some exciting projects in the works for 2019.
In three words, how would you describe yourself?
Humble, hardworking, and God-fearing.
What prompted you to start your own mgmt company, GAWS Ent.?
My partners and I wanted to represent ourselves without any pressure or labels. We’re all entrepreneurs. We created GAWS Ent. to give ourselves a platform where we can broadcast our talent, contribute to our community, and express ourselves freely while keeping ownership of our music. I even went so far as to create a separate “ghost” email to pose as my own management (advice I was given by Mike Shaw from Dreamville) to book more shows. It sounds silly, but it’s helped me land numerous gigs. That just goes to show you how innovative you have to be as an indie artist if you want to be successful.
With managing your own record label, managing athletes, and working for the Mentor Network, how do you find time to work on your music?
It gets tough. As a writer, you have to go out and experience life in order to have true content to speak about. Creating music is my passion, so I make it a must to take time out every day to work even if it’s just listening to beats, studying my favorite albums, digging for samples or doing brain exercises to keep my vocabulary in tip-top shape.
How would you say growing up in Allentown shaped you and your sound?
Growing up in Allentown I’ve seen a lot of things I believe the average kid/teen isn’t supposed to see, such as addiction, murder, prostitution—basically the deterioration of your own people, you know? It not only gave me the chance to speak about my vices but to speak on the vices of others in my community. Growing up here gave me soul, that’s why I believe my music is a one of a kind because nobody else can explain a story, express their feelings, or be vulnerable like I can. It allows me to give back to the youth with my stories. I want to show them that with hard work they can make something of themselves and beat the “failure” narrative that society has written out for them.
When we spoke you mentioned that the passing of your father pushed you to finish your latest project “Why Me?”. Why was it important to complete it then? How did this focus help you cope with it all?
Man, when my father passed I fell into a deep depression. Like that kind of depression where you don’t cut your hair for months and lose track of the days. During my mourning process, I stayed in the studio. I was depressed, but at the same time I was so locked in with the music that it became my therapy. I knew the habits (good or bad) that I picked up during this time would stick with me so I tried to do things that would make me a better artist. “Why Me?” saved me to be honest, it showed me that it is possible to make it in rap. I feel like that was my “To Pimp a Butterfly/ 4YEO”. That project will forever be my baby.
What’s your motivation to keep going, keep pursuing your passion?
I have no choice (laughs) I love it too much to stop pursuing it. I’ve had encounters with many people in the industry and the advice I’m given the most is “Keep going”. Deep down I know that I’m going to make it as an artist. In the humblest way, just hearing how good the music I make now is—man, I can only imagine if I had the chance to collaborate with my favorite producers and artists in a professional studio!! Most importantly, knowing that when I do make it I’ll be able to give back to other artists, my family, and my community is what keeps me going.
So, you have some exciting projects in the works for 2019! Can you let us in on some of your plans?
(Laughs) you’re actually the first person I’ve told, but I’m working on a short EP called “Maybe Next Year”. I’ll be making more music videos, working to grow as a producer and build clientele, and completing a series of children’s books. I’m also working on opening up for Mass Appeal Records’ “Starting 5 Tour” in March. Other than that I’ll be moving out of Pennsylvania in the Spring to NYC to grow my connections and place myself right in the middle of the Hip-Hop Mecca.
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Interview by Rahel Tekle