Tre Prada started his music career by branding himself on social media platforms and gaining recognition. His music is a reflection of major milestones that helped him get through tough times. He also makes catchy music and visual’s to match. TUC had the pleasure of speaking with him on his musical influences and new single “Tight up.”
Tamari: Who is Michael Dont’e Brown?
Tre Prada: Outside of music I’m a father, a good friend, a visionary.
Tamari: What is your life outside of music?
Tre Prada: I’m a gamer. I like playing video games, I write scripts, help take care of little brother and cook for my family.
Tamari: I saw your short film ” I Spy with My lite eyes.” Can you see yourself doing more production work?
Tre Prada: Definitely going to be in the production industry and film making walking the footsteps of John Singleton, and Spike Lee.
Tamari: How has your upbringing affect your creativity and hustle?
Tre Prada: I grew up in a single mom household with no real father figure. Seeing what she went through to put food on the table, she made a lot of sacrifices working overtime and pushing herself to the limit left an imprint. She showed me how to grind and go get what you want regardless of the circumstances.
Tamari: When did you start writing music?
Tre Prada: When I was eleven I started writing, it was cool to do. Growing up Jay Z-“Reasonable Doubt” and 50-cent-“Get Rich or Die Tryin'” were big influences. And Eminem’s 8 Mile just came out so battle rapping was a big thing and underground DVD’s were big. So creating music and putting your life story and different instances into music and to rhyming was very inspirational.
Tamari: What is your creative process?
Tre Prada: So usually I have the beat emailed to me from a producer I am in contact with. So when I go into the studio, the engineer would put the beat on and record whatever I’m feeling at the moment even if it’s mumbling. I put the melody from what I’m saying on there and put the words to that melody. Sometimes I might have a story, sometime I might have an idea in mind, and I’ll write everything from scratch. But lately, I have been doing more free thought process of recording.
Tamari: What changes have you seen in hip hop over the years?
Tre Prada: Over the years, I’d say the biggest change would be less passion, most artists come on and would say Idk, I just started last year and are multi-platinum but the passion for the music is not there. People just do it because there’s a check, it’s cool, it looks good, and the passion and inspiration that was there just isn’t there anymore. It’s just a business now minus the love of the music.
In a positive light, I feel like streaming is a big thing that helped artist get their music to the forefront. Also digital platforms like Dishgo Kids and Tubcourt help artist who are independent get their music out without labels.
Tamari: What inspired the Caribbean mix in your newest song “Tight up”?
Tre Prada: I first wrote and recorded this song in December and I was telling my engineer and producer that we need a vibrant, fun, with a lot of bounce for summer, and he sent over the beat and when I heard the beat, it was just a vibe. I did my regular creative process of mumbling and created the hook that felt good and sexy and made it happen.
Tamari: What is the message from the song?
Tre Prada: I feel like its a song of interpretation of how you feel with your significant other. When y’all wake up in the morning its a vibe, sexual energy, something lit. And it feels like it’s just you guys together and both of y’all are turnt up.
Tamari: What does True Urban Culture mean to you?
Tre Prada: True urban culture to me is having an original idea then creating it from scratch and making it your own, thus turning nothing into something using resources you have.
Tre Prada: “Remember this industry is a marathon, not a sprint, you shouldn’t feel like oh this person made it in six months that means I have too. At the end of the day, everyone’s journey is different. At the end of the day, your path is your path, as long as you stick to what you are trying to become it will happen when it needs to happen not when you want it to happen.”
Follow Tre Prada on Instagram and Twitter: @Treprada
Stream his new single “Tight up” on Spotify and Apple Music: