Dre B.

A middle-class Midwest kid raised by a single mom, Dre B. was a lot to handle as a kid. I was the type of kid that was always getting into something too smart for my own good. Today Dre B. is known for his Gumbo-style Christian music, but that wasnt always the case. In fact it took a few setbacks, exciting news and faith in God for his dreams to be realized. This is Dre Bs story.

Passing notebooks in class, writing rhymes with friends instead of hittin the books, 15-year-old Andre was all about making music. With his friends Martel Carter and Jared White, they formed a group called Empire Clicc. After recording a few songs, these young rappers were sure theyd make it big, but that never happened. Regardless, Dre kept recording and came across XV, an unsigned rapper at a local barbershop. Dre and XV joined to record a multitude of tracks with his friend Jared. Dre B, who was known as Franchise, decided a name change was necessary and garnered inspiration from the hit HBO show, The Wire; eventually becoming Stringer Barksdale. Dre B wasnt serious about music though. When it came to pennin tracks, he was content with recording a song or two and moving on, regardless of quality. So, like most lukewarm-successful artists, he took some time off.

In 2011 he was ready for a change and a comeback. He had a dream that he won a Dove award. Dre had no clue what that was and moved on. He went to his studio and recorded the most aggressive street song he could. After the recording was complete, his computer crashed. Once the computer was repaired, he listened to the recording, and his demonic tone terrified him. That same night, he dreamed again of receiving a Dove Award. This time he knew it was a sign. He googled it and found that a Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. Dre B. felt God was calling and he was ready to listen.

He prepared to break into Christian Hip Hop and ironically, was suspended from his job. With his time off, he was able to mix beats for his EP and figure out the message he wanted to share. Dre wrote and recorded his entire EP. His trouble wasnt over though. Everything that could go wrong did. Dre was fired, jobless, broke and his wife was pregnant. However, through it all, Dre looked to God. He knew God had a plan and he continued to focus on his music. With his wife pregnant, he knew whatever he wanted to do in life, he had to go and do it for her and this little girl coming. There were no more excuses. I had to get it in gear.

Today Dre B. is all about using his music as a way to touch people and share the message of the Lord. When he talks about his fans, a word he hates, he calls them fam. I just want to be someone that is never to big to talk to someone, which is why Dre B. will always be approachable, whether its on Facebook, Twitter or some other contact, he promises he will respond. I want to build a real relationship with my fam. His number one goal is to impact and change someones life. I want to get the people that are searching for God, but just dont know how to find Him. At the end of the day, if I was doing this for 30 years and in that time I only had one person come up to me and say they were changed by my music and they now follow Christ, then I did what I was supposed to do.

Currently Dre B. is striving to be a good father and husband and to become stronger in the word. He adores his wife and daughter Ava. Everyday he uses his love for the Lord, his fam and life to help him create music that his fam will connect to.