Tre' the III
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Tre' the III

Birmingham, Alabama, United States | INDIE

Birmingham, Alabama, United States | INDIE
Band Hip Hop Christian

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"We Like It"

I was absolutely overwhelmed with your music ministry! Your music is truly anointed! We will make sure to add you to our playlist and look for a power promo of your ministry on MoPrayzeMusic.com!

God bless you and thank you for sharing your beautiful music with us and our listeners
- Sister Malika Smith, Program Director/CEO MoPrayze Music Group


"One-on-One with Tre'"

For everyone who missed church Sunday, you missed half of your life, as Pastor Mike would say. Tre' aka III (third), a rapper from S.O. J. (Squad of Jehovah), ministered to the congregation straight from the heart. His theme, "The same things that God did for me, He can do for you," is a revolutionary truth that stems from his days of living in the Christian world as well as the secular world. If you missed him on Sunday, don't worry! You can see him live in concert Friday, August 12, 2005, 7 PM at the Dome for the FCCC's annual Back to School Jam, where he will be performing songs from his new album, On the III.

For those of you who don’t know Tre’, check out his thoughts from this interview. He truly is an awesome brother, called by God, and anointed for greatness! So, remember to come out to the concert August 12 at 7p.m.!

What sparked your interest in Christian Rap and how long have you been rapping?
I’ve always written poetry, and I’ve always liked to make things rhyme—I don’t why, but I just do. About 10 years ago, we [FCCC] had a comedy night at the church, and me and two of my friends, Jerrell and Micah, decided we were going to lip sing a rap song. It went over real well. This guy came up to me afterwards and was like, “Y’all can lip sing , but can you do it for real!” And I was like, “Hmmm!!??” So I got them [Jerrell and Micah] together and was like “Man, we can’t rap for real.” They were like, “Come on man, we can make some stuff work…" Next year, won't lip sing; we'll do it for real!” And we did it, and it actually went over real well. [After that] I started doing more and more stuff with them. Pretty soon I was like, "Man, I actually can do this..." I’m not actually one that can sit down and say I’m going to write something. My mind doesn’t work like that. That’s how I know it’s truly God. This album that’s coming up is a solo album, but when I felt the desire to do it I was like, “Man, there’s no way I can write a whole album. It’s impossible!” [Then a voice]…as clear as I’m talking to you…told me, “You ain’t gotta write a thang!” I looked up, and two weeks later the whole thing was written. Some of the songs I didn't actually write, I just went in there and did if free style-without writing them down—and they came out pretty good. So that’s how I got started, and God’s continued to bless me.

When you write, do you just sit down and write or is there a certain way you plan out your lyrics?
I don’t. I can’t do it. I really can’t. It just happens, and when I get there, I’m there. It’s gotta be God! 'Cause in my mind—I was listening to the album today—I’m like, "Man where’d that come from?!" [So, I can’t just [sit down and] do it. Some people, great MC’s, they can do it, but that’s just not my calling.

Who or what is the strongest influence in your life that inspires you or motivates you to write?
It was a person, Minister Everett Watson (now Pastor Everett of Dunamis Christian Center). Because, until I met him, I didn’t know rapping existed as far as Christian rap. He introduced me to folks like DC Talk and Steven Wiley years ago. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be doing it today. In my mind I always thought, you’ve got rock music and Christian rock, but I didn’t see any Christian rap. So I wonder if you can do it, and then, he [Pastor Everett] had it [Christian rap]! Where he got it from I don’t know, because around here, you couldn’t find anything like that [at the time]. But if it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be doing it. So, I give him a lot of credit.

Is this your first solo album? Yes.
What is the title? On the III
Why that title?
Well, because I’m Tre’ (aka III-third), and I do a lot of things with the Roman numeral III. When I was actually coming up with ideas, I watched a lot of The Passion of the Christ for some reason. I don’t know why. None of my songs really geared toward it; I just felt a need to watch it. And the fact that Jesus rose on the third day, I said, “Hmmm? I can work with that on the third thing.” The first song on the album is “Use the Third,” so I thought about that, but I thought “On the Third” was more catchy. And the title reminds you of what it’s all about—Salvation! Christ rose on the third day, so that’s why I used that [title].


Is your music focused on a particular age group?
You know what, I tend to appeal to an older crowd because I don’t really have a style. [If] You look through [my notebook], it goes kind of everywhere, but [my style is]…not down south. I’m not that crunk stuff. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s just not me. I tend to appeal to folks who really care what’s being said more so than just the beat, and that tends to be those college-age and older.

What is the message that your music gives to listeners?
My message is for listeners to GET SAVED! A lot of my music is geared toward folks in the church. Because a lot of it [my message] comes from my personal experiences— what I’ve come to learnis that there are a lot of people who go to church every Sunday, they’re saved, and they’re still in a lot of mess [and junk]. They’re broken on the inside. I take a very personal approach…[and] a lot of people [say], “Man, you tell too much of your business!” And the reason I did that is because a lot of people see me on the stage now and come to me [saying], “Man, you're a blessing!” Ok, well, there was a time when Tre’ was a mess. Tre’ was doing all sorts of crap he didn’t need to be doing. Then you get that, “Oh, I’m late! Oh Lord, Oh God, Jesus!” You [start] praying.... and then it’s gone, but you go back doing the same thing. That’s how it [life] got [for me]. I got to the point where I couldn’t even feel God anymore and that’s a scary place to be! Especially when you can see people all around you, and you can tell they’re in God’s presence and you ain’t getting nothing! You’re like, “Oh my God! How far have I gone?” It’s been a trip getting back, but it’s been a blessing. It’s made me stronger. So, that’s my message - “The same things that God did for me He can do for you as well.”

What is the ultimate goal or vision of your music and career?
I want to do something that has never been done in Christian music. Christian music is a force just like secular music. More than anything though, I have a heart for outreach. And I want to take the music and do that. A lot of folks are like, “Man, we're sending missionaries to Africa; we're sending missionaries to this place....” Well, why don’t we send some folks down to South Alabama [and to] the black belt area down there? There’s nobody going down there ministering to them. So, that’s what I want to do. I want to go to the places that folks don’t want to go to. And it’s not about recognition; that’s irrelevant right there. It’s about saving souls and having a rap ministry on the scale of what Billy Graham does.


- Angela Miller, FCCC Publications Ministry


Discography

ON the III- 2009

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Bio

Tre’ the III

Christian music has become a breeding ground for saints stomping for Jesus and Birmingham Records’ newest artist TreIII is taking his place in Gods’ army. Debuting his album On the III, what TreIII is introducing is an inspirational Christian rap that wins souls and crosses all age barriers. Coming from Birmingham, Alabama (the ‘Ham’), Tre grew up in a sanctified home where God’s rule was the house rule. He believes that his life’s roadmap was written early on. He got saved at age four and from that point was destined to be more than someone who warmed the pew at church. Tre.. loved music and began rapping when he was 12. He wasn’t influenced by the mainstream hip hop scene. He couldn’t spit a verse from LL Cool J or even name one of his biggest hits. His love, instead, for Christian rap was born from listening to his music idols Toby Mack and DC Talk, who are known pioneers in Christian music. Affirmation wouldn’t come later until he began to work and share the stage with greats like Kirk Franklin, Cee Cee Winans, Jars of Clay and more. Like few kids in this age, Tre.. grew up in a two parent home and like most boys, loved sports. He was an exceptional athlete and was even recruited to play college football. This was his dream. He loved God and believed it was his will to go on to becoming a successful athlete. This dream came to an end when an injury sidelined him. Tre.. was lost and became transformed into someone who had it all on the outside, but crumbling on the inside. When his life began to spiral downward and dreams of suicide kept him awake at night, Tre.. knew his life needed a turn for the better. It had been a long time since he and God had an understanding and at some point they’d square up. Tre.. credits a close friend who saw his pain and encouraged him to renew his relationship with God. Listening to the passion and urgency in his lyrics, On the III is a moving and life-changing album. Tre.. is not just a musician, he’s also a minister with a message (Tre.. preached his first sermon at age ten). Tre has matured into a seasoned evangelist, preaching to thousands across the country in various church’s, conferences and youth events. He says, “If folks aren’t getting their life changed, I’m wasting my time.” Tre..s music has become his ministry. He added his songwriting and production skills to several of the tracks and teamed with producers John Nettlesbey, Jimmy Varner and Ernest Echols to fine tune the album. The remake of DC Talks’ Jesus Freaks was a must have on the album. The rap/rock song mocks those who think being all out for God is not normal. Tre.. also makes his presence known with the soon-to-be hit I’m Here and on the debut single, the soul soothing rap worship song, All I Need Is You. Even a Godly man needs a companion so Tre.. chose Christ-Like Girl to minister to the singles. “Music is the hook, but when the music stops it’s about winning souls,” says Tre. On the III is a collaboration of 15 tracks of soul-winning songs to soothe the heart and mind. Tre.. credits his mission in life to mend the broken and unify the Body of Christ. He says, “What God did for me, He will do for you. It’s more than just music…its ministry." It’s All GOD