Dre Future is a performer and model currently living in Denver and getting ready to make very large waves in 2014. When I got a minute to catch up with him we talked about where he came up from, influences, and his clothing company. We touched on the state of internet marketing, the importance of a handshake, and the appeal of live shows. With a goal of spreading positivity and leaning away from the usual image of guns and drugs, his plans this coming year are to perform as much as possible, and gain huge momentum from the Rocky Mountain Region. While the nation itself is desperate to move into an era without bloodshed and turmoil, there are truly only a few individuals steering the ship in the correct direction; and captivating people from the stage at the same time. His tunes are available at:
Were you rapping way before you attended Columbia in Chicago
or is that where you really starting getting into it?
Dre:
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I first started rapping and making music in 2008
towards the end of my senior year of High School with a couple of really good
friends of mine in a group we use to call Cool R Us. My first love was still
basketball at the time, but when that didn’t work out as planned I started
focusing more on music and transferred to Columbia College Chicago to improve
my skills and give myself a better opportunity to succeed.
What are some of the most influential albums you have ever listened to?
Dre:
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Some of the most influential albums for me are
the first two Lupe Fiasco albums(“Food & Liquor” and “The Cool”) Common’s “Be”, Kanye West’s “Late
Registration”, Nas “Illmatic”, A Tribe Called Quest “Midnight Marauders”.
Do you think live music and shows are still hurting and people just have to try and hustle money on merchandise, or do you think that ticket sales have turned the corner into the positive?
Dre:
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I truly believe that giving people a live show
is the best way to engage fans and even help sell merchandise. When you put on
a great performance as an artist and give people a unique experience then
ticket, merchandise, and album sales will increase because then the fans have
such a good time that they want something to take home with them to remember
how much fun they had and to support the artist that provided them with that
experience.
What is Denver like compared to Ohio in terms of crowds and support? Is it more laid back?
Dre:
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Well I’ve actually done a lot more shows in
Denver and Chicago than I have in Cincinnati so far in my career mainly because
I haven’t really been living there since I graduated high school. But Denver
crowds have definitely given me the most love and support during my live performances.
Do you have a favorite superhero theme, or is that persona more about what you think kids should be thinking about and ending the violent cycle we see today?
Dre:
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The superhero based theme for my style of music(Superhero
Hip Hop) and clothing brand(Future Man) is definitely more centered around helping
today’s youth to think in a more positive creative light. Most rappers talk
about guns, drugs, money and violence which creates a false image for kids to
follow and starts the that negative cycle. I look to provide a fun, unique and
exciting way to inspire people to want to be more positive and help others. I
hope to inspire kids to look within themselves to become the ultimate person
that they want to be no matter where you come from. Why just be a hero when you
can become a SUPERHERO!
Did it take a long time for you to craft lyrics, or did it come naturally? Is it fearful, or just second nature?
Dre:
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The way that put together my music it usually
takes me a long time to craft my lyrics. That’s mainly because I take the time
to think about every lyric I write to make it very meaningful and shape it
intricately to the beat so that I can change my flow up at any time and offer a
larger dynamic of enjoyment for the listeners. Writing lyrics is slowly
becoming second nature to me, but I do still experience writers block
occasionally when I have a powerful message I want to covey to the listeners,
but struggle with finding a unique way to do so that will capture their
attention and not be so complex that it’s hard to follow.
What were the first items that inspired you in the realm of fashion and design? merchandising is now truly one of the keys to success.
Dre:
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What first really inspired me in the realm of
fashion was when I moved to Chicago. I started getting in the modeling world
meeting a lot of designers and photographers and developed a strong interest.
Columbia College Chicago is an arts school so I started taking fashion design
and art classes to gather all the knowledge I could about the business and developed
my own clothing company(F.S.W) with two other really good friends of mine Daryl
Wright a photographer from Jamaica and Michael Amaning an actor from London,
England. We took our individual passions and put them all together in the
fashion realm to form styles unique and different that appeals to most
demographics.
Do you see the role of social media like Twitter as more important than ever, or is beating the pavement with flyers and real prowess better? There sure are opinions on both side of the debate.
Dre:
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Personally I feel that hitting the streets with
CD’s and fliers and actually being face to face with people makes more of an
impact. Anybody can make a post online and tag people in it and most of the
time it’s getting ignored anyway. A smile, a hand shake and a short
conversation can go long way with the right people and it makes a more lasting
impact because they have the opportunity to look you right in the eyes and see
your true passion for what you’re presenting to them.
What are some of your favorite artists now, and beyond?
Dre:
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Some of my favorite artist right now and beyond
are Kendrick Lamar, Ab- Soul, J.Cole, Big K.R.I.T, Lupe Fiasco, Dizzy Wright,
Tech n9ne, Rittz, B.O.B, Asher Roth, Common, The Cool Kids, Pac Div, Dr. Dre,
Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Most Def, Tupac and Biggie
Smalls. I’m sure there’s more but that’s all I can think of right now...
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