Billy Drease Williams | |
|---|---|
 Billy Drease Williams performing in 2009 in Buffalo, New York | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edreys Wajed |
| Origin | Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Teacher, artist, emcee, hip hop producer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | DTR45 Deep Thinka Records |
| Website | Official Website Official Blog Page |
Edreys Wajed, also known as Billy Drease Williams is an American hip hop artist, emcee, singer and producer from Buffalo, New York; known for his uptempo production, clean lyrics, and motivational messages. Billy Drease Williams started as part of a short lived hip hop group called The Elements (formed with Soulive members Alan Evans and Neal Evans) and later was one half of a duo known as Raw Intel (with producer Trevor "TrevThorne" Drayton). Acclaimed Music critic Jeff Miers has described him as “the most promising, adventurous, nigh-on-visionary hip hop artist Buffalo has yet produced.”[1]
Raw Intel found success early, placing five songs on the ESPN NFL 2K5 Video Game,[2] and producing a little-known but highly acclaimed self-titled album in 2002/2003. Billy Drease also collaborated with Soulive again for their Turn It Out Remixed Album and released a project on Velour Records with drummer Alan Evans, entitled M.E.K.A. 54.[3]
After the Raw Intel album failed to provide Billy with a viable major label deal, he focused his efforts on production and visual art: placing several tracks on films and television, including Lionsgate Films' "The Farce of the Penguins" and Lifetime Television's "Officer Down"; as well as opening an independent art gallery in Buffalo called Gallery 51.[4] Additionally, he produced several tracks for Atlanta-based rapper, Stat Quo.[5][6]
Soon thereafter, Billy Drease decided to embrace the industry's movement from mainstream to indie [7] and signed a deal with Buffalo-based independent label Deep Thinka Records, which then proceeded to re-brand themselves as DTR45. Creatively invigorated by the deal, Billy's first single "I Like It" – a raw chopped up rendition of a Betty Wright tune – secured features in Billboard Magazine[8] and on Myspace; and the accompanying music video was featured by YouTube and BET.[9]
Originally performing as solo artist under his birth name, Edreys decided to take on the moniker Billy Drease Williams right around the same time I Like It dropped. This change in stage name was both in homage to the actor Billy Dee Williams and as a way for the pronunciation of birth name to still be present within his stage name.[10] Billy Drease Williams has released three albums with Deep Thinka Records / DTR45, including Good Morning Amy – an inspirational hip hop album which garnered Grammy buzz[11] – and made several high profile features and appearances, including Warped Tour, NXNE,[12] and CMJ Music Marathon[13] performances. His hit single, Just Doin' It has proven to be his biggest commercial success to date, and the groundbreaking music video has received over half a million views to date.[14]
YouTube Encyclopedic
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1/3Views:521 369364 57464 171
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Billy Drease Williams - Run [Official Music Video - Long Form]
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Billy Drease Williams - I Like It [Official Music Video]
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Billy Drease Williams - Shut The Gate [Official Music Video]
Transcription
The Art of Hip-Hop
Billy Drease is the Executive Director of The Art of Hip Hop, a not for profit organization dedicated to "Educating the Future and Celebrating a Culture", achieved through the following guidelines:
- To educate the public on the importance of the preservation, appreciation and positive influences of the culture of Hip-Hop and all forms of music.
- To produce programming designed to improve scholastic abilities in math, reading and the sciences through after school tutoring, mentor-ship and educational excursions to help fight juvenile delinquency.
- To utilize the business behind the music industry to teach youth about entrepreneurship and business functions.
- To utilize the visual arts in helping youth express emotion and life issues, and help eliminate prejudice, discrimination and violence.
The Art of Hip Hop has been celebrated as an event/festival in Buffalo the past years, and is currently on its fifth installment.[15]
Career highlights
- 2019: Solo exhibition entitled PLAYLIST received recognition while on view at Flight Gallery Buffalo.
- 2017: Selected as one of four artists to create The Freedom Wall, an art installation located in Buffalo, New York.[16]
- 2012: Cover Feature of Buffalo Spree Magazine, as a Buffalo Game Changer.[1]
- 2010: Featured Performer at YouTube Musician's Wanted Showcase at CMJ New Music Marathon[13]
- 2010: Awarded 'Artvoice' Best in Buffalo Hip Hop Artist for 2010[17]
- 2010: Cast as the lead for "Death of a King", a hip-hop rendition of Hamlet.[18]
- 2009: Selected Showcase Performer for NXNE Festival in Toronto[12]
- 2009: Awarded ‘Artvoice’ Best in Buffalo Hip Hop Artist for 2009[19]
- 2009: Featured Performer for Hard Rock Cafe’s ‘March on Stage’ Event
- 2009: Named one of URB Magazine‘s Next 1000 Artists
- 2008: First Hip Hop Artist selected for WBFO Live Concert Series[20]
- 2008: Performer on 2008 Warped Tour Skull Candy Stage
- 2008: 'Now Hear This' feature in Billboard Magazine[8]
- 2008: Featured Artist of the Week on Myspace Music
- 2008: "I Like It" / "DUI" peaks at #4 on College/Internet Radio Charts[21]
- 2007: Lions Gate Movie: "Farce of the Penguins", Produced track for artist Flame
- 2007: First Place Winner – HOK Production Slam Poetry Contest
- 2006: HBO 'Unscripted' Reality Show, Produced track for artist Flame
- 2006: Lifetime Television Movie: "Officer Down", Co-Produced and wrote song for outtake: "Gang Wars"
- 2005: 4 tracks placed on ESPN debut video game ESPN Football 2K5 (800k sold) as a part of group Raw Intel
- 2004: Starred in Documentary by Ivan Rodriguez. "The Art of Hip Hop: A Short"
- 2002: 12" single with B side deal with Velour Records-NY/Red Ink Distribution
- 2002: Reebok Nationwide Radio Promotion for RBK product branding
- 2001: Buffalo Music Awards winner for "Best Hip Hop Producer"
- 1999: Buffalo Music Awards winner for "Best Hip Hop Artist"
Discography
Studio albums
| Album information |
|---|
Raw Intel
|
MEKA 54
|
Classics
|
I Like It/D.U.I.
|
Rebel Radio 45
|
Good Evening Billy
|
Good Morning AMY
|
Forbidden Tracks
|
References
- ^ a b Buffalo Game Changers: Edreys Wajed – Buffalo Spree – December 2012 – Buffalo, NY. Buffalo Spree. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ ESPN NFL 2K5 (XBOX) Milestones/Crib Unlockables FAQ by JPaterson. GameFAQs. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ MEKA 54: Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ Gallery 51 Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine. Buffalo Place. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ Stat Quo – Checks & Balances (Mixtape). 2DOPEBOYZ (2009-02-05). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ Stat Quo – QuoCity // Free Mixtape @. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ NegativWorldWideWebLand Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. Negativland.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ a b Edreys. Billboard. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ Swinnich, Anthony (2008-04-02) Edreys: An Up-And-Coming WNY Rapper. buffalorising.com.
- ^ RapReview Feature for June 15, 2010 – Billy Drease Williams Interview. Rapreviews.com (2010-06-15). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ Billy Drease Williams: Good Morning Amy CD release party Archived March 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Buffalo Rising. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ a b NXNE 2009 Hip-Hop Extravaganza. dopealot.com (2009-06-17)
- ^ a b [1] [dead link]
- ^ Billy Drease Williams – Just Doin' It. YouTube (2010-07-19). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ Art of Hip Hop: Community Event at the AKAG Lives On! Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Buffalo Rising. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ "John Baker, Julia Bottoms, Chuck Tingley, and Edreys Wajed: The Freedom Wall, 2017". Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ The 2010 Winners List Archived 2010-10-29 at the Wayback Machine. Artvoice.com (2010-04-28). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ "At the Robeson, a hip-hop 'Hamlet' - Gusto - the Buffalo News". www.buffalonews.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ The 2009 Winners Archived 2010-10-28 at the Wayback Machine. Artvoice.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ Wednesday Night Concert with Edreys Wajed | WBFO[permanent dead link]. Publicbroadcasting.net (2008-05-29). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
- ^ Top 30. rapattacklives.com. Issue #324, April 14, 2008
External links
- Billy Drease's Official Web Site
- GMA Official Web Site
- DTR45, Billy Drease's label
- Edreys Wajed Blog
- Billy's Myspace page
- "Adam's World: Artist Of The Week – Edreys". adambernard.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- "Edreys - The Sidewalk Scholar - Interview". March 31, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- "realraptalk.com". realraptalk.com. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- "Edreys Exclusive Interview". femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- "thisistomorrow.blogspot.com - Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - http://www.buffalonews.com/incoming/article9301.ece
- [2]
- http://www.buffalonews.com/incoming/article9215.ece
- "the art of hiphop at the yard | Search Results | Buffalo Rising". archives.buffalorising.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- "the art of hip hop 3 at the al 2 | Search Results | Buffalo Rising". archives.buffalorising.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- "Billy Drease Williams: Good Morning Amy CD release party | Buffalo Rising". buffalorising.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-11. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
This page was last edited on 12 October 2023, at 11:35