In today’s NEXT UP interview, discover the lifestyle and rising career of 3.5 DRED, a rising star from the state of Georgia. From his childhood to his creative process, 3.5 DRED is opening up about all aspects of his life.
What is it like living in Atlanta? Also, have you lived in Atlanta all your life?
I am actually from Clayton County, but you can say that I am from Atlanta. I was born into a diverse upbringing, I saw killers and doctors. It made me a well-rounded individual that can fit everywhere. My family is originally from Bermuda, but they moved here when I was actually 3 and have been here since.
When did you discover that rapping was something that you wanted to do for a career?
I was sitting in a trap house and had a partner who was recording, and he made it look like it was so simple. I was like, oh let me see what I can do myself. Finally, I did it without so much difficulty and really liked it.
We can hear the 90s Hip hop and new age trap vibes in your songs. What do you like so much about that era of Hip-Hop?
I was raised by my grandmother, so I can say that I have an old soul. I just always felt like you can’t know where you are going unless you know where you came from. I always engaged with the past and the beats from the era before me. If it worked for Michael Jackson, it will probably work for me.
Who were your greatest idols growing up?
I am not really an idol person. I just always feel like everything is created equally. But I would say that I love Kobe, I would pick Kobe Bryant. The attention to detail to his craft, you can’t make any complex about it. If you can apply that level of attention to anything that you do, you have to be excellent at it. Always training, critiquing, and reviewing.
Speaking of basketball players, was your song Trey Burke, inspired by an NBA veteran?
Actually, yes. When I was in college, Trey Burke was going crazy! He was undersized but he still was that guy, and you always have to respect the people that was that guy. So you know, it is a little ode to my past, to Trey Burke.
Do you play basketball too?
I played a lot of sports, but I ain’t in no league.
What are you feeling in your body and mind when you’re out in the scene / in the studio? Or when you’re writing lyrics?
Usually when I am creating a song, my first thought is that I want to make a hit. But when you really think about it, it’s an introspective thing. I feel like Drake is one of our greatest artists because of his level of relatability; it is almost like he’s having a convo with the music, he is so introspective. So, when I go to the studio, I start to think to myself; am I trying to be too “rappy”? I try to listen to myself and how my followers would digest my music. I try to let the listener get to know me and my lifestyle.
What is your thinking process like? What are the steps to creating an exceptional song?
I feel like for some reason my Instagram is flooded with marketing strategies. So when you’re seeing the marketing process, the pinpoint is always to catch the attention of the listener. I always try to begin with something outrageous, something crazy that everyone is going to relate to immediately. When I got the first couple lines of a song, then I build upon it, it is like building a puzzle.
I will not walk into a room of non-black people and decide I am going to be different now. I am still the same me in every room I am walking into.
What were some challenges or challenges that you are still facing in your career, being a rapper?
I think being original is one of my hardest challenges. I am from Atlanta, so that means that I love Future and I love Young Thug. So you immediately got that undertone in your music. You need to remind yourself constantly that’s not who you are. That is probably one of my biggest challenges, to stay true to myself and what I am trying to express.
Lifewise, dealing with your emotions and not allowing those to tear you from your goals. That is my biggest obstacle. I went to therapy and learned that you can’t stress about stuff you can’t control.
When speaking of being original, you meant that your biggest challenge is to establish your own identity, right?
Yeah, I want that when people listen to me they’re like oh yes! That’s 3.5 Dred and not Future.
What are your short-term goals to finish this year in style?
I got a lot more music coming up, and can’t wait for everyone to hear it. My goal is to continuously release good music and great visuals to the right audience. My next goal is to publish these releases on my TikTok.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I see myself at the Grammys with Beyonce.
What does True Urban Culture mean to you?
True Urban Culture in America, it is a thing of being hard to be black and to have to live with that. That’s an uphill battle every day. I think that true urban culture is the essence of what it means to be black and to be black in America. That pours into music, arts, dialects, etc. We have our own language almost. And I try to stay as true to that as possible and to be unapologetically black. I will not walk into a room of non-black people and decide I am going to be different now. I am still the same me in every room I am walking into.
Make sure y’all follow me at 3.5 DRED on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter. 3.5 Dred’s is also available on all streaming platforms.
