Billy Drease Williams Explained
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]
The Art of Hip-Hop
Billy Drease is the Executive Director of The Art of Hip Hop, a not for profit organization dedicatedto "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- Released: 2003
- Label: Velour
- 12" with fellow Buffalo native Alan Evans of Soulive. Limited release.
|
Classics- Released: 2008
- Label: Deep Thinka Records
|
I Like It/D.U.I.- Released: 2008
- Label: Deep Thinka Records
- 7" single
|
Rebel Radio 45- Released: 2008
- Label: Deep Thinka Records
- Mixtape produced by DTR45
|
Good Evening Billy- Released: 2009
- Label: Deep Thinka Records
|
Good Morning AMY- Released: 2010
- Label: Deep Thinka Records
|
Forbidden Tracks- Released: 2011
- Label: Deep Thinka Records
| |
External links
Notes and References
- http://www.buffalospree.com/Buffalo-Spree/December-2012/Buffalo-Game-Changers-Edreys-Wajed/ Buffalo Game Changers: Edreys Wajed – Buffalo Spree – December 2012 – Buffalo, NY
- http://www.gamefaqs.com/xbox/920177-espn-nfl-2k5/faqs/31361 ESPN NFL 2K5 (XBOX) Milestones/Crib Unlockables FAQ by JPaterson
- https://www.amazon.com/MEKA-54/dp/B003FG88Q4 MEKA 54: Music
- http://www.buffaloplace.com/popupleaf/gallery51/409 Gallery 51
- http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2009/02/05/stat-quo-checks-balances-mixtape/ Stat Quo – Checks & Balances (Mixtape)
- http://www.datpiff.com/Stat_Quo__QuoCity.m29018.html Stat Quo – QuoCity // Free Mixtape @
- http://www.negativland.com/albini.html NegativWorldWideWebLand
- http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045767/edreys Edreys
- Swinnich, Anthony (2008-04-02) Edreys: An Up-And-Coming WNY Rapper. buffalorising.com.
- http://www.rapreviews.com/interview/edreys2010.html RapReview Feature for June 15, 2010 – Billy Drease Williams Interview
- http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/06/billy-drease-williams-good-morning-amy-cd-release-party.html Billy Drease Williams: Good Morning Amy CD release party
- https://web.archive.org/web/20120314153038/http://dopealot.com/2009/06/nxne-2009-hip-hop-extravaganza/ NXNE 2009 Hip-Hop Extravaganza
- http://cmj.thesocialcollective.com/events/event/3328
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUyn9KXf8E4 Billy Drease Williams – Just Doin' It
- http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/08/important-community-event-lives-on.html Art of Hip Hop: Community Event at the AKAG Lives On!
- Web site: John Baker, Julia Bottoms, Chuck Tingley, and Edreys Wajed: The Freedom Wall, 2017 . Albright-Knox Art Gallery . 14 October 2018 . en.
- http://artvoice.com/issues/v9n17/best_of_buffalo_winners The 2010 Winners List
- Web site: At the Robeson, a hip-hop 'Hamlet' - Gusto - the Buffalo News . www.buffalonews.com . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20120720181846/http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/gusto/article12667.ece . 20 July 2012 . dead.
- http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n19/best_of_buffalo_winners The 2009 Winners
- http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1287774/Wednesday.Night.Concerts/Wednesday.Night.Concert.with.Edreys.Wajed Wednesday Night Concert with Edreys Wajed | WBFO
- https://web.archive.org/web/20120312054001/http://www.rapattacklives.com/charts_324.htm Top 30
