Billy Drease Williams

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) Emcee, Producer
Years active 1995–present
Labels DTR45 Deep Thinka Records
Website Official Website
Official Blog Page

Billy Drease Williams (born Edreys Wajed) is an American hip hop 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 his 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 dedicated to "Educating the Future and Celebrating a Culture", achieved through the following guidelines:

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

Discography

Studio albums

Album information
Raw Intel
  • Released: 2002
  • Label:
MEKA 54
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Velour
  • 12" with fellow Buffalo native Alan Evans of Soulive. Limited release.
Classics
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: DTR45
I Like It/D.U.I.
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: DTR45
  • 7" single
Rebel Radio 45
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: DTR45
  • Mixtape produced by DTR45
Good Evening Billy
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: DTR45
Good Morning AMY
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: DTR45
Forbidden Tracks
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: DTR45

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Buffalo Game Changers: Edreys Wajed – Buffalo Spree – December 2012 – Buffalo, NY. Buffalo Spree. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  2. ↑ ESPN NFL 2K5 (XBOX) Milestones/Crib Unlockables FAQ by JPaterson. GameFAQs. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  3. ↑ MEKA 54: Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  4. ↑ Gallery 51. Buffalo Place. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  5. ↑ Stat Quo – Checks & Balances (Mixtape). 2DOPEBOYZ (2009-02-05). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  6. ↑ Stat Quo – QuoCity // Free Mixtape @. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  7. ↑ NegativWorldWideWebLand. Negativland.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Edreys. Billboard. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  9. ↑ Swinnich, Anthony (2008-04-02) Edreys: An Up-And-Coming WNY Rapper. buffalorising.com.
  10. ↑ RapReview Feature for June 15, 2010 – Billy Drease Williams Interview. Rapreviews.com (2010-06-15). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  11. ↑ Billy Drease Williams: Good Morning Amy CD release party. Buffalo Rising. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 NXNE 2009 Hip-Hop Extravaganza. dopealot.com (2009-06-17)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1
  14. ↑ Billy Drease Williams – Just Doin' It. YouTube (2010-07-19). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  15. ↑ Art of Hip Hop: Community Event at the AKAG Lives On!. Buffalo Rising. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  16. ↑ The 2010 Winners List. Artvoice.com (2010-04-28). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ The 2009 Winners. Artvoice.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  19. ↑ Wednesday Night Concert with Edreys Wajed | WBFO. Publicbroadcasting.net (2008-05-29). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
  20. ↑ Top 30. rapattacklives.com. Issue #324, April 14, 2008

External links