Super Producer Tre Gilliam Talks Wanting to Play Ball at Yale and How He’s Spending the Quarantine Process
South St.Petersburg, Florida native Tre Gilliam was destined to play collegiate basketball as he was heavily recruited coming out of high school. He served numerous offers including a few Ivy League schools, and he had his eyes set to attend Yale University, but due to a career-ending injury, his hoop dreams were put on a permanent. However, Gilliam didn’t fold after receiving the news that his basketball career was over.
Instead, he decided to go back to his roots and his love for music. It is something that he has been passionate about since he first picked up his first set of drums at the age of three. If you were to ask him, he would tell you that his skill set for music is like second nature to the now, super-producer. He has gone on to help create beats for hits such as CubanLinks and 38Baby2 working long artists such as Kevin
Gates, RodWave, NBAYoungboy, Lil Durk, and YFNLucci.
Gilliam recently spoke with The Hype Magazine about how he has been spending the quarantine process and shared his desire to become a film director.
Several D1 institutions scouted you for your skillet on the basketball court. If you did not suffer a career-ending injury, what university would you have played for or would have elected to go overseas to make money immediately?
I would have attended an Ivy League school if I didn’t suffer a career-ending, and the one that I was leaning towards the most was Yale University. That is the school I would have attended rather than electing to play overseas after high school.
Who were some of your favorite players growing up that you modeled your game after?
That’s a tough one, but I would have to say some that I look closely to would be Derrick Rose, Allen Iverson, and even though I’m not a big guy, LeBron James. And that is because of James’ mindset to dominate on the basketball court, and he is my favorite player.
You are also a very talented producer, to say the least with hits such as Cuban Links, and 38 and Baby 2. Who were some of the producers that you looked up to growing up?
I would have to say Baby Face would be my number one. I would also say that I looked up to Timberland, and I definitely looked up to Zaytoven with the keys. Those are the top three that inspired me and Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs.
You have also been playing the drums since the age of three. How has that and the combination of being able to read music set you apart from your peers?
I feel like that foundation is something that I have been doing for so long. It has allowed me to set myself from my peers, and with me built by the playing of the drums has created the foundation. It is like it has become second nature rather than just trying to focus on it, and it has become more comfortable.
With all your success at such a young age, what still keeps you motivated to continue improving your craft?
I know that this is just the beginning. I also know what I have been able to accomplish without realizing what I was doing; then the sky is the limit for me. It has given me the confidence to believe in myself and my abilities.
What other business ventures that you would like to pursue outside of the music industry?
Once I have the opportunity to veer off into the film industry, I want to be a film director because it is something that I always have to get involved in. I have a pretty good vision for creating movies, and that is another realm that I want to pursue when I get the opportunity to.
Where does that background come from?
It is something that I have always been interested in, and when I started doing it, I discovered that I had a real talent for it. So, it was just another thing that came naturally to me as much as the music. It just came from trying it, and I learned that it was something that I enjoyed doing.
Anything new that you have been working on during the social distancing period?
The quarantine process has allowed me to sit back and get into my zone a lot more and just having to deal with what is going on the outside, but still being able to be locked in the house. It gave you a way to focus and allowed me to work harder and put in more hours on creating more music. Some of the things that I have been working on should be dropping soon. This time has given me the opportunity to reach out to all types of artists.
If you had to choose three artists that you have worked with yet, who would they be and why?
First, I would have to choose Meek Mill because he has always been one of my favorite artists since I can remember. He is someone that I believe is a young OG in the rap game. So, it would have to be Meek Mill, I want to work with Ella Mai because I want to get into the R&B space, and I think she is super talented. I have always been a fan of hers. The third person would be Chris Brown because I think he is a once in a lifetime type of talent.
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About the Author
Landon Buford Washington State Graduate Past Interviews include Grammy Award Winner Kenny G, David Banner, WNBA President Lisa Borders, What's Trending's CEO Shira Lazar, Ice Cube, NBC's Chicago PD LaRoyce Hawkins, Family Matters Darius McCrary, En Vogues Maxine Jones, Team USA Track & Field Member Norris Frederick, James Kyson, WNBA Great Lauren Jackson, and more.
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