1. Artist name and where did it originated from?
My name is Drew Prince and "Drew" is just short for my full name Andrew. I liked Drew because I felt Drew Prince had a pretty cool ring to it, and not too many producers use their birth name for the most part.
2. Where are you from?
I am from Detroit, MI born and raised. I graduated from Hampton Univ in 2013 so I lived in the 757 area of VA for 4 years and I been here in Charlotte for about 3 years.
3. Influences/inspirations?
Anybody that knows me knows that I'm the biggest Dilla head ever. J Dilla is one of the reasons why I produce now. Also along with him would definitely be 9th Wonder, Pharrell/Neptunes, Pete, Preme," The Old Kanye", the Soulection crew, and the list is honestly endless as far as that. Along with Hip Hop i'm also a very huge Jazz head as well. I almost always have groups like The Robert Glasper Experiment, Zo!, and BadBadNotGood in heavy rotation.
4. What makes your music different than other producers ?
One of the biggest things that make me stand out the most is that you can never put a name on any of my beats or songs. Often I see producers label their tracks as "Kanye type beat" "TDE influenced track" "N.E.R.D type beat" and so on. I would never compare anything I make to somebody else. I feel that it is my job use exactly how I feel and whats on my mind or every track I make, and it is the artists job to apply that track however he may hear it. That's what makes music so genuine. It defeats the purpose if I say a beat sounds like something that's already out.
5. Dream collab?
Hmm I don't necessarily have a "dream collab" but I do have a laundry list of artist I want to work with. The first ones that would definitely be on that list would be April+Vista, and EarthGang. Both are up and on the rise and I think the dopest thing about it is that I know them both personally. I went to Hampton with both groups. Lute also falls in that category as well. Even though I don't know him personally, he was in the same circle of the creatives in Charlotte that I work with today. All of these stories go to show if they can do it and make it, then I can definitely do it and make it as well. Others I'm trying to work with in the near would definitely be the Soulection Crew, Goldlink, Clear Soul Forces,Nolan the Ninja Autumn, Sidenote, and that list goes on as well.
6. Favorite producers and why?
As I said earlier of course off back I'm gonna say Dilla, 9th, Pharrell, Pete, Preme, Kanye. But I treat them as the high archery. When I hear favorite producer I think of people that know personally and on a similar platform as me. Those people would definitely be BlaaqGold, Heizzenburr (formally XLNCE) FLLS/SpaceDad, my Jazz Hop Village fam Blacksmith and Blessdgirl, JrSwiftz, DAG, and Nolan The Ninja just to name some. I'm almost faithfully on all of their soundclouds and IG's vibing and studying them.
7. Where do you see yourself In 10 years?
10 years from now I plan to open a record store where I will fully work and create out of. Out of the store I will run an after school music program where kids will come to learn music theory,and a 4 part program where you can DJing, producing/make beats, songwriting, and an instrument. Of course as I'm working that ill also be working to grow and become well known in the hip hop world and the ultimate goal of taking home a Grammy one of these days.
8. Favorite album?
I'll give you 3 lol. 1. Little Brother x The Listening, 2. Slum Village x Fantastic Vol. 1 , and 3. ATCQ x Midnight Maruders, all 3 of those albums pretty much explain how my Hampton experience and how my "HBCU" experience was to the tee.
9. Upcoming projects?
I'm am currently working on my 2nd Compilation Album "Prince Coleman Lincolnshire" which will drop later this year in 2018. Pushing for a late 2nd quarter/early 3rd quarter release. I'm actually dropping the first song off of the album "Daily Ft. JoeSig" this Friday on drewprincecreates.com and all streaming platforms. Really excited about this one.
10. Fun fact about you?
I got 2 actually lol. 1. along with production, I am also an Alto Saxophonist, I've been playing for over 15 years and still play today. Holla at me if anybody needs any sax parts your music. and I also do photography, I've been shooting since about mid 2015. 2. I'm a music teacher here in NC lol, that's actually what originally brought me to Charlotte in 2014.
