European born and Los Angeles based Drei is a unique and authentic new voice in the hip-hop industry. Combining melodic flows with trap based hip-hop beats, Drei has quickly gained attention across the globe, gaining millions of streams over the last few years alone. Some of his most successful releases to date were the low-key banger “Loco” (2018); the rhythmic and exotic “Te Necesito” (2018); and “Closer to You” (2020), which featured an impressive collab with hip-hop legend Sean Paul. With his new single “Livin Fast”, Drei hopes to keep up the heat with this street influenced banger.
With all of the attention on Drei, Idols 2 Rivals was excited for the opportunity to talk to Drei in the middle of this hot streak, sitting down with him for an exclusive interview, transcribed below!
Idols 2 Rivals: What first got you into music?
Drei: When I was 19, unfortunately the doctor’s gave my father a small amount of time to live because his liver cancer was very advanced. I was really down about it, and I found my escape in two things – basketball and writing.
At the time I was writing a ton of poetry, but I was also obsessed with hip-hop since the age of 14. I was born and raised in Romania, and I was so incredibly far from New York City, which was the center of hip-hop. The closest I could get to hip-hop was listening to the music and watching videos, and also writing songs.
One day I was spending time with my father as he didn’t have much left. A friend of mine who was an urban artist, Razvan aka Sonny Flame called me and asked if I wanted to come by the studio.
I had met Razvan a few years earlier because he always saw me playing basketball. He told me I was the best player in our city of Ploiesti. He told me he was a music artist and he was making a music video for one of his songs, and asked if I could be in his video as a basketball player.
So I went to the studio that day and I was amazed by it all – the equipment, the sounds and just the entire vibe. I knew I wanted to make music at that very moment. I told Razvan I wasn’t just a basketball player, but a writer as well. That day we recorded a song together, that was my first track. I fell in love with making music and it’s been my biggest passion ever since.
I2R: What’s the meaning of your track “Livin Fast”?
Drei: Me and my producer Diny were talking one day about how life was moving so fast – we were making tons of music every day, we were working out every day, we were in the studio with different artists, writers, and engineers every day. Everything seemed to be falling into place faster than it ever had, and so we named the song Living Fast. In a big city like LA, opportunities come and go really quickly, and you have to be ready to capitalize on the right ones. Life comes at you fast, and the best minds are able to quickly analyze where it’s best to spend your time and resources.
When life is moving so fast, the energy of it all is incredibly powerful. So we set out to make a song with very high energy, and we are both into the drill scene a lot, so we wanted to add our own dimension to drill, and make something that sounded futuristic.
I2R: Who inspired you to make music?
Drei: My first inspiration came from US hip-hop. DMX was the 1st artist who captured my attention, when I was 14. I didn’t understand English very well, but his energy was insane, and I loved his flow. I bought a bootleg hip-hop CD in Romania, and one of the songs on there was the Ruff Ryders’ Anthem by “Onyx”. A few weeks later I was at a friend’s house, and we were watching Rap City: The Basement on BET, and the Ruff Ryders’ Anthem came on – and that’s when I found out the song was actually by DMX, not Onyx! LOL.
I became obsessed with DMX. One day my father gave me money to buy a new pair of basketball shoes. Instead I decided to buy two CD’s with that money – one was It’s Dark and Hell is Hot by DMX and the other one was Method Man & Redman’s Blackout! The CD’s were hyper expensive, my dad was so upset. I had to play in my old sneakers but I was so happy that I had those two CD’s. I must have listened to them hundred of times. And I actually got the name of the CD tattooed on the back of my right leg. Besides DMX, I really gravitated to Biggie, Busta and Tupac at the time. Those are the artists that first inspired me.
I2R: How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Drei: I have really found my artistic voice and sound in the last year or so. I would describe my music as a fusion of 90’s and early 2000’s hip-hop mixed with new trap and drill elements, with melodic overtones. I like to combine new sounds with the drum patterns from 90s and early 2000s hip-hop. That was such a golden era for hip-hop, and I want to pay it respect through an evolved sound, and with my personal voice and music infused.
I2R: What is your creative process like?
Drei: Me and my producer Diny are together almost every day. We listen to tons of music from different genres, and we discuss song ideas. Once we feel good about an idea, Diny creates the sound for it. We then write the song as a team. My creative process almost never stops, even when I’m sleeping I’m dreaming about music and new ideas just come. I’m also on the phone almost every day with my creative director, futurebrain, who is in NYC. He pushes me to think differently and without barriers, and asks me key questions to take my creativity to much higher levels – for music, for my brand, and for my broader businesses. He also helps me think more creatively from a spiritual standpoint – so we’re taking our minds to a supernatural realm. We’re not just trying to do what everyone else is doing.
I am also starting to create content on a weekly basis with my head of content and film/music director – Richard Stan – who also happens to be from Romania. And my label, Renegade Territory, is always part of all the music and branding conversations and creative too. My creative director, futurebrain, runs my label with J Val. Together with all my teams we are grinding, and we’re all cut from the same cloth – we want to write a new chapter in music and business, and we want to inspire as many people as possible.
I2R: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Drei: I just did a song with Rick Ross, which was definitely on my bucket list. I also just did a collaboration with Vory, who’s an incredibly talented writer and artist who I’ve been following for a while – he’s worked with so many artists like Kanye, Jay-Z, Beyonce, etc. I really loved his flow and I wrote a song called Pray for Me that I felt he would be perfect for. So I reached out to him on IG and we hit it off. When I played him the song in the studio, he was really feeling it.
I also recently collaborated on a song with The Game – and given that’s he a legend from LA, it was incredible because I’ve also lived in LA for more than 8 years, and I consider LA my home.
Some of the other artists that I want to collaborate with are Drake, Chris Brown, Damian Marley, Bruno Mars and Kanye. My label Renegade Territory has also been in touch with Bad Bunny for a collaboration – they worked with Noah Assad and Bad Bunny for his NFL Halftime show performance with J Lo, Shakira and J Balvin.
I2R: If you could go open a show for any artist, who would it be?
Drei: Drake would be at the top of the list. He’s managed to evolve the entire hip-hop sound and industry to the masses. And he’s Canadian and became part of the US culture. It’s not as far as Romania is, but I can identify with him and that part of his journey, because he’s also not from the States and had to get embedded into American culture. Needless to say he’s done an amazing job.
I2R: What is one message you would give to your fans?
Drei: What really motivates me to create is to inspire others. I was a kid from Romania who got inspired by American culture and it drastically changed the direction of my life. I want to tell my story because we can accomplish incredible things if we dedicate everything we can to reaching those goals. I want to give back by inspiring others and to teach them things that I learned along the way.
So many people told me I would never be successful in the American hip-hop industry. At times it definitely brought me down and sometimes distracted me, but ultimately I found the strength to keep going. So my message is to block out the artificial noise as much as possible, and to surround yourself with people that also want to accomplish incredible things and that share in your vision.
I2R: What would you be doing now if it weren’t for your music career?
Drei: I would definitely be a full-time entrepreneur. I’m actually an entrepreneur now, and I take a very business-minded approach to music too. There’s a ton of creativity involved in music, but you also need to have business skills to succeed, in whatever you do.
I don’t limit myself to one thing. I love music, but I also love business. The same way I want to work with the best artists in music, I want to work with the best business minds. I’ve been building out my own businesses such as hotels in Tulum, Mexico; a consumer beverage company named Alma Beverage; and real estate holdings across Los Angeles.
And I’m continuing to explore different sectors such as restaurants and food, technology-based companies in the entertainment space; as well as gyms and health centers. I also work out 6-7 days per week, and because of my father and his cancer, I also want to help people improve their health through my music, businesses and social media content.
I2R: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Drei: In terms of performance, I took a strategic pause over the last year to completely rework my brand and music foundation. I’ve been working feverishly in the studio, so I haven’t been performing. That will change and I will be performing again as I begin to release new music over the coming months.
I2R: How do you feel the Internet has impacted your music career? Has it helped it or made things harder?
Drei: When I look back at my time growing up in Europe, I wish we had the Internet! It would have been so much easier to discover music and to even distribute my own music.
The Internet changed everything, and so it makes it easier in many ways – but you also have to constantly keep on your toes because there’s that much more competition because of social media, YouTube, digital distribution, etc.
Right now we’re working with my label and our creative agency to develop our approach to Tik Tok and other emerging platforms like YouTube Shorts, and so on. Digital is the key outlet with music and business, so I’m highly focused on all aspects of it.
I2R: What is your favorite song to perform?
Drei: I can’t wait to release all the songs that I have. Many of those songs have incredibly energy and I can envision an entire stadium singing along with me. I can’t wait for the world to hear them.
I2R: Which famous musicians do you admire?
Drei: Kanye because of his discography and incredible production – he’s a true unicorn. Michael Jackson, Bob Marley and Freddy Mercury. These artists transcend way past normal levels – they’re music superheroes.
I2R: What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Drei: My mother is so full of wisdom – she always encouraged me to follow my dreams and to never give up. Those words stuck with me – she gave me the courage to continue when I wanted to give up. My dad, before he passed, really made me feel amazing about my music career right when I started. I had one song recorded and he was already bragging to all his friends that I was going to be a huge artist.
I2R: What’s next for you?
Drei: I want to keep creating and building in music and in business. I’m obsessed about creating something out of nothing – there’s an incredible joy and energy that is part of the process of constructing something new. I want to enhance the culture, teach the youth, entertain the masses, and transform lives through my music and businesses.
I’ve already been approached by casting companies – apparently my 6’3 frame and tattoos are appealing to casting directors. And I’m in conversations with some of the major labels.
I’m blessed to just be in a position to create, and to work with some of the most creative and strategic minds. I’m just getting started.
For more from Drei, follow him on social media!
Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
