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| Lion Dre |
My featured artist for May is Lion Dre. The first track I heard from him was Ain Outchya, which featured Deh Wapp. Lion Dre is a rising talent with aspirations for greatness. These are his words.
Who is Lion Dre?
Lion Dre is from Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands, and I am a global, authentic, all-around VI artist. When I say VI, I mean not just the Virgin Islands, but versatile, international. I'm an all-around artist - I don't limit myself to one genre. I’m very humble and I'm that person in and out of the studio that you can depend on to get the job done.
Who's the team behind you?
My team consists of my whole village. They say it takes a village to raise a child; I’m in my 20s and realize it also takes a village to maintain an adult. That's the best way I could put it because independence is cool, but it's also cool to have codependence and know you have genuine people in your corner who support you. It’s not about the finances. It's more than that - just to have somebody believing in you and speaking life into you genuinely. My team consists of my whole village.
"Believe in yourself"
What inspired you to get into music?
I have a few inspirations including my father, Radio Andy. Radio Andy is his DJ and stage moniker. He was a person who walked around with a radio everywhere. He would have me as a baby in one hand and have his radio in the next hand. I feel like it's a genetic thing and it's just part of who I am naturally. While I was growing up, my father moved to the US and I would visit him during the summers. While visiting him, I was introduced to a lot of different music, whether it's old school reggae, 90s dance hall, dubs, and dubplates. He exposed me to different vibes like Mob Deep and other throwbacks.
Another one of my musical inspirations is a St. Croix artist named Dan Dadda. When I was in elementary school, I was exposed to his music and that's when I first realized that you could really be from home and actually make your own content. I have to 'big-up' Dan Dadda for that.
Next is my need to just express myself. I have a love for creativity, so I felt like it allowed me to express how I feel without being fully outspoken about personal things.
What has been your greatest musical achievement thus far?
This question is the one that made me look at myself like, 'Hey, you need to work a little harder.' That's me being honest because right now my greatest achievement is radio play - hearing my song play on the radio. Recently, I dropped a single with Mayah V called Slip Inside and it has been streamed on WPFW Radio in Washington DC and London, UK based on the statistics. Right now, in 2025, that feels like one of my biggest accomplishments in music thus far - just radio play. So more to come!
Who do you listen to?
I listen to different genres. I don't limit myself but the two genres I listen to the most are hip hop and rap, and of course, dance hall because I’m from the Caribbean. For Dancehall, I listen to Popcaan because he has good vibes in his music. Another artist is Vybz Kartel even though every song is not for every occasion. I also listen to Massika, Prince Swanny, Chronic Law, and for the females, Shensea or Spice. For hip hop, it would be Lil Wayne, J. Cole, Meek Mill, Ace Hood, Tupac, Mob Deep, Gucci Mane, Kodak Black, and some Lil Durk. These are my go-to's.
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| Lion Dre performing |
So what stage have you always dreamed of performing on?
In all honesty, I don't have a specific stage and I don't want to sound greedy, but I want to perform at all of them whether big or small. I could be on a big stage and not feel as much energy as performing for a birthday party. I feel like the size of the room doesn’t matter. It's all about the energy I receive and give back to the crowd reciprocally. Give me all the stages. I won't know until I experience it.
Who have you collaborated with?
Besides Mayah V, I have collaborated with Bloody Bear Bass, VI Jo, Michonde, Flizop, and Dapp Deh Youngin. I have some things on the way with stateside artists. I have collaborated with Tony La Clave from Maryland. He is originally from El Salvador so he's like that Latin - urban Latino. He doesn't limit himself either. He's very versatile as well and we’re working on a bilingual track called Patron. I have done some unique collaborations and I have more on the way.
In terms of international artists, who would who would you want to perform or write with?
Popcaan! It's funny because I originally started doing rap music and hip hop, but since we are versatile international - VI artists, we can’t limit ourselves. So, I have to say Popcaan. When I went through my little dark moments in life, Popcaan's music helped me get through some rough moments. I’m not just saying that to sound cool. I really mean it – his music helped me calm down my vibrations when I was going through some situations. So, I have to give Popcaan his credit. It's deeper than just music.
What are the plans for the rest of 2025?
With summer approaching and we're currently in May, the plans for the rest of 2025 include:
- We need to shoot more visuals and get more videos out there. People want to see the artists so I want to upload more content, whether reels or TikToks. It’s all part of the consistency. We have to shoot more visuals and upload more content.
- I want to drop a few projects, whether EPS, singles, or maybe an album.
- Last, but not least, I want to hit as many stages as possible, big or small. That's how we're looking for 2025.
What advice do you have for young people who are interested in music?
- Put God first because, in our reality, you can't do anything foundational or organic without putting God first.
- Stay true to yourself because you might be doing something to follow the crowd. But, is it really who you are or is it really for you? Is it made for you?
- Believe in yourself because you will have many days when people you expect support from may not be able to show up based on circumstances. It's going to take that self-driven fueling in you to keep things going.
- Wait your turn because you might be working hard and not get the recognition you deserve. But guess what? Today for me, tomorrow for you.
- Stay consistent because what you do regularly matters more than what you do once in every blue moon.
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| Lion Dre |
Please share something with the readers that most people don't know about you
Honestly, I can't live without music. Music makes everything easier for me, whether writing an essay, washing the dishes, or cleaning the house. If I don't have music, I feel I will lose my mind. Honestly, I don't want to sound crazy saying that, but it helped me in my roughest moments. It uplifts me in every other way. It's a listening ear when I can't vent to people, whether it’s an instrumental I’m speaking to. People may figure it out knowing I'm passionate about it, but I want them to know it's really that serious. I can't live without music for real.
Who would you like to shout out?
Shout out to my mother, my father, Radio Andy, my manager, Gino, and my right-hand brethren Ash. Shout out to my production team, BSG Ent (Buildin Sumtin Great), and the whole rest of the family.
"Stay consistent"
Is there anything else that you’d like to share?
I recently released a Shake It To The Max (LionMix), but it doesn't have original instrumentals so I haven't been posting it widely. It hasn't been posted mainstream, but it's still out there. I have other singles on the way and a project as well. Aside from that, I'm working on a few visuals right now and I have some other things on the way.
I just want the world to know, like honestly, I've been doing music for a while and I waited my turn for years and I just humbly want to say it's really my turn now. I ain't coming to take nobody's spotlight from them. We all can shine. They shine, you shine, he shines, she shines, we all shine. But it's Lion Dre’s turn now.
*****
As Lion Dre shared in the article, he has lots more to come. He's ready to shine and bless the world with his powerful voice, inspiring thoughts and amazing talent.
