ROX-TV is back with another interview from Michigan. Tonight, we talk to T.N.$. Dre about his aspirations to make it in the music industry. Read more here.

Welcome back to the ROX-TV website. As always, we appreciate the returning readers and welcome anyone who might be stopping by for the first time. Here at ROX-TV, we strive to bring you new and interesting content. Sometimes we talk about drugs, shitty movies, music, culture, art, poetry….and some things that aren’t even classifiable yet (give it time). We like to use our medium/platform to provide a space for people to exercise their freedom in creation. Not only that, but we don’t lock gates around here. If you have something to say, we have a piece of the soap box reserved. Sometimes we launch dumpster fires and other times we touch the silver lining. It really is anyone’s guess but that’s ok. If life stopped having individuals who were willing to try new things or at least get out of their comfort zone…this rock would get really boring in double quick time. Fuck that. The way I see it, we have been given this time and place to make some noise if we so choose…and whoever put the grand design together probably wanted it that way. So why waste the chance? Not today. We are forever pushing up that Hill and if you’d like to join in… the more the merrier.

I was working on some articles the other day when I was struck with an idea. It was a soft touch, but an idea just the same. I was thinking as the smoke swirled around my head…”we do a lot of coverage for established artists…but are we doing enough to highlight the entire Pyramid”. As the words rattled around my cage, I took another drag off the doobie and pushed on. I suppose what I was getting at myself about…was this idea that all levels or stages of the game have value. I knew that already or I wouldn’t have brought it up to myself…I guess I just needed to think out loud. You know the deal…talk it out. Sometimes it helps get you where you want to be. And besides, what have you got to lose? Maybe someone that needs to hear you will. So, I had hit this brief introspective point, fueled by lack of sleep and marijuana…and I wanted to do more. I decided to start a series about “aspiring rappers and artists”. It made sense to me because every person who has ever skipped across a stage, at one time…was alone writing songs and dreaming big. Everyone has done this.

No MFER was born on the stage that I know about, maybe a travelling show, but not on stage. Everyone has to find their way. No one is immune.

So, I figured what the hell, a new series was born in that moment, and I decided to dedicate some space to the kids that are just starting out. I’m still working on the name of the series, but it will be a space to help the youngest performers in the community have somewhere to try out they’re developing ideas and styles. Now I already know some people are not going to resist the chance to put someone down for chasing a dream. I mean this is America, everyone can do what they want. But I would just like to say…over and over…that we all started somewhere. It’s kind of like driving a car. When I was a kid, driver’s training was fucking nerve wracking. I was nervous, driving like shit all over Flint, and everyone in the city wanted to kill the student driver in the shitty Buick Celebrity. So, when I figured out driving, somehow, I forgot how fucking bad it sucked when I was a student driver…opting for low hanging bad behavior. I did it. So what? But looking back now, it wasn’t cool. Maybe hazing is part of life, but it doesn’t have to be. You could offer some honest advice before skipping to ridicule. These young men and women are trying to figure out who they are with the music and I commend them. It is easier to guide a ship than sink it (most of the time). Ok, with that out of the way, we are going to head over to the Murder Mitten and speak with aspiring rapper TN$ Dre. Here we go…

Welcome to the ROX-TV lab. We are glad to have you with us tonight. So, before we get into the music that you are making, I’d first like to dive a little deeper. I’m into backgrounds and what influences people and events. I really believe that by listening to the sounds of the street, you can get a feel for what’s happening in a particular city or area. Can you let the readers know where you are repping tonight? 

“We in Flint reppin ESV, Southside Berry Patch”

Can you talk a little bit about what inspired your performing name? I was watching an interview you did with FLI TALK back in June I believe, and you were discussing the meaning with the host. If you could talk about the name choice and how you got to that philosophy?

“TN$ means “Trust No Soul” and “They Not Shit”,a lot of bull shit has happened in my life and i never really trusted people, one day i got jumped and my boy told me i couldn’t trust anyone, only the people I roll with. “Trust no one Dre, trust no soul… they not shit” and that’s what it means”.

How old were you when you “discovered” music for the first time? Not like digging on the parent’s tunes, but actually coming across something that got you excited.

“My first-time hearing NBA YoungBoy and like Jack Harlow, they always have been my faves and I just sat there and realized I could do the same with dedication”.

What were some of those earlier influences for you? What was it about those songs that hit home for you? 

“NBA YoungBoy and Lil Baby have shown me that even though you had or have nothing in life, you can always come up outta nothing”.

What was the time frame between the discovery of music for enjoyment and your first attempts at writing some raps? I guess, a better way of saying it was when did you get the bug to switch from being a fan of the music, to wanting to create?

“I was probably like 12-13…I was at the Boys and Girls Club and out of nowhere I just started freestyling. I mean like the worst you would ever hear, some of the adults were laughing and recording me. But not in a bad way, they knew a lot of producers and engineers. My first time being in a studio was with one of those people, Dee Golden with the SOTG (Studio On The Go)“.

I’m from the 810 and the area has a strong history of hip hop and performers. Who are some of the local artists that you consider to be heavyweight for the area? If you had a chance to perform with any Flint Town artists, who would it be and why?

“My boy BabyFxce E, I went to school with that man a while back, he has done nothing but skyrocketed into the industry and I’m nothing but proud. Anyone I could perform with? Shit… gonna have to be BabyFxce E or RMC Mike, both I know personally and they both just hard as hell”.

On to the music. So, I understand that you have a few videos and tracks up on YouTube. I was watching one of them called “Richest Opp“, which was shot by Armonie Toonz Visuals. The video looks clean. I noticed a lot of familiar ground in the backdrop. I think I used to drink beer in that parking structure before getting tattooed at Consolidated on Kearsley Street. But I got really excited when you filmed at “The Torch” in Buckham Alley. That was one place I spent over a decade in between getting inked up down the alley way. Yes indeed, that alley was always banging…what was the name of the other spot across the way? Oh yeah, “The Loft”. Did you guys ask to film there? Were they cool about it? Why that alley?

“Buckham Alley has been a part of my life since I moved to Flint when I was a youngin. The Loft has always been cool with me and my peoples, they didn’t mind us recording but didn’t want us to be a disturbance to the people inside. Buckham Alley is where everyone is, I mean the amount of people at the EDM event on Saturday 8/12/23?? Dude it was banging”.

As an aspiring emcee, what are some of the biggest obstacles in your way today? Like if you could wave a fucking magic wand in the air, what would be the three things that you would wish for that would assist in your journey into the world of Hip Hop?

“For finding studios to be fuckin easy #1. #2 my nervousness and anxiety from what I’ve delt with in the past (TNS meaning part). #3 for everyone to at least give a youngin a chance”.

I understand that you are only 17 years old. Do you feel like your age helps you or hurts you in the industry? I was 17 once and I remember it being hard to get people to understand what I was putting together. Shit, I’m 43 and I still feel that way sometimes (laughter mixed with dope smoke).

“It more or less does both, I’m a young artist in some people’s eyes, in others I’m just another white rapper. Honestly you could hear it in “richest opp”. People just lower their guard around me and all that so to be honest, I do not mind the hate, it does help me”.

If you had to describe your music to a total stranger, what would be the sales pitch? Like, you got forty seconds to sell a new fan on your shit…what’s the pitch? Why should people care about the music you are making?

“Yo how you doin? I’m TN$ Dre, upcoming artist out of yo hometown, the 810. I make a mix of music going from murder music to motivational shit… shit to get yo ass drivin fast as hell down the highway. Would you consider takin a listen mah boy?

What are some of the topics that you cover in your music? Do you mix real life in there, or are some tracks akin to social commentary? 

“I mix real life shit in my music. A lot of the time people are pussy and don’t do anything besides internet talk (use the internet to talk shit) and I mention that in a couple of songs. You would have to describe what you mean by social commentary, but I mean its music that could be played outside in a public setting, its jus also like super aggressive”.

As far as the music is concerned, where can people find your content for purchase?

“You can find my content on YouTube, with Spotify and Apple music coming soon. For my merch, I have a merch line in the works and once that’s done everyone can buy some and be part of the TNS family”.

Can you talk a little bit about the music scene in Flint? What is the vibe there?

“Theres a lot of different genres and collections. anywhere from bands, soloists, groups and everything in between to be honest. The music scene is more rap and aggressive murder music now, but a lot of the bands are starting to pop through”.

Do you have any hard copies/physical copies available of your music?

“In 2019, a CD was released by SOTG, which featured my music. At the time I was twelve or thirteen”.

You’ve been adding videos pretty consistently, can we expect more videos in the future?

“Music videos? Hell yes, I love shooting videos. Droppin songs? Hell yes. I love to hear feedback from everyone”.

What does the rest of 2023 look like for you? Any shows or new tracks coming?

“As many shows as I can get involved with and a lot more songs and releases coming soon”.

That’s about all the time we have, but before we go…I like to give artists a chance to kick down a few shout outs.

“Yessirr shout out to ROX-TV for letting me do this interview. Shout out to Jay Statz and Armonie Toonz (visuals) for getting me to where I am today. Shout out to my brothers and sisters in the music scene and in Flint in general, much love to yall. Thank you”.