Artist Spotlight: King Trill of Dallas Texas

Check out a new artist spotlight with King Trill of Dallas Texas below. Before the interview we uploaded a brand new single by King Trill called “Better Days” — listen to it here first and then get to know a new artist buzzing in the south below!

Who is King Trill? where are you from? etc..

I am the CEO of EMG records and one of the top upcoming rappers in the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex. I’m originally from Clarksdale Mississippi but I have been in Dallas for a while now. I have always had a passion for music and now I’m in a position to make it happen.

Being born in Mississippi and now living in Dallas, how has living in the 2 different areas of the south effected you style musically?

In the Sip, I grew under the Memphis underground scene. 3-6 Mafia was my favorite group and Lord Infamous (RIP) was my favorite rapper. When I was coming up, the music scene was more of the Crunk music.You had to have a song like Tear Da Club to really push through the Mid-South (Mississippi, Tennessee, & Arkansas). Back then I mostly rapped real fast like Twista. I had just started to slow down my flow right before I left. I moved to Texas in 99 and the music scene was more lay back. People in Texas mostly listened to Screw music. By the time I started back recording, around 2002, Swisha House was starting to come up. The music became a little more flashy, talking bout cars, jewelry, and clothes. It was a hard adaption because the 2 scenes were completely different. Everything from the slang to how the streets ran. I wasn’t releasing music at the time because I was more focused on building a label. But, I had to teach my artists how to make music that catered to both markets.

Are you strictly working with Dallas area artists and producers or do you get the chance to get back to MS to work with artists from your original hometown?

On the real, I still make music with the same people I started with. I just released a song entitled Money Ambitions produced by and featuring my partner AG Hustle. We grew in the same neighborhood in Clarksdale known as The Roundyard (RYD). My latest single, Keep It Trill, was produced by Captain Curt. We use to live in the same apartments out here in Dallas. But, I have worked with people from all over the country and over seas. I’m not your average Down South rapper cause my flow is versatile. I will murder Jay Z and Nas if you put me on track with them.

You grew up on the streets in Clarksdale MS around gangs, drug dealers, and a lot of violence – at what point did you decide to get into music and keep yourself off the streets?

There was never a point where I stayed away from the streets because that was just apart of life. But, when I was 13 I made the decision to stop using the word nigga, stop promoting violence, and just make motivational music. Even at that age, I knew that I had to be an example for the younger brothers coming up in the hood. I’ve always had that mentality that my music might blow up and I wanted positive feedback. I’ve always felt like mainstream rappers should be telling these young cats to stop banging and selling drugs not encouraging them. I’m not saying that everything I say now is positive. But, I am man enough to take responsibility for what I say.

Can you tell us more about your EMG record label, its mission, and some of your successes…

I started EMG in 2004 out here in Dallas. My goal was to build a company that had the power to independently promote and distribute music. We ran strong from 2004-2008 and sold over 20 thousand units out the trunk and in mom/pop stores. I released a compilation album entitled southern collision in 2007 and sold 5 thousand copies. I took that money and bought a house in 2008. I pulled out the game for a few years so that I could get my life situated. When I came back in 2010, everything had changed. Most of the mom/pop stores had shut down and everything was about the internet. So I had to start over and rebuild. I released an EP entitled My Life in 2010 just to learn about digital distribution. I got real good feedback from that project. It inspired me to want to get back into the business. In 2011, I released an Ep entitled Grind Hard and went on a promotional tour through Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, & Tennessee. I passed out about 10 thousand CDs, and performed in different clubs. That helped me establish my name on the streets. I spent most of 2012 learning about the internet. I released my first video in 2013 for my single Keep It Trill and its doing real numbers right now. At this point, I can say that I have a full understanding of the game. Right now, my main goal is to continue to brand the name King Trill globally. I want to be just as big as Drake or J Cole but still independent.

Many artists post music on Reverbnation, you were at the #1 spot in the Dallas area for 3 straight years. Normally its difficult to maintain that consistency for so many years with all the competition out there. How do you stay at the top of such a major market so long?

I just stayed consistent on my grind. I spent years going state to state promoting in the streets. So being able to sit at home and promote my music online was easy. The tour helped me out a lot too because I passed out over 100 thousand flyers. Most of those had my Reverbnation link on it. Overall, my music and presentation was better than most of the other artists. So the fans really got into my movement. You got a lot of artists on Reverbnation but most of them don’t really understand the power that it gives them. By me having real knowledge of the game I was able to take full advantage. I have about 84k plays across Reverbnation now and about 2k downloads.

How do you feel about the sound of music coming from the Dallas area compared to the rest of the south and the sound in ATL & Miami?

Most of the music you here today from anywhere sounds like Texas music. They basically took a Dallas beat and dropped a Houston flow to it. The only difference is that most artists form Dallas make twerk songs. These mainstream rappers are making street music to twerk beats. What can I say, they mastered the game

Have you worked with any major artists from the Dallas area?

I have done shows with a few but no collabs. We have had a few artists that was popping back in the day and some that have had a few singles break. But right now, there are only a few of us that are really out here pushing the city to that next level. I don’t really collab because my music is different. I’m more of a lyricist than I am a club rapper. At this point in my career, my goal is to be recognized as one of the next best rappers.

When is your next album “OPERATION TAKEOVER” planned to release?

The album will be released in August. This will basically be my introduction into the mainstream market. I have released a few singles on Itunes like Grind Hard and Keep It Trill. Both songs get crazy feedback across the net. But neither one of them will be on the able because I’ve decided to take it in a different direction. I want Operation Takeover to be a classic Hip Hop album. So I’m starting all over with the content and production. When I first started working on the album, I only had the power to promote to a southern audience. But now that I have took the time to build my name globally, I have a wider reach. So the music and quality has to be on point. I’m releasing the first promotional song off the album in a few days entitled Better Days. It was produced by Oklahoma City producer KT Majorway. The song is a direct reflection of King Trill and the album. I talk about how Hip Hop has changed for the worst. How these industry rappers are doing more to kill the spirit than they are to keep it alive. The video should be dropping by February. I think the fans will love it. I’ve been waiting along time to do what I love and I plan to put everything I got into it.

If you could work with one producer in the game, who would it be and why would you choose them?

I would work with J Cole because he is dope lyricist and producer. His music wraps around his lyrics. Most producers today are just beat makers. I like for my songs to have a certain vibe and atmosphere. I like for people to feel like they are right there with me.

Can you see yourself on a upcoming XXL freshman list?

I will be on the list soon. I posse qualities that exceed most rapper. My grind is beyond any other artist, I already have a strong fanbase, and I got lyrics that kill. For me to be new to the game, 100% independent, and have my name buzzing is unheard of. Everything I have done up until now was just about learning and building. I laid down the foundation, built the house, now its time to sell. Right now, I got the best house on the market.

Where can people reach you for bookings?

any booking should go directly through my website www.kingtrillmusic.com

Where can the fans listen to your material? & when can we expect another album?

They can listen to my music on Itunes or any of their favorite retailers.

Hit me up on Facebook and Twitter

www.facebook.com/kingtrillmusic

www.twitter.com/kingtrill1