Trying to put Brandon De’Sean into one creative box might be the quickest way to misunderstand him.

The Washington, D.C. artist has been developing a sound that moves between hip-hop, alternative influences, emotional storytelling, and now punk rock, using music to explore everything from ambition and relationships to pressure, love, disappointment, and personal growth.

Records including “No Smoke No Pressure,” “Meant To Be,” and “You Love Me” introduced different sides of Brandon’s evolving artistry, but his latest release, “Fake Love,” pushes that experimentation even further.

With a darker emotional edge and punk rock-inspired sound, “Fake Love” represents an artist increasingly willing to step outside of what listeners may expect from him.

And music is only one part of Brandon’s creative identity.

V-Henny: You’re an artist, but you’re also a manager, host, curator, and interviewer. You’re constantly helping other people be seen. Has there ever been a moment when you realized you were pouring so much into everybody else’s career that Brandon the artist wasn’t getting that same energy from you?

Brandon De’Sean: Brandon the artist will always be here regardless even in spirit. I’m like unlimited mimosas, I’ll keep pouring until the time is up and then its my turn to close lol

V-Henny: Your music touches on ambition, relationships, pressure, and personal growth. Which one of those subjects is the hardest for you to write about honestly—and what’s a truth you’ve put into a song that was difficult to admit outside of the studio?

Brandon De’Sean: It’s harder for me to write about pressure because people expect me to always be good and sometimes I’m not. Its a different type of vulnerability that I don’t like to share for real but I do what they beat tells me where to go. Every song I write is the truth I don’t lie in my music if i dont have it or don’t do something I wouldnt say it.

V-Henny: “No Smoke No Pressure,” “Meant To Be,” and “You Love Me” show different sides of your sound. If those three records represented three different versions of Brandon De’Sean, who is each version—and which one is closest to the man you are today?

Brandon De’Sean: Meant To Be and You Love Me is the lover boy while No Smoke No Pressure is me talking my shit and me telling people that its my time, I’m here. 

No Smoke No Pressure is the staple it will always be me and forever be the closest but then again everything that I write comes from me and all of it is who I am today.

V-Henny: Then you make a record like “Fake Love” and step into punk rock influences. What was happening creatively or personally, that made your usual sound no longer enough to express what you wanted to say?

Brandon De’Sean: A “Ex” started doing weird shit outta no where after we been broken up for a while so I was confused and lost when things started happening. I was just like I don’t want it and F U too.

V-Henny: Let’s stay with “Fake Love.” Fake love can come from relationships, friendships, family, or even the music business. Without naming anybody you don’t want to name, what experiences taught you how to recognize when someone’s support isn’t as genuine as they make it seem?

Brandon De’Sean:  I always know when somebody really don’t like me like how they say they do whether its friends, family, relationships, and more. I can feel it. I know when things change and i know that fake smile and can feel like coldness from a fake laugh because it has no soul in it

V-Henny: Crossing genres can be risky because once people understand an artist one way, they often want them to stay there. Have you ever worried that experimenting too much could confuse your audience, or is refusing to be predictable actually part of who Brandon De’Sean is?

Brandon De’Sean:  I’m a music head and some people just not going to like everything but thats life. If the song good it will hit the way it should.

V-Henny: As a manager, you probably give artists advice about their careers, branding, consistency, and decisions. What’s one piece of advice you regularly give your artists that Brandon the artist is actually terrible at following himself?

Brandon De’Sean:  I’m a hypocrite because I would tell you how you should do this or that because its the right thing but me I be like forget it or I don’t care. I just want people to win whereas me if I make a mistake its a learning lesson so my artist wouldn’t make that same mistake.

V-Henny: Being an interviewer means you’re normally the person asking the questions. So here’s one you might not normally get asked: What part of Brandon—the man, not the brand—do you think people around you benefit from the most, but rarely stop to ask if you’re okay giving?

Brandon De’Sean:  My time I feel like even thought I may have it doesn’t mean I want to give it.

V-Henny: You’re actively trying to help push DMV music culture forward. From your perspective as both an artist and someone working behind the scenes, what does the DMV have creatively that the rest of the industry still hasn’t fully recognized—and what do you think is holding the region back from getting that recognition?

Brandon De’Sean: I always felt like pride and ego gets in the way and it’s mad annoying. We good but we can be so much further if every community in the music scene could come together, like actually come together so we can take it over like we should.

V-Henny: Imagine everything you’re building works: your music grows, the artists you manage succeed, your events expand, and your platforms become bigger. When you look back, which accomplishment would mean more to you—knowing Brandon De’Sean became successful or knowing other people became successful because Brandon De’Sean existed? Why?

Brandon De’Sean: To be honest I can’t answer that question correctly. How I feel at the moment and what happened during the process will determine that but I know I’m going to fucking love it when it does.

Hip-hop today. Alternative tomorrow. Punk rock when the emotion calls for it.

The sound may continue changing, but the intention remains.

For Brandon De’Sean, finding his voice and helping others find theirs don’t have to be two separate missions. They can be part of the same legacy.

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darkskinordie

Tre K may describe his music as Rage Drill, but there’s more behind the energy than simply turning up.

Coming out of South Orange, New Jersey, Tre has built his artistry around a life he describes as colorful, unpredictable, and personal. Since 2021, he’s consistently released projects, singles, and visuals while allowing pieces of his real life to find their way into records like “Laces,” “Whos Fav,” and “Cookout.”

But Tre’s relationship with music started long before he stepped behind a microphone.

Growing up in close proximity to Lauryn Hill’s family, music was a constant presence in his life. His introduction to the industry would eventually become more hands-on when he interned under his mentor DJ Bobby Trends of Hot 97, giving him an early look at the business behind the music.

Those experiences helped shape more than an artist.

Alongside his team, Tre developed Money Well Spent, a brand rooted in music, events, community involvement, and creating an impact for young people. His work has since taken him across the East Coast, including performances alongside artists such as Cash Cobain, Bay Swag, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Rowdy Rebel, and more while working with Fluff Jones and We On Tour.

The résumé is growing, but résumés rarely tell you who an artist actually is.

So we wanted to go beyond the performances, connections, and turn-up records to find out who Tre K is when the music stops.

V-Henny: You describe your sound as “Rage Drill,” but you also put a lot of your personal life into your records. What’s something someone might completely misunderstand about Tre K if they only heard the energy of the music and never listened to what you were actually saying?

Tre K: They may think I was a wild child. When in reality I’m generally very calm.

V-Henny: You’ve described your life as “colorful” and “turnt up.” Give us one real-life Tre K story that sounds almost unbelievable but ultimately became inspiration for your music.

Tre K: Well recently I went to Curaçao with some friends and enjoyed the fruits of our labor, that turned into a song called Don’t Try, dropping on September 15th. While on this trip flexing was constant, I mean we did 10 bottles at club LIV (the only real club on the island) we hosted the afties at our pool air bnb, and we all tatted “Death Row” (my suggestion) because now the girls that came are gang for life. I could go more into detail on the trip but long story short it was a week of beaches and don juilo binge lol.

V-Henny: Growing up around Lauryn Hill’s family meant music wasn’t something you only experienced through TV or radio—it was close to home. What did being around that environment teach you about artistry before you even understood you were learning?

Tre K: Well, I think Mapso in general is a pretty artistic place compared to most places I’ve been in the world. It is very progressive. Ironically I remember one time being made fun of by Nathan Hill (her nephew) because I was singing in the back of the car when we were on our way to a sleepover. I remember thinking like “shouldn’t you be more accepting of this kind of thing” at the time. But that made me realize that most people only understand the things that they know. I would say knowing Lauren’s family has always given me Hope that it is possible to create my dream life.

V-Henny: Before becoming the artist, you got an inside look at the industry as an intern for DJ Bobby Trends at Hot 97. What did Tre the intern see behind the scenes that Tre the artist still carries with him today?

Tre K: EVERYTHING!! I think the memory that sticks with me the most is when I went to my first summer Jam when it was still in Met Life.  Bobby introduced me to Fat Joe and he told me “every time you step outside you are a representative of your personal brand” I definitely still carry that one. 

Overall I would say that internship helped me to understand what it takes to have consistent success and also how the entertainment industry in general can be erratic and a lot really depends on our current economy. 

V-Henny: “Money Well Spent or no money at all” is a strong statement. Where did that philosophy come from, and what does Money Well Spent represent beyond just being the name of your brand or team?

Tre K: Money Well Spent is my Set. We are all about progress and improvement. Where were you 6 months ago? And where will you be in the next 6. 

In order to associate yourself with us you will have to follow a certain set of rules that are meant to help people improve themselves. When we started we just wanted to have a positive impact on our community.

V-Henny: Your music carries a lot of high energy, but every artist has a side that doesn’t necessarily make it onto the stage. Who is Tre K when there’s no crowd, no music playing, no entourage and nobody to entertain?

Tre K: I’m an Anime Nerd, I’ll spend hours on Crunchyroll or playing Pokémon. Sometimes when I’m in a anime binge people won’t see me for 2 weeks lol.

V-Henny: You’ve performed alongside names like Cash Cobain, Bay Swag, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones and Rowdy Rebel. Instead of asking which performance was your favorite—what’s one backstage conversation, observation, or moment from being around established artists that changed the way you move in this business?

Tre K: I went to a Cash show on Coney Island (I did not perform this day) I think cash was opening for 50 cent actually. But that day I had a conversation with D Chambersz where he explained to me the importance of his relationships and how he was able to make himself a NYC staple.

V-Henny: You and your team have also made community impact and helping the youth part of what you’re building. Was there someone who poured into you when you were younger that made you realize, “If I ever get in position, I need to do the same for somebody else”?

Tre K: I honestly have plenty mentors. I’d say Bobby Trends was the most impactful. I saw first hand the way he helps and treats his team. Still to this day he is doing all the same things. I’ve been trying to catch up for a while lol. One day soon though!

V-Henny: You’ve been consistently releasing music since 2021. What’s one version of Tre K that you had to leave behind in order to become the artist and man you are right now?

Tre K: There was a version of me that was not willing to leave my friends behind for bigger opportunities. 

I had to get rid of that version of myself because I was only holding myself back. I still struggle with this sometimes it’s just not in my nature to move without the people I came with. 

V-Henny: Imagine somebody discovers Tre K through this article without hearing a single song first. They go listen immediately afterward. What three records would you tell them to play—in order—to understand your story, your personality, and where you’re headed next? And why those three?

Tre K: I would say 

1. Last: a good look into me and my personality

2. Laces: fun song, representation of my outside life 

3. New Chapter: a good look into life experiences. 

It’s easy to see the performances, hear the records, recognize the names Tre K has shared stages with, and assume you understand the artist. But Tre K’s story exists somewhere between the turn-up and the lessons that came with it.

From South Orange to getting an early education inside the industry, building Money Well Spent with his team, developing his own lane within Rage Drill, and using his platform to reach beyond music, Tre is creating something that represents more than another record or performance.

And as his audience continues to grow, one thing becomes increasingly clear:

The energy might introduce you to Tre K, but the story behind it is what gives the music its value.

For Tre K, it really is Money Well Spent or no money at all.

Apple https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tre-k/1338357469

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/13KzO5xKqrAtGtsHSuVp4v?si=ofbjRSbLSuaow1CYGv86XA&utm_source=copy-link

YouTube https://youtube.com/@trek6176?si=jeARtPsh6ho1kFgt

For e$quire, that self-assurance is part of the music.

There’s confidence and then there’s the kind of confidence that comes from knowing exactly who you are.

Born in the Bronx, the birthplace of hip-hop, e$quire has developed an artistry fueled by sharp lyricism, bold personality, humor, sexuality, and an unmistakable New York edge. But rather than simply following the blueprint of the city that raised him, he’s determined to create one that belongs specifically to him.

And that personality doesn’t stop when the recording does.

A natural performer, e$quire has stepped onto one of New York’s most intimidating stages twice, performing during the world-famous Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater. In a room where audiences are known for letting performers know exactly how they feel, commanding that stage became another chapter in developing the confidence that now defines his artistry.

But eventually, e$quire took his New York perspective outside of New York.

Expanding into the DMV introduced him to a different market, different audiences, and another opportunity to evolve without losing the characteristics that made him e$quire in the first place.

Projects and records such as Youngest In Charge Vol. 1 and “95 South” have continued building his catalog while introducing listeners to an artist who isn’t interested in toning himself down to become more digestible.

The confidence is obvious. The personality is loud. The ambition is there.

But what created the person behind all of it?

There’s humor. There’s sexuality. There’s grit. There’s confidence. And underneath all of it is an artist who understands that standing out sometimes requires being comfortable enough to let people see exactly who you are.

As e$quire continues expanding beyond New York and the DMV, the goal isn’t simply to carry the energy of his city everywhere he goes.

It’s to make sure that wherever he goes, people remember the name e$quire.

Music Links: linktr.ee/esquire4real

Some artists inherit talent. Others choose to nurture it into something unforgettable.

For Dre Tajai, it has always been both.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, into a family of musicians and vocalists, Dre Tajai discovered his passion for music at an early age. Writing and recording songs in the basement of his childhood home, he transformed everyday experiences into lyrics that reflected not only his own journey but the emotions many listeners struggle to put into words.

As a singer, songwriter, producer, and recording artist, also known as Yung Sensei. Dre Tajai has developed a style that blends introspective lyricism, melodic storytelling, and thought-provoking themes. His music explores personal growth, resilience, relationships, ambition, and self-reflection, creating songs that connect with listeners on a deeper level.

In an era where attention is often fleeting, Dre Tajai continues to focus on creating music with substance records that encourage people to think, feel, and find pieces of themselves within every verse.

In this exclusive interview with The Artistry Show, Dre Tajai opens up about his journey, creative process, and the experiences that continue to shape his artistry.

V-Henny: You grew up in a family of musicians and vocalists. Was there a
specific moment when you realized music wasn’t just something around
you, it was something you were meant to pursue?

Dre Tajai: I think around the age of 12 when I tried to push my dreams onto my friends at the time. Formed a rap group, gave everyone rap names and even wrote everyone’s verses. When no one showed up to the rehearsal I scheduled I realized this was something meant for me that I couldn’t force anyone else to care about or understand. 

V-Henny: You started writing and recording in your childhood basement.
Looking back, what do you remember most about those early sessions,
and how did they shape the artist you’ve become today?

Dre Tajai:  I remember my best friend and I putting our money together to buy a mic. It was only $100 or so but it was a good investment at the age of 13. At a point I remember being interested in basketball; when I wasn’t rapping, I was hooping. I told my best friend how I was thinking about letting rap go to pursue an NBA dream, he called me crazy. Not because he didn’t believe I could do it, but because he wholeheartedly believed music was the dream I was meant to pursue. That shaped my confidence along with my whole trajectory. 

V-Henny: Your music often feels deeply personal. Is there a song in your
catalog that taught you something about yourself while you were
writing it?

Dre Tajai: Man’s Image, The Hunt and Tammy’s Voice come to mind; couldn’t pick just one. They all showed me that I can transmute dark into light. Any pain or vulnerability I felt in life I could turn to a strength with the right focus and perspective. 

V-Henny: You wear many hats, artist, songwriter, and producer. Which role
challenges you the most, and which one brings you the greatest sense
of fulfillment?

Dre Tajai: I think the role of producer challenges me the most from a technical standpoint. I wasn’t familiar with the programming and software but I always knew how the music in my head should sound aloud.  Greatest sense of fulfillment is definitely being an writer/artist. Seeing a vision be brought to life, seeing an album thru from its’ infancy all the way to its’ release date, can’t describe it. 

V-Henny: Many artists create music for entertainment, but your records often
encourage listeners to reflect. What conversations or emotions do you
hope people walk away with after hearing your music?

Dre Tajai: I can tell you listened to my music by the way these questions are structured. I definitely encourage reflection but also discovery and alignment, things of that nature. I hope people feel heard and seen when they resonate with a bar or certain hook. I want people to embrace recapturing the truth we all are born knowing but inevitably lose sight of as we grow up. 

V-Henny: You also go by Yung Sensei. What’s the story behind that name, and
how does it represent your mindset both in music and in life?

Dre Tajai: I’ve been told ever since I was yung that I was wise beyond my years. Although I used to take it as a compliment and still do, it feels more like a burden at times. As pretentious as that may sound thats how the Yung Sensei alias came to be. Also something about the connection between the mind, body and spirit when it comes to martial arts and life in general led me to keeping the name. 

V-Henny: Every artist reaches a point where they question themselves. Can
you share a moment when you almost gave up or at least questioned the
journey, and what helped you keep going?

Dre Tajai: I can name several moments, they all seem to have come in recent years more than ever. I think what has kept me going is how far I’ve come. When you account for all the years, resources and belief systems invested, it makes more sense to continue on than to let all that be for nothing. 

V-Henny: The music industry often rewards consistency as much as talent.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned about patience, discipline, or
perseverance that every independent artist should hear?

Dre Tajai: I would say you’re not going to always feel like doing what needs to be done in order to see results. In fact I would say it gets harder to continue the work or show up especially when the results you expected are minimal or not there at all. The compound effect is real though, I firmly believe that so I rather it be working for me instead of against me. Even if it’s 10% one day and 90% another, continue to show up with whatever energy and commitment you do have and one day you’ll be glad you did. Thats how I see it at least. 

V-Henny: If someone had never listened to Dre Tajai before, which three
songs would you recommend first, and what chapter of your story does
each one represent?

Dre Tajai: I would say The Hunt, Forecast and Trips. The Hunt has been a fan favorite and definitely represents a moment of emergence for me. Forecast and Trips you get a good idea of my singing voice, especially Trips. Trips was very much a song I wanted to explore my R&B roots on, shoutout Keyshia Cole. Forecast is a song that gives me chills to this day because I can still feel how I felt when I first wrote it almost every time I return to listen to it. 

V-Henny: Imagine it’s twenty years from now. When people look back at your
career, what do you hope they remember most, not just about your
music, but about the impact you made?

Dre Tajai: I hope they remember I wasn’t aspiring to be anyone other than myself. I hope that reflects in not only my music but the choices I made along the way. I hope when they find a new song or revisit an old one it captures a moment in time for them, an emotional experience they can access anytime in their own vault of media and memories. 

For Dre Tajai, music has always been more than a passion, it’s a lifelong journey rooted in family, self-expression, and purpose. From writing songs in a childhood basement to building a career as an artist, songwriter, and producer, he continues to create music that reflects both his personal experiences and the emotions that connect us all.

Rather than following trends, Dre Tajai is focused on crafting timeless records that leave a lasting impression. As his catalog continues to grow, so does his commitment to authenticity, meaningful storytelling, and inspiring listeners through every verse. His story is still unfolding, and if the foundation he’s built is any indication, the next chapter is one worth watching.

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https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dre-tajai/1643067677