24: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are

Tre Deuce: My name is L-32 aka Tre Deuce, the producer, the writer, the artist, the engineer.

24: Before we get into your music, can you describe your history about how you got into hip hop and what inspired you?

Tre Deuce: I always had a love for all genres of music and liked a lot of talented musical people I started out in the church at the age of 14 in the choir, and then went on to playing the drums, but the interesting thing with that, is that I never had a teacher that taught me how to play the drums. I just went up there one Sunday and did it. I guess you can say I play by ear because that same gift trickled on to the piano as well. I can’t say that I had any once particular artist that I listened to growing up. Because I just loved anything that caught my ear. When I was in high school I wrote a lot of poetry even helped out some friends with my writing gift. I eventually got into songwriting, but during that time, I had no access to a recording studio so I had this Aiwa tape deck and I would use instrumentals that I bought and record songs to those with a karaoke mic. I would then take the tape and carry it to the radio station trying to get it played. To my surprise, one day the DJ actually took it and played it even though it was like real late in the night and the recording wasn’t industry standard, but that was very encouraging and influential for me.

24: What was the Hip-Hop scene like for you growing up where you’re from?

Tre Deuce: Well, I was born in Miami, but grew up in the Turks and Caicos. Now the Turks and Caicos at the time were strictly Soca music and culture music, so it was basically do that or do nothing at all. But the Hip-Hop scene at the time over there was still in the beginning phase and there were one or two artists over there at the time that were trying to do it on a Hip-Hop scale. Some of the names I remember were Cute and Fresh, Master Q, and P.S. They were like the Boyz II Men, Big Daddy Kane, AND KRS One of that time, then I came along. I’m looked at as one of the Hip-Hop pioneers in that country because knowing that this was a place that was strictly into one genre of music I still pushed the Hip-Hop and eventually got them to accept it. I did this by getting a job at the radio station as an ON AIR personality and DJ, becoming one of the big DJ names over there and getting into the clubs and pushing Hip-Hop and the local talent at that time because no one else was doing it. At first, it was very difficult, but life isn’t easy and if you want something that’s worth getting, it will always be a struggle, but you can’t stop.

24: What makes you unique as a artist and different from other rappers out now?

Tre Deuce: I’m way different from other rappers and artists out now because I’m what you call the ‘Hybrid of Music.’ I say this because I’m not just a artist or just a producer or just a writer or engineer. I’m all in one and I shoot my own videos. I don’t know anyone that’s doing all that alone and also my music speaks for itself.

24: Tell us about what you are working on.

Wem: Ok well, it’s a number of projects being worked on right now and also a number of projects that I have finished, about 9 to be exact, but currently pushing the Superstar album which is an R&B project that is meant to uplift you and bring out those feelings that you haven’t felt in a long time. The next project That I’m working on is called Braille and that will be out soon, so look out for it.

24: What producers have you worked with and who would you like to work with in the future?

Tre Deuce: Even though I do the majority of my production, I do have my own team. I work with R.I.G., Swigga Rebbel, and Cromer Beats, but as far as working with other producers in particular, I’m willing to work with anyone once the track catches my ear, we can make something happen.

24: Are you happy with the feedback you have been getting from people on material you have released?

Tre Deuce: I’m always happy that they appreciate my music and I’m happy that they accept it the way they do. So I will continue to give them what they ask for in the way that I do.

24: In today’s free download age, what do you need to make yourself a household name?

Tre Deuce: Promotion, Promotion, Promotion. That’s the key once promoted in the right way you will gain that respect from the people that listen to you and they will always want to hear more from you and you got to show love and give a little some times and don’t expect nothing in return. It’s the relationship you’re building with the fans.

24: How do you feel about the current state of the Hip-Hop scene?

Tre Deuce: Some people feel as if it evolved into what it is now, but I feel it drifted away from what it used to be. In my opinion, I always saw that Hip-Hop Artist is a title you earn not a title just given to you. Hip-Hop, at one point in time, had meaning and a message. It was a form of expression that covered all aspects of life, but now it’s more about how much you can spend, what your bank account looks like, and bitches and hoes, it should be more to it. It has to be more than that. If every song talked about the same thing, what would make the consumer want to purchase it? They’ll be like, “Well, if I got this song from this artist that’s saying the same thing as the song I bought yesterday, I might as well just download it for free because it’s saying the same thing. I think that’s another reason why there’s a lot of piracy because there’s a major lack of creativity.

24: Outside of the music, what else are you currently working on?

Tre Deuce: Well, I’m finishing up my Bachelor’s degree in Digital Film Making at the Art Institute and also working ON opening up my own radio station in the Turks and Caicos. Also, I’m working on productions for Reggae artist, Magazeen, of Maybach Music.

24: Where do you see yourself going in 2011 and how do you plan to separate yourself from the other artists out today to get the recognition you feel you deserve?

Tre Deuce: I see me heading higher up the ladder on a daily basis and on every step leaving my mark and separating myself from other artists is the easy part because all I have to do is be myself that’s always something they could never do.

24: How can fans go about contacting you?

Tre Deuce: They can reach me via twitter @ContraktHitz and they can also hit up DatPiff.com and check out ‘My Sunday Morning Music’ mixtape.

24: Thank you for providing 24hourhiphop.com with this exclusive interview, do you have any last words for your present and future fans?

Tre Deuce: Thank you for all your support and the time you took out your busy schedule to give me your attention. ‘Superstar’ has officially dropped as of October 28, make sure you get it, you won’t be disappointed.