We were lucky to catch up with Dre recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dre, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
MorgPound Entertainment. Growing up in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn and living so close to the Morgan Ave L Train line. My friends and I always considered ourselves to be a crew and a tight-knit one at that. We went around telling folks that we were a part of the MorgPound click since gang affiliations really weren’t a thing in NYC prior to the Dipset movement so we were all a part of community clicks.
I decided to select the name in homage to all of us that called ourselves a part of the MorgPound click and ran with it. It’s me, it’s in my blood it’s a part of my identity growing up and it is the legacy that I talk about in my music as well. Growing up we definitely had some crazy times and did some wild things, nothing illegal, and just had plain old fun, so choosing to name my business MorgPound Entertainment was a no brainer for me.
Dre, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m a kid from the Bushwick section of Brooklyn that really did a lot of traveling from my early years. Mom moved us out to Lynn, MA where I got my first taste of the street and hip hop became an outlet for me. Not having my dad I was able to relate to what a lot of artist were talking about in their music, especially artist like The Notorious BIG, Nas, Snoop (even though it was a different coast and culture of hip hop), the Wu-Tang Clan and others.
I was very poor. Homeless at times, wore a lot of hand me down clothing and didn’t have what it took to be somewhat in the cool crowd, until my decision came that people would either have to like me for who I am or I would turn the cheek and look elsewhere. Coming back to NYC at the age of 14 was a complete blessing because it ultimately opened the doors for the crew that I would meet and become a part of and the folks that I would encounter along that journey.
In high school, I met a bunch of folks that I hung out with a lot and we all called ourselves the MorgPound Click. There were 4 out of the dozen or so of us that hung out always, that decided to start a hip hop group. We were inspired by the likes of Rocafella Records, Wu-Tang clan and the Terror Squad to name a few. So we called ourselves “The Fantastic Four” only we really didn’t have anywhere to record. So we took it to the street and were a part of many cyphers back then. One of my brothers out of the MorgPound click is still with me on this journey and is my biggest critic when it comes to my music.
One of my biggest influences has always been Jay-Z. Meeting him at a young age totally inspired my craft, which I’m always looking to perfect. Being that I grew up on Flushing Avenue, Marcy Projects wasn’t too far of a walk for me, so I could remember many of the videos that were filmed on his side of the J Train line and the autograph the he gave me as well. All of this turmoil and inspiration has provided a light for me to start my own label, build it as best as I can so that eventually, I can teach others how to do the same. It wasn’t until 2023 that I was able to purchase my home equipment to record and start my own LLC that I was really able to make things happen for myself and MorgPound Entertainment.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Honestly, social media and the internet have been a blessing. I don’t need to walk into anyone’s studio anymore to record, master and distribute any music. I use the United Masters Platform to get my music on the streaming platforms and SoundCloud to put my practice music up in the form of freestyles so that’s definitely been my strategy to start.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Oh man, I think my life is the inspiration. Growing up without a father at home, mom was also not present all the time. Having to learn how to hustle at a very young age, hanging with the neighborhood hustlers to learn some game, being dirt poor.
All of this make me the man I am today and provide for my music. As an artist, I want my story told because somewhere in this world there are other kids that are living my life and my message to them is “don’t quit”. I’ve used that fuel to get my Masters Degree, open a business and be a consultant to others.
As an entrepreneur, well that’s a different form of hustle that I’m learning on the fly, but it’ll give me the wherewithal to help others do what I have been able to do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Morgpoundent24
- Twitter: adelgado09
- Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/andres-delgado-454597143
- Other: http://unitedmasters.com/dre-day8570
Image Credits
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