Treal Lee & Prince Rick: Dallas’ Own Transforming Local Buzz To National Syndication
You know the saying: “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” and with the hits these two MCs are bringing, it’s about to get even bigger.
Dallas, Texas has always been one of the world’s leading cities when it comes to popular culture. They have the most popular football team, some of the most successful businesses, and self titled, long-running television show based on its “do it big” attitude. Unfortunately, the same could never be said about its Hip Hop scene. But thanks to rap duo Treal Lee and Prince Rick, that is about to change.
Both born and raised in Dallas, Treal and Rick met while attending Bryan Adams High School. Already leaders of their own separate rap groups, the two started collaborating, saving up lunch money to book studio time. Seeing that they both had a matching drive to succeed, they put their groups to the side and decided to start a new one together. Little did they know that this new merger would make them Mavericks in their own right.
With their club banger Throwed Off (F*ck Everybody) killing the scene right now, the sky’s the limit for the Lone Star State natives. SMAG editor Caleb-Marquis chops it up with the two rising stars to see why they chose to go against major label distribution, the creativity in their hits and how inspired they were by one of the best rappers in the game using their lyrics.
SMAG: You two were apart of separate rap groups in high school and decided to link up individually and form your own group. Why did you all choose to go this route?
PRINCE RICK: Honestly, we were just hungry! The music was in us so much and we just had that drive, so we decided to make it happen.
SMAG: There were many labels trying to sign you guys. Some were big-time like Def Jam, Jive and Warner Bros. However, you all chose the independent route and signed a distribution deal with ATL’s own Mr. Collipark Music.
RICK: Well we always wanted to do music with him. We saw what he did with Soulja Boy and the Ying Yang Twins and we knew that’s what we always wanted to do. He was a big influence to us and the music we made.
SMAG: And speaking of you guys’ music, your track Throwed Off has the clubs in a frenzy right now. How did the concept come about?
Treal Lee & Prince Rick – Throwed Off
RICK: Our partners from this group called Soloist came up with the hook. Scotty Boy and Champ did it and we wrote the rest. After that, we made it a smash.
SMAG: It definitely is that. So much in fact that Lil’ Wayne recites the lyrics of you guy’s hook in the DJ Khaled song I’m On One (“I walk around the club, f*ck everybody…). How did that feel to have a rapper like Wayne spitting your song?
RICK: Man, that was crazy! We started getting all kinds of phone calls. I believe he [Wayne] heard it Super Bowl weekend in Dallas and he loved it. He even jumped on the instrumental a while later so we was too excited!
SMAG: Your city Dallas has been known for so many entertaining acts, but hip-hop has always been on the back-burner. Why is that in your opinion?
RICK: Man, it would take all day to answer that! [Laughs] But I feel it’s just the music has to be more national and have a more wide feel to it. But that’s what we’re working on now; getting that bigger sound with our track Work featuring J. Nicks.
SMAG: Who in the game would you guys like to work with that you haven’t already and who are some of your influences?
RICK: Well of course Wayne, [Rick] Ross, Drake; people we listen to on a regular basis that’s really getting it in right now.
SMAG: So what can your fans expect next from Treal Lee & Prince Rick?
RICK: We steady working on new material and our new single is out called Work so check for that, but we just on our grind right now putting things together. It’s a lot more to come!
Follow Treal Lee & Prince Rick :
Twitter: @TrealandPrince
Facebook: TrealAndPrince
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