Today we’d like to introduce you to Elvis Williams.
Elvis, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been playing drums, piano and organ since I was 12yrs old in the church where I mostly grew my musical skill set. When I turned 18, I bought my first Akai MPC. Despite being in school to become a gynecologist, music always seems to find a way to overshadow everything else I was doing. I guess it was my destiny.
I moved to Atlanta in 2003 after Leslie Braithewrathe introduced me to Manny Fresh for a Juvenile session. I was visiting a friend of mine and Leslie was mixing his record. I told him that I played the piano and he was like, can you come by the studio tomorrow and when I walked in, Manny was sitting there!!!!!! I started making my way to different sessions and navigating the music scene in Atlanta. Soon after, I met Polow Da Don and begin co-producing records with him.
Over the next 4years, we pretty much ruled the charts with hits like Glamorous by Fergie, Promise by Ciara, Like This by Kelly Roland, Crying Out For Me by Mario and a host of other chart-topping records. After having so much success, it was time to branch out on my own. In 2009, me and Harold Lilly met and produced “Ego” by Beyonce and a host of other records with, Mario, Letoya Luckett, Ginuwine, Ruben Studdard, Chrissette Michelle and a host of a major artist. In 2010, I produced Usher’s first single “Lil Freak”.
Currently, I’m working on many projects and not just music. I’ve recently just scored a series for HBO, started my own reality show call “The Pull UP'” where we pull up on dope artist no matter where they are. My goal is to increase my brand and put a face to the name Blac Elvis and become a household name.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road to success hasn’t been easy at all!!!!! When the music business wasn’t shifting with technology, I was forced to change my business model of how I sold records to artist and labels. Because everyone had easy and free access to all the music, the music became pretty much free. Therefore, bringing production budgets way down and marketing budgets almost obsolete. The internet had pretty much made it easy access for any content. With production budgets being cut in half, meant, I had to come down on my producer’s fees as well. So, for a couple of years, that really hurt my revenue stream and made me adjust the way I did business.
There was also a struggle with the quality of artist I encountered over the years. They haven’t always been so pleasant to work with, some more difficult than others. When working with an established artist, they may want things a certain way, despite my judgment as a platinum producer, so somebody gotta be the bigger person and hand their Ego up, and most time it’s me.
Blac Elvis – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m focused on the Blac Elvis Legacy right now. Mostly everything me and my team does is centered around music.
We specialize in giving new artist a sound that the masses can digest and we give the seasoned artist a familiar sound with a twist and bring it all up to date!!!! I would say, we are musical surgeons!!!!! I’ve always tried to have some type of Shock Value in my records that would set me apart from everyone else that would be following the trend sound.
I think bringing 112 back in 2017 was a proud moment for me and my team. They hadn’t been in the studio together for 12 years and the first time they all decided to work together again was with me. I gave them a top 5 urban AC record “Dangerous Games” that drew new and old fans back.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Everyone around me has either a successful career or on their way to being financially successful. I try to teach people how to fish and when they win, they spread the love with the rest of the family via a relationship or some type of business move that may be beneficial to the whole team. You’re only as successful as the people you have around you. As long as you keep successful, hard-working, motivated people around you, it’s going to be hard to lose!!!!!!
Work Ethic, Loyalty and Discipline is the most important character traits I look for when I’m starting any new relationship be it business or personal!!!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Blac Elvis
- Facebook: Blac Elvis
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