Conversations with Dre Murro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dre Murro.

Hi Dre, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Music has always been a part of my foundation. I was born in Durham, North Carolina, and I’ve been surrounded by it for as long as I can remember. I got my start in the youth choir at Mountain Spring Baptist Church in nearby Stem. My Nana was the choir director – she helped to mold my voice into what it is today. I had my first real solo moment at six years old—accompanying her during one of her piano recitals. Those early church experiences laid the foundation for everything that would come next. Gospel music taught me how to lead with authenticity. It taught me heart. And most of all, it taught me soul.

From elementary school forward, I performed at every talent show and chorus event I could find. I even printed my own autographed cards and handed them to classmates after my fifth-grade performance. That year, I also wrote my first original song, Fairytale Feeling, and performed it at my school talent show. My cousin James Parker—J. Pro—produced and recorded it. That was the first time I saw myself not just as a singer but also as a songwriter and creative person.

Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I lived in different parts of the East Coast and performed across Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and back home in North Carolina. I joined a youth performance group called JAMZ, which gave me the opportunity to perform at venues including Disney World and Universal Studios. One of my most formative experiences came when I joined the cast of Dancing In The Streets, an Off-Broadway musical in New York. One day after rehearsals, I remember singing at the Sugar Bar—owned by Ashford & Simpson—and Valerie Simpson personally came up to me and said I was a “very talented young man” with an “incredible music career” ahead of me. That Open Mic Night moment changed my life.

By the time I was 19, I had just dropped my self-recorded mixtape, 9INE, from my bedroom. It was fully independent, and the single “PlayTime” ended up getting over 200,000 streams on Pandora. My Dad helped me release the tape – we printed CDs that are probably circulating today in Raleigh, NC. haha In 2016, I recorded “Know U Know” with the late great Young Dolph, produced by Grammy-nominated Ricky Racks. When Dolph stepped out the booth, he looked at me and said, “On my son, this a hit—you gotta push this.” That moment still lives with me to this day. During the mastering session at Patchwerk Studios in Atlanta, Ghazi Shami—CEO of EMPIRE Distribution—heard the song before it dropped and offered us a single deal the next day. But my Dad and I had already co-founded 9INE Records together, and we saw a bigger picture. Instead of the single deal, we asked for a full distribution deal for the label. And we got it. In the words of Dolph, that was a MAJOR turning point—not just for me as an artist, but for our entire 9INE movement.

After that, I launched The #WorstWay HBCU Tour, performing at campuses like Clark Atlanta, Hampton, Xavier, and more. We wrapped the run with a mainstage performance at the Women’s Empowerment Conference at Raleigh’s PNC Arena. That was when I realized this journey was about more than just music—it was about purpose.

Since then, I’ve released the Let’s Talk EP series with BLK Assassin, the full-length album Her New Favorite, and singles like “Water Flow,” “G.Y.A.R.,” and “4 Me Only” with multi-platinum-selling producer Mr. Hanky. Each release reflects a chapter of who I am and where I’ve been. I don’t just make music—I document my life.

One of the most personal parts of that journey is being a father. My son, Ryan, has nonverbal autism. Raising him has made me more intentional in everything I do. In 2024, I launched #HelpYouHelpMe—a social campaign for Autism Awareness Month using a 3D animated version of Ryan to help educate others about nonverbal communication through a childlike lens. Beyond fatherhood and music, I also have a passion for professional development. I launched 9INE Studios in 2015, a boutique creative agency helping small businesses and artists bring their brands to life. That creative foundation led me into the advertising industry. In 2022, I joined Leo Burnett Detroit to work on the Cadillac brand after a successful stint at Marcus Graham Project’s iCR8 Bootcamp. And in 2023, I stepped into my current role as an Account Executive at Publicis New York, where I help to manage national campaigns for Walmart’s Health & Wellness initiatives.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road—but I wouldn’t change any of it. My mom and I lived in a Piedmont Park, a trailer park in Butner, North Carolina before my little brother was born in 2001. My Dad was locked up, and my Mom was a single Black woman doing everything she could to build a better life for us. Watching her climb the corporate ladder and go from surviving to earning well over six figures taught me resilience from day one. We moved a lot—North Carolina, Connecticut, Ohio—and while I hated it as a kid, it stretched me. It gave me range, taught me how to adapt, and planted seeds I didn’t realize I’d need later in life.

As far as music goes, I always believed I was supposed to be a star. In 2015, gave it everything I had coming up in Raleigh-Durham, doing shows, pushing my mixtape 9INE, and running 9INE Records with my dad. But the industry connections just weren’t there. By 2019, I remember lying on an air mattress at my bro P-eZY’s house in Butner in 2019 and telling myself, “This can’t be it.” I made a decision that night that I was going to take the risk, pack up, and move to Atlanta to see if I could really change my situation. That was the turning point. I started writing and recording my album, Her New Favorite, in ATL and pouring everything I felt into the music. The song “Word of Mouf” from that album says, “You should never count me out”—and that wasn’t just a lyric, that was a real declaration. Atlanta opened some new doors, including a partnership with multi-platinum producer Mr. Hanky, who’s now producing a full EP for me. But make no mistake, even in the A, nothing has been handed to me without hard work being required.

When my son Ryan was born in 2021, that changed everything. I realized quickly that chasing music alone wasn’t going to cut it—I had to figure out how to create long-term stability. But I didn’t have a college degree. That came with doubt, rejection, and a lot of closed doors. I faced the usual stuff—family wondering if I had a plan, pressure to pivot, and a whole lot of internal conversations asking, “Am I doing enough?”

Then I came across an Instagram post about the Marcus Graham Project’s marketing workshop with Atlanta United and Truist Bank. It said only current college students or recent grads could apply, but that ‘submit’ button called my portfolio’s name anyway. Took the risk—and got in. Not only that, I ended up winning MVP of the workshop, which earned me a spot in their national iCR8 Bootcamp in Dallas. That program literally changed my life. I went from presenting creative ideas for Buick and GMC for three months to being offered a full-time role at Leo Burnett Detroit working on Cadillac. I didn’t stop there. In 2023, I joined Publicis New York as an Account Executive, helping to lead national campaigns for Walmart across their Health & Wellness and seasonal programs. No degree. No blueprint. Just pure intention, hard work, and the belief that I could take every chapter of my life—music, fatherhood, faith, creativity—and turn it into something sustainable. So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But every challenge sharpened me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As an R&B artist, I consider myself a storyteller first. I use music to say the things most people are afraid to say out loud. Whether it’s love, s*x, vulnerability, or ambition—I bring emotion to the forefront and give it a melody. I specialize in REAL. That’s the word that grounds everything I do. I’m known for having a smooth vocal delivery with lyrics that hit deeper the more you listen. People have told me my music feels like a conversation they didn’t know they needed to have. I take pride in that.

What makes me different is the range of life I bring to the mic. I’ve experienced the full spectrum—trailer parks and Off-Broadway stages, air mattresses and corporate boardrooms, fatherhood and fame-chasing. That duality lives in every track I make. I don’t just write about love and heartbreak; I write about legacy, pressure, sacrifice, and self-awareness. That’s what sets me apart—I’m not just making music for streams; I’m making music for people who don’t always know how to say what they feel but need to hear it said the right way.

I’m most proud of staying independent while building a real platform. My dad and I co-founded 9INE Records together, and we secured a distribution deal from EMPIRE after Ghazi Shami heard “Know U Know” with Young Dolph before it even dropped. I’ll never forget Dolph stepping out the booth and telling me, “On my son, this a hit—you gotta push this.” That whole moment showed me that the industry will recognize you when the work is undeniable—even without a major label machine behind you.

I’m also proud of the intention behind my career. From 9INE to Her New Favorite to records like “Water Flow,” “4 Me Only” with Mr. Hanky, and “Word of Mouf,” I’m documenting my life in real-time. I don’t follow trends—I follow growth. And now, I’m expanding the brand in a way that lets Dre Murro be the artist and Dre Moore be the strategist. I’ve found a way to own every side of who I am and share it without compromise.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I didn’t take the traditional route professionally or musically. No degree, no industry blueprint—just a lot of vision and a willingness to show up as my full self. One of my biggest turning points was discovering the Marcus Graham Project. I came across an Instagram post about their marketing workshop in ATL with Atlanta United and Truist Bank. It was “supposed” to be for college students or recent grads, but I applied anyway. I got in—and ended up winning MVP. That led to their national iCR8 Bootcamp in Dallas, where I spent three months developing campaigns for GMC and Buick. That experience introduced me to corporate mentors who didn’t care where I went to school. They cared about how I showed up.

My advice? Don’t wait for permission. Be bold about your story. The right people will recognize your value when you operate in purpose. Most of the rooms I’ve walked into weren’t made for me on paper—but I earned my place by being authentic and intentional. Whether it’s applying to a program you don’t “qualify” for or showing up where you know no one, do it anyway. That’s how you build relationships that actually mean something.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://empire.ffm.to/properdremurro
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DreMurro
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DreMurro
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deandremoore/
• Twitter: https://x.com/DREMURRO
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DreMurroTV
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/9ine-studios-atlanta
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/DREMURRO
• Other: https://www.9INEStudios.com/

 

Image Credits
9INE Studios