Today we’d like to introduce you to Willie Pointer.
Hi Willie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
First off I’m from the Bay Area California Vallejo to be exact!! Started to do music at a early age because I saw Kris Kross and Snoop Dogg those two made me wanna be involved in music from when I 1st seen them on tv and heard on radio! So from there my music journey started that was fifth grade I had my first show at that time at the assemblly rapping about math and history and from there it became all I cared about over the years I would sharpen my skills once I got to high school is when I really wanted it!!! Starting rap group with my childhood friends called are self “the tribe” made mixtapes and would sell it at the school sell out in a day I knew it was my calling!! Started winning talent shows getting a local buzz from their hook-up with my cousin Don P and he showed me the other side professional studios record labels etc… Really getting my feet wet once I got out of high school it got real didn’t wanna go to college just wanted to rap wasnt until my sister went to college at Clark Atlanta University where my life would change after her freshmen year. She called me and proposed I move to atlanta with her and persue my career out there said no at first but then came around like year later and it was the best decison of my life!!! I move with $10 dollars in my pocket and a one way ticket and a dream. I got introduced to open mics, showcases, managers ,record labels, etc. the music industry basically and it really turn my focus up and started to believe I can achieve so I got called job at airport pushing wheelchairs wasn’t best job to have but I worked at one of the biggest airports in the world and a hub so I would get chance to meet everybody!!!! So I met management at the time they showed me open mics I already was a natural performer so it was match made in heaven I start winning all the showcases then one day I perform at T.I the rappers Club Crutical and Jazze Pha was there he saw me perform and wanted to have a meeting the next day next thing I know signed to Shonuff/Captiol.
I was on cloud 9 dreams finally coming true after all them years of tryng! Six months later it was over label break up person who sign me to capitol die in his sleep and I fall out with my managers life is being turned upside down! I was stuck on a label for another year when I finally got released I. Move back to the bay wanted to be known like I was in atlanta back home so I went and got to it!! Was grinding for like a year or 2 wit my childhood pontas mohawk mar and famous kenn we started r own label and open a club started a group FNM in san jose called wet and start making noise six months after that I was visiting atlanta for a3c and made a song wit my best friend pilz in the studio called “I’m from the bay bruh” I knew it was special soon as I got back to bay put e40 on it and put it out ended up goin up for me and I finally was getting the bay area respect I felt I deserved even did a remix wit whole bay on it!!! Kept working and started a brand/label 2013 called Drip squad (Dreamers really inspire people) and went full go mode!! After a few years of that felt needed a change my best friend kept telling me I need move back to the A & I finally agreed but this time wanted it to be different wanted to be more of a player/coach this time it was an upcoming artist from Macon GA that was fire name Pretty Boi so the first thing I wanted to do is work with him and also get my best fiend approval. So I set up a studio session so we all can vibe it was dope recorded a few hard songs most of all connected so we all left the studio feeling good and Pilz was letting me know I had found one. So I was excited the next morning I got a call that my best friend Pilz had passed away smh crazy news but I didn’t mourn. I was unsure to continue the mission so me and pretty boi started going hard on it every day knocking songs out and plotting moves for like four months had a project ready to go.
One day I was at the club and saw my boy Jazze Pha we talking catching up and I look at my phone and someone posted rip pretty boi smh wow my heart dropped lost two people in a year time is crazy. I didn’t know what I was gonna do seriously as I left the funeral I got a text from a good friend lake from the generation now asking me how I feel about being an a&r. I was shocked confused and excited all at the same time I look at it as a transition and calling from God so for the first time I didn’t question. I just went one of the first things on the job was picking between a few artists who we should sign and just so happen one of the artists in the line up as a white boy from Louisville KY name Jack Harlow I knew instantly a star and look at him now from their just grinded it out learning the position helping where I can wasn’t until my 2nd year I felt ready to find an artist get him signed and develop then in found Seddy Hendrinx artist from Jacksonville FL. Fast forward to now he has a hit record with “Low Key” just drop a new single “Lights” & is about to drop project Well Sed and is a certified superstar!!!!! I also became Head A&R Also of Generation Now God is Good and started an agency with Partners Royce Monroe Kenn Swanson “brickbybrickagency” and everything looking up stay tuned for what’s next.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
NO, it has not lol. I wouldn’t call it struggles more like lessons. When you don’t fully have the knowledge about something and you just trust your God-given talent instead of gaining the knowledge you gonna have some bumps in the road.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
A&R for a record label “Generation Now/ Atlantic”, I specialize in development getting the artist ready and sharp for this industry and journey as an artist, I’m known for having a vision and seeing things before others see it! I’m proud that I never stopped and that I inspire people by just being myself, what sets me apart from others is there is not Willie Joe it’s only one of them!!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To trust God and believe!!!!!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedigitalbricks.com/
- Instagram: @WILLIEJOEDRIP
Image Credits
MAIN PHOTO BY SHOTBYDECAT
