SPEAKER_01 1:45

Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the Hilltop Glove Podcast. This is DJ Ann What, Brother Skip. We actually on site, live in effect, today at the Bradley Community Center. We're hanging out with the Honeycomb Experience and our man Reasons Brown. We got a great back to school event going on, as well as a family and wellness event going on as well. So mind, body, and spirit, everything being taken care of for you today. You're gonna be able to get your creative kicks out and get your real kicks out, and also get some of your food kicks out today. Also, just as a big thing, there are a bunch of vendors out here who are excellent. And then we also have some artists out here who are gonna be participating in an event later on today. A nice little showcase of talent and et cetera, in the musical variety. Speaking of which, a nice gentleman has stopped by at our table to speak with us today. His name is D. Will. He's an RB artist, and we are glad to have him today. I'm gonna have him introduce himself to our audience, let him know what it is that he does, and I'm gonna bother him a little bit as I always do. Mr. D. Will, could you introduce yourself to our audience?

SPEAKER_00 2:44

Absolutely. So again, my name is D. Will. I'm originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Shout out to Reasons Brown. You know, I met him actually at the Miak Tournament. I was singing the national anthem. Dope. And bro just came to me as soon as I finished singing the national anthem and was like, bro, I gotta follow you. You know, so we tapped in, you know, we kind of been communicating ever since then. And, you know, just a great opportunity came up, and I just had to take advantage of it. So that's how I landed here in North Carolina. So I'm excited. Dope. I got my boy Donnie Kitts. He's actually on his way from Virginia too. So we got a 30-minute set tonight. Um, so for those who love RB, I'm telling you right now, you want to tap in with us.

SPEAKER_01 3:18

Excellent, excellent. Yeah, how was your drive down? I just have to ask that, being in a being a human, how's your drive down?

SPEAKER_00 3:22

I mean, the drive was easy. I mean, it wasn't too bad. I think it was like five and a half hours. I know that. That's my ass. That was the most I've ever driven, to be honest. It was for a good cause.

SPEAKER_01 3:30

So I was saying it again. Yes, sir, yes, sir. Just to start off, if you could tell our audience a little bit, how did you get into music and how long have you been doing it?

SPEAKER_00 3:39

Well, contrary to what most people may say, I got into music from Barney. Wow! It was my homie growing up. Yo, you ain't lying. But on a serious note, my mom and grandma used to put Barney on all the time. And one day I was actually singing along with Barney, and they were looking like he actually can hold a little note.

SPEAKER_01 3:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:59

And you know, I feel like most families say that, you know, because it's just that pride has been made or whatever. But my grandma really took it around with it. They put me in voice lessons. I sang in church my entire life. I've been in chorus my entire life. Oh, okay. So music has been a part of me for classically trained for a very long time.

SPEAKER_01 4:15

Dope.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

I was in the uh excuse me, I was in a performer arts high school. So, I mean, I did musical theater, dancing, singing, all that stuff. But as far as really honing in on my own craft, I mean I've always tapped in, don't get me wrong, but consistently and with my foot on the gas, not letting up. It's been since October. Oh, wow. Yeah, I've been singing with a band, and after I finished singing with the band, um, you know, industry stuff, and it's not even industry stuff that I was a part of, but some crazy things kind of happened, and I realized that I want to continue doing what I'm doing. And people have always told me how much they believed in me. And I think for the longest time, that voice in the back of my head as an artist, yeah, kind of are harder on ourselves than we should be.

SPEAKER_01 4:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

And I finally said, you know what, let me just really tap in. Like, people really say I can do this. I believe that I can do it. I mean, I just had to just really start doing it. Start doing it and start talking about it. I've had a lot of heartbreaks though when it comes to it, because I've auditioned for American Idols several times. The voice, America's Got Talent, Sunday's Best. Wow. Even one of them, I got so far where I was like right before you get on TV. Yeah. So I've had some good opportunities and things like that, but of course, when I did not get those yeses, it kind of made me think like, dang, can I really sing like people have been telling me I can sing?

SPEAKER_01 5:28

Um self-doubt.

SPEAKER_00 5:29

Yeah, you know, and failure is, I think, is the part of the success story. It is. But it's the ugly part that we don't want to indulge in sometimes.

SPEAKER_01 5:35

Preach, yes, I agree.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

So I'm just learning to take these L's even more still today, you know, and I'm just trying to run with it and let people know who D Will is for real.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

Excellent. Well, could you tell us who some of your, I would say, musical inspirations were growing up? Some of the things that the things that are people that you style your sound around.

SPEAKER_00 5:55

Absolutely. I would be remiss if I don't say tank first. Hey, here we go. I'll talk about real thing. Real playing Fox fan. Yes. But also, you know, I take a huge liking from Luther Vandross. Nice. Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Fantasia, Brandy. I can go on and on and on. Even Usher and Music Soul Child, I can't let them out of the conversation. Nice. I feel like this is always the hard part though, because there's so many people that inspire me in a way.

SPEAKER_01 6:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:21

And I think it's good to take little pieces and parts from everybody. And I I never could really give a consistent top five. Every time I have a conversation, the person changes. But that's just how influential they are. And that's just how impactful music is because you can't put nobody in a box.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

That's true.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

So I mean, I don't think my top five is ever going to stay the same ever. I even got this from I don't know if you tapped in with Tank's podcast, actually. Yeah. RB Money.

SPEAKER_01 6:44

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. I like Tank, y'all. I'm gonna tell y'all. I like Tank. His stuff is very interesting. And he's actually a very multifaceted gentleman. Absolutely. I did blew my mind when I listened to his podcast.

SPEAKER_00 6:57

Yeah, he knows his business. Oh, he's not. Like it's not even just the artistry.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:01

And then also just about how relevant he continues to stay today. Like this dude came out in the 90s. A lot of artists don't really last that long.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Five years.

SPEAKER_00 7:11

And if they do, their impact is not so strong. And I'm not trying to downplay nobody because. But you're being honest. Yeah. Yeah. But Tank, he's just somebody who really likes. I mean, even when it comes down to the lyricism of this dude, he's writing for people, producing for other people. I mean, he's just keeping his stuff readable.

SPEAKER_01 7:27

Not to mention, he's also dealing with hearing loss. And he's still out here putting it together. For sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:33

He's talking about retiring. I don't know how true that is. I hope it's for a season and not forever.

SPEAKER_01 7:37

Ever, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:39

You know, industry makes people make decisions like that.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

That's true. That's true. Well, I have to also ask you this. So, of course, I've been asking everybody this today. I've kept hearing the same mantra continuously, but the person that invited you to be out here today, what made you so apt to work with them and to actually show up and come out here today?

SPEAKER_00 8:01

Well, I think as an aspiring artist, you got to figure out what's worth the time.

SPEAKER_01 8:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:05

And he's just somebody, even in the small interaction that I got from the MiAC tournament. And of course, social media is big today, so we're able to kind of keep in contact. But I kind of just see what the work that he's doing. And I believe it. You know, and I think a lot of times all it takes is somebody to believe in what you're doing to continue to push that fire in him. You know, like it's more than me. You're right. You know, I'm thankful for the opportunity and I'm glad I'm able to leave Virginia and come to North Carolina and do something that I love to do. But it's about continuing to push this man because everybody here, like you said, been giving you the same mantra. Yeah. He needs this fire. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Because as artists and as people who take the time to put events on like this, it's hard.

SPEAKER_01 8:42

It is.

SPEAKER_00 8:42

And when you don't have no momentum or you don't have people that believe in you, it makes it even harder. You know, so I just truly believe in what he's doing. I see where he's going and I see the full potential of it. And I want to be a part of it. Yeah. Like, it's no reason to limit myself to my little box in Virginia. Yeah. If I can get a network with somebody in North Carolina that's putting on events like he's doing, yeah, I want to be down. And that's the only way people are going to hear me from Virginia to North Carolina. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 9:09

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You know what you yes, yes, you were on the money. I agree with what everything you're saying, down to the idea of making sure that you are expanding yourself personally as an individual. Because one of the things my brother and I always talk about, even with our group that does the podcast, is the fact that you sometimes have to in order to get forward, to move forward. So not like in the full sense, true sense of taking two steps back to get three steps forward. Sometimes you got to take a hit. And I know my brother will tell you, we we have been in the artist's world as well. I've DJ'd for years before we started doing the podcast. And I remember doing plenty of seasons for free. Just straight up in a place, working for free in order to start a movement. Now, with me saying that, could you tell our audience a little bit about your move, your movement, how they can find you, how they can get your information and your music.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

Well, first off, our backtrack, right? Just going into talking about the free thing. Yeah. Um, I think that there's a long-term goal that everybody wants.

SPEAKER_01 10:16

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

But sometimes you got to tap into what the short-term reality is.

SPEAKER_01 10:20

Understood.

SPEAKER_00 10:21

You know, so there's a lot of events that I do feel like I'm worth the investment.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:25

If I'm being 100% honest. Because when I touch the stage and when I touch the mic, I'm gonna give it. Yeah, I'm saying, and people gonna remember it. Yeah. But I think also it's about blessing somebody else sometimes, right? Sometimes, yeah. Not allowing yourself to be taken advantage of. But this is how opportunities happen when I do a favor for you and you can spread the word and tell people about me. And that's when I can start, you know what I'm saying? Um, putting a number to it. But I've done weddings, I sing at funerals, and I can't say consistently at each wedding and funeral I've charged. You know what I'm saying? You know, sometimes it's a family member that you look out for. Yeah, and other times it's like, okay, no, like I can't I can't do this one, right? Yep. So again, I think it's it's the opportunity and just keeping the long-term goal in mind, but just the short-term reality. But as far as staying tapped in, I'm working on a project right now. I'm super excited about it. I don't have a name for it yet, um, but it's almost complete. So I'm excited about that. But again, for those who love RB, I'm telling you right now, you want to tap in to do hopefully, uh, if not by the end of this year, first quarter of next year, it's coming out. And that's a fact. Um, but you can follow me on Instagram at DWILLO01. Again, that's at DWILLO01. D will o one. I mean, I don't I have Facebook. I don't really do Facebook, I don't do TikTok, understood. Twitter. I know that you're being told that I'm gonna make you get a TikTok. No, literally, I keep being told that I'm already behind, but you know, I'm more of an in-person guy, man. Like I know it's about you know trying to tap into all these different audiences. I'm praying one day I'm gonna get my hands on a manager that's gonna help me with that. Yeah. But right now, I just I want to walk in my truth, and that's really not my That's not you. Yeah, I'm I'm forcing myself when I do that. So Instagram, I am trying to, you know, I am a little bit more authentic, I will say, but that's what I'm used to and I'm comfortable with also.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

But and here's the thing uh if you would tell the audiences, they probably wouldn't even believe. You said, I know when we started, you said this is your first podcast.

SPEAKER_00 12:18

This is my very first podcast. Shut up, D Will with the Hilltop Glove. Yo! Very first podcast.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Your voice is great already. You are good, man. No, I appreciate that. Yeah, you've been as professional as can be today with us. Everything is on point. I already heard you singing early. I already know the brother can sing, so I ain't worried about that. And I'm gonna tell you like this: we will help promote you. Make sure that you do get our information. We have a little tag right there you can scan. For sure. Keep in contact with us, send us your upcoming stuff. Anything that you have that's going on, we'll love to go ahead and promote you and push you out on our engine. Uh, we do a playlist. I know my brother will speak with you about it afterwards that goes out and actually is pretty influential. So if we can get you on that playlist as well, that'd be excellent. Absolutely. But before we end this conversation, is there anything that you would like to leave our audience with?

SPEAKER_00 13:09

I mean, I've been talking about RB. I think I gotta leave them with a little bit of RB, right? Hey, bruh, go ahead. Just something real quick, though. That's gonna be a don't you remember your toe? Said you be coming back this way, baby, babe. I love you.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

Hey man, this is DJ and what? This is Skip. This is D Will. We had the Bradley Community Center hanging out with the Honeycomb experience. D Will just blessed us with some of those sweet honey vocal tones. Make sure that you're out tonight at the event to come see them throw down. It'll be you and you said you're bringing a party. My boy Donnie Kitts.

SPEAKER_00 13:47

Please tap in, tap in, tap in. Do you have his Instagram, sir? I do. His his Instagram is gonna be uh I don't want to lie to you, about it.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Go ahead, get it right. I'm gonna give you time because you just blessed us with the vocal stylings. I'm gonna bless you. Got time. You got time, you earned it.

SPEAKER_00 14:00

Yep, you can follow him. Donnie Kitts. D-O-N-N-Y-K-I-T-S. Again, that's at D-O-N-N-Y-K-I-T-S. Donnie Kitts, R and B nephew. That's him right there.

SPEAKER_01 14:12

Hey, man. Again, it is a blessing. I'm happy to have you down from Virginia. Your presence is wanted here, specifically in North Carolina. Know that they want your presence here. We're coming up from Columbia. We're gonna have to get you to Columbia, brother. For sure. Let's move to the city. For sure. Let's move the street. Well, it's DJ and what? Skip. D Will signing out from the hill from the Honeycomb Experience event in Gastonia, North Carolina, at the beautiful Bradley Community Center and Park. Y'all have a blessed one. Be nice to somebody around you. Tell them that you love them. Peace.