Trey Songz jams with Southern students

Atlantic/Songbook recording artist Trey Songz wowed an estimated 150 men and women Monday at the Cotillion Ballroom in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union.
Women rushed to the stage as the new R&B sensation appeared and wooed the crowd with songs and snippets from his debut album I Gotta Make It.
The 20-year-old from Petersburg, Va, Tremaine Neverson said he never considered a music career until family members urged him to enter local talent shows.
“Back in high school, I was more into rap than R&B,” he said.
Now a familiar face on the music charts, he is also a familiar voice on wireless phones ringtones. Songz is now on tour, courtesy of Cingular Wireless. He said the company contacted him and suggested he go on a tour to promote his new album.
“I was approached by Cingular with a contract and a concept for the tour. I thought it was a good idea because I would be touring HBCUs,” he said. “This tour gives me the opportunity to connect with young black folks my age who are aspiring to do something with their lives.”
Songz, dressed in a white, “wife-beater” t-shirt and blue jeans, talked about his humble beginnings.
“I met with Twista about a year and a half ago,” he said about the breakthrough hit “Gotta Make It” and the collaboration with rapper Twista. “I was at his album listening party — just a nobody — and he and I met; and the next thing you know he was on the album.”
Songz had signed a record deal with Atlantic/Songbook records and had begun writing songs for his album.
“Most of the songs I wrote are loosely based on my life,” Songz said. “The part about me having a dollar and a dream is fake. I’ve never been broke a day in my life.”
Never letting negative feed back affect him, Songz said would-be artist should never give up and not to let anyone hamper his or her dreams.
“Can’t nobody want your dream but you. I pray to God first and ask for direction. You can make it.”
Among the many artists Songz wants to work with is rap mogul Jay-Z.
“I’ve been so blessed to work with so many people so early on…the only person I dream to work with is Jay-Z,” he said.
“I’ve worked with Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, T.I., Trick Daddy,” he said. “Basically I’ll work with anybody who’s talented and takes this as seriously as I do.”
 

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