Dres: success has alot to do with relationships.. as well as being talented. in whatever  endeavor.. 
it is important that people can relate to you.. thus understand your needs, wants, and aspirations.. 
your work ethic has always got to be a priority.. know what makes you tick

STRIVE: How do you enjoy your days off when your not "striving"? Is there ever a time?
Dres: no doubt.. work is only a part of my life (tho very important).. i love my family and friends.. 
i've been playing golf for the past four years so good weather finds me trying to lower my handicap... 
i shoot in the high 80's... otherwise home is where the heart is

STRIVE: What signifies a Striver to you?
Dres: in my opinion.. i see a striver to be a person making strides at achieving their goal.. 
be it being a mogul, creating a hot beat, getting a degree/diploma/ged, becoming a 
manager/director/crew cheif, being consistent with your child/god, growing

STRIVE: Who influenced you the most in your career/life when you were starting out?
Dres: 3 things..my family.. both of my parents at different points in their lives sung lead
in bands, so music was always around me.. all kinds.. 2. the radio.. weekends in ny were hip hop 
paradise.. you'd get your cassette in your box and just press record.. you'd get long ass 90min 
tapes so you could have as much hip hop in your life as possible... you'd tape commercials and all... 
catch it when it ended on one side and flip it over.. then study the tape till next weekend... and dj's 
seemed to take pride in what they played.. and seemed to love to break a record... and 3. my friends 
(bumrush crew, boombash crew, gmc-get money crew) my dudes and i lived for this shit... fuck how 
much money the cat gettin down had.. he had style.. he was a sharp m.c. .. he was witty.. we had doe.. 
he didn't need it
STRIVE: What jobs did you hold before you became successful?
Dres: well, i've done everything from bag groceries as a teen to mcdonalds while in high school, 
to hustling after high school while i was a new accounts rep for a bank, to being an office manager for 
a federal agency that worked with the homeless... oh, i had a paper route too
STRIVE: What is success to you?
Dres: success is being content with yourself and your effort... with your heart and your mind.. some 
find it in how others view them.. but that isnt it in my opinion... would you compare a mansion with a bentley
in the yard to the look a child gives their parent when they come home from work to provide for them?  
would you?
STRIVE: What advice would you give others attempting to make their dreams come true?
Dres: be definitive... is it your dream.. or is it the thing you feel it will bring you... is the objective 
just money (cause there are many ways to skin a cat).. or is it your love.. would you do it if there were absolutely 
no money in it?.. maybe not as much or hard.. by all means tho.. follow your dreams... even if it's part time
STRIVE: "Making IT" is not definitive, yet when will you consider yourself as having made it?
Dres: hilarious..didn't know that was next quest.. yea.. it's not.. on a song 
some years ago.. i said.. "where am i, now that i made it"... think it was Still In The Ghetto.. what i felt was.. 
the struggle doesnt stop.. having some money and notoriety isnt the end all.. in fact, it's the beginning of 
a whole new book.. now you have to do something with it.. (if you have it in you).. i'm very happy there are 
more black/hispanic millionaires in the world than there have ever been.. i'll be glad when they get tired of 
the baubles, trinkets and toys... there are things that we should be doing TOGETHER that i hope time finds 
us experiencing... there are things we can now do for ourselves that we really need to
STRIVE: When you are hiring new talent, what do you look for?
Dres: focus, personality (can they represent me), knowledgeable, personeable,
desire
STRIVE: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning and what is the last 
thing you think of at night.
Dres: first things i think of (probly as i pee) are my children.... and the
last thing (as i pee).. are my children

STRIVE: What do you know for sure? (Oprah question)
Dres: who knows anything?

STRIVE: How did you get started? Is this something that you always wanted to do?
Dres: i always believed in myself.. regardless of the situation.. always.. i never felt like there 
wasnt something i couldnt do or learn.. regardless

STRIVE: Where are you from? Tell me a little about yourself? Brothers/Sisters? Small or large family?
Dres: from queens ny.. born in queens general.. one sister.. moved to carolina when moms 
married stepfather and he joined the army.. step-pops is a great man.. my family instilled strong 
traditions... tho probably unorthodox

STRIVE: How important is work ethic to you in being a striver?

Dres: very... you're in preparation all of your life for your successes
STRIVE: Is there anyone's path that you particulary admire and would like to
Dres: emulate? not really... i love my life.. the ups and the downs.. it's mine
STRIVE: What makes you original? Sets you apart? Why are you on top of your game?
Dres: "some can tell my story... but who could tell it better".. when i was young i felt like 
my life was a movie.. like people were sitting in a theatre and watching.. i kinda was born for this
STRIVE: Do you see any changes or patterns in the industry and what is your opinion of that?
Dres: you better believe it.... i do
by: nook@strivemagazine.com