Spree Wilson: Backstage at the BMI Unsigned Showcase in Atlanta
Rapper/guitarist Spree Wilson performed alongside rapper/singer Novel during the 12th Annual BMI Unsigned Showcase at E.S.S.O.S in Atlanta. Trey Songz and Nas also hit the stage, and so did a few other talented up and coming acts, one of which (718) won the showcase. Check out what Spree Wilson had to say as he takes RO behind the scenes of the event.
Novel
9:30 p.m.- We get to E.S.S.O.S [and] the first thing me and Novel do is hit the bar. I need a drink. There’s a DJ set up in the lobby thing, before you got to the main part, which is cool.
9:45 p.m. – [Producer] Ike Dirty comes up and talks with us. We’re drinking and waiting for our manager, Dave Gates. Kameron Corvet is performing — although I’m just watching it on the screen and can’t actually hear the performance.
10:00 p.m.- We get our performance passes and chill in the VIP section and watch the unsigned artists perform. We’re hanging with Jazzy Pha and Juan Farmer, Dallas Austin’s nephew.
10:12 p.m. – I get another drink, while watching Ryne Nichole and 718 perform. I wasn’t really paying much attention. I was getting my head ready to go on stage. But [songwriter] Sean Garret seemed to be excited about 718.
10:45 p.m.- We get ushered toward the right of the stage and end up chilling with DJ Khaled, Mickey Factz and Trey Songz. The crazy thing is, I saw the rapper Gravy, who played Biggie in the movie, [Notorious]. I was like, oh snap! He was cool.
11:40 p.m. – Novel hit the stage and performed, “F-ck With My Mind” and that got a really good response. I’m on the side of the stage watching. Then, I hear “Spree Wilson, come to the stage!”
Spree Wilson
11:46 p.m. – I say a quick prayer and come on stage. When I get on stage, I grab the wrong mic — and that mic was off [laughing]. So I finally grab the right mic and say “Hello, space cadets,”and everybody starts laughing. Novel did his verse [“I Am”] first and I do mine. We rock properly. People are loving it.
11:57 p.m. – We went back to the VIP and chilled and watched Trey Songz. Everyone in the crowd was trying to be Hollywood or something and nobody would clap. It’s not like the song wasn’t good, the song was pretty jamming. It was weird, dude.
12:55 p.m. – Nas hits the stage. He had a little rock band performing with him. It was cool. But when he started doing Nastradamus songs, I had to the hit the bar. I had to go.
