Meet Billiam B | Artist, song writer, performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Billiam B and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Billiam B, why did you pursue a creative career?
Give me art or give me death. I was born an artist, I eat, breathe, sleep creativity. I remember as a child how I would wear dish rags on my head and tuck my blue jeans into my white socks and put on my hard bottom shoes so I could pretend to be Michael Jackson. I’ve always live to be the stage. When in high school, I was in musical theater that’s where I got my first taste of the stage. Now where I  am from in the DMV we would have modeling competitions where you would have to incorporate choreography and a theme into your runway show. Very similar to what people now see on the HBO show LEGENDARY. I was the captain of our team for four years and we placed first and second place at the competition every year. It was here that my passions found an audience, and an outlet. I decided then that this is the life for me on the stage under the lights performing and entertaining people. I made an incredibly difficult decision this year by quitting my full-time 9 to 5 gig to pursue my passion of the arts full time and it has been the most rewarding, fulfilling  and scary feeling ever but I’m so glad that I’m at a point in life where I’m willing to bet on myself. There’s nothing like knowing that you’re meant to do and be so much more but you’re trapped at a dead end job that you hate going to every day. That is not the life for me and so now I’m living each and every day pursuing my passion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My fans keep me busy !!! But even more so then them is my never ending need to continue to discover myself through my artistry. Whichh each layer I peel back I learn something new about myself and I think what I am the most excited about when it comes to my music is my authenticity. Gay rap is new in an uncharted territory and I love the fact that I am 100% myself each and every time I get on that microphone. I think I’ve been through a lot of things that people in my community will be able to relate to. I like to have fun! Imma good time girl! But I’m real I go through things just like you. My goal is to inspire the gay boys like me. I’m Making music for the gay boy that has yet to come out to his family, for the young boy who plays dress up in his sisters clothes, and wigs when no one is looking, for the HIV positive person who thinks that their life is over because they now live with this virus, for the young boy, who doesn’t know if he wants to be transgender or not because I’ve been all of those people at some point on my journey. That keeps me going. I think what sets me apart from other gay rappers is the fact that I know that the calling on my life is bigger than me. It is for the youth, LGBTQ to give them hope, to show them the way, to let them know that it is possible to make your dreams come true, no matter how bizarre they may seem how out of reach they may feel it is possible you just have to believe in yourself and do the work. I’ve gotten where I am by being fearless by not accepting no as an answer, and by keeping the faith in God. I’m not even where I want to be yet I’ve only just scratched the surface, but I chase my dreams relentlessly because it’s the one thing that gives me a reason to live, it wakes up my spirit each and every morning. Of course  there are challenges that come but that’s going to be in any arena but it’s not about the challenges that come. It’s about how you handle them when they do. Face it head on!  I like to use my life, the things that I go through as a testimony to share as an example for my tribe my fans. What I’m learning along the way is that our experience is not solely ours to hoard we have to share our life experiences with other people. We have to share our craft, our talent education with others. Each and every day I learn a new lesson that I am able to apply to my life. My advice be a sponge… always absorb you’re never too full to learn something new. Be the change that you want to see in the world. It sounds cliché, but I wanna prove to the seven year-old me that your dreams can become a reality and if there’s not space for you make space.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Pack your bag baby we are going to Trinidad and Tobago. So I just recently came back from Trinidad and Tobago and I must say I have never been to a country where I automatically fell in love with the people the culture so immediate. I traveled there for a ball. It was the first ever ball in Tobega, which was a really big deal. I travel with my sister, Lolita Leopard and to say we had a timeeeeee! Is an understatement. Lol. Also Big shout out to “House of Keyz” So first things first Trinidad and Tobago is one country two separate islands. I went there with the impression it was one island (geography was never my thing) lol however, they are two islands one country. Now, We are going to stay in Tobago it’s a little more calm cool and collected a great place to kick your feet up and relax and enjoy some beautiful sites and great food. The private Villas in the Stonehaven (Scarborough) were quaint and posh with high ceilings and infinity  swimming pools, the perfect stay for a getaway, we have to visit the many beaches my favorite was located in the Suckhole area watch out for the falling coconuts, however. Next stop, we have to get some roti the Tobago has the  best roti I’ve ever tasted period!!!!  After a few days in Tobega, we would catch the 20 minute plane over to Trinidad and spend the next few days there turning up and having a good time Trinidad is where you want to go to turn up and party and make some memories. Ideally, we would go in February so that we could go to Carnaval.!!!!!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
What I’ve learned over the past year is this… the support of your friends, your family and your tribe or your fans, etc. whatever you like to call them is the only thing that you have. I work with a very small close knit team of like-minded professionals, who have one mission in mind, and that is for us all to win no matter who gets there first, because we know that if one win we all win. No role is small every single person on my team is vital and plays a major role in my success. Tyler White, (Grease) and Corin Johnson (Nicor) are my creative directors, they are like the left in the right side of my brain. I take my ideas to them and they help me dissect them and bring them to life they work tirelessly snd go above and beyond to make sure that my projects are a success. Each and every time we roll out a new song, a new visual, they are right there with me every step of the way, and I could not imagine doing what I do without neither one of them. Aaron Murrell my photographer (Axm photography) my best friend is there to capture all the behind-the-scenes moments. Aaron is the one who keeps the content coming ,  Daniel Johnson is the only person I allowed to preview my music before anyone else. If Danny likes it then I know it’s a bop he always tells me the truth, whether I want to hear it or not about how the record sounds and it’s really important to have a non-bias opinion. My dancers, Hurricane, Sonic, Adonis, I love them so much. We have been up and down the East Coast touring since June!!!, they are always ready to put on a show. No matter with the size of the crowd no matter where the destination they ride for me and I love them so much we put on a damn good show together! Special shout out to my brother Denny, Anjel, Caitria, Bri, Danesha , Marci, Lolita, Tay & Tony who do my hair, Picasso my make up artist. EACH AND EVERY BOOKING AGENT who reaches out I think you !!!  Keep the shows coming. Lastly, my fiancé kody he has helped me in so many ways. He’s my manager he handles all of my bookings. He is right there to greet me when I get off stage, he believes in me and he has allowed me to pursue my passion full-time. He encouraged me to quit my 9-to-5 job because he saw my potential and he saw how, my day today job was draining me and taking me away from my creativity and I’m so thankful to have a partner like him so supportive. He goes hard for my music like it is his own dream and that you can’t put a price on. Lastly my TRIBE my fans!!’ Ugh There would be no Billiam B no Billy the Goat if it were not for them streaming my music coming to support me at my shows sharing my music I mean I owe them everything they give me a reason to keep going. There’s days where I feel like why am I doing this and I’m reminded by each and everyone of their faces that it’s bigger than me calling on my life is greater than just me it’s about them. And lastly thank God for his Grace and mercy and for blessing with this talent.

Website: https://linktr.ee/IamBilliamB

Instagram: Theofficialbillygoat

Facebook: Billiam Bee

Youtube: https://youtu.be/ojWbiBd3DUY

Image Credits
Aaron Murrell