Hip-Hop is the ultimate competition for survival. Those emcees with the right skills withstand the turbulence of the music game and achieve stardom, while their less tenacious competition fade into obscurity. Enter Tre Pound (born Darrick Hernandez), a man who has no problem fighting for survival. Born to Panamanian mother in New Jersey, but raised in P.G. County MD, this 24 year old has dealt with more than his share of hardships. “My struggles started in the womb. My whole family was coke oriented from smokers to pushers. Unfortunately, my mother loved her pipe and my pops wasn’t around so you can imagine the life I endured." Tre Pound began writing to express his struggles at age 11. By age 14, influenced by his love of music and desire to become a more complete artist, he began producing. "My music is reality rap. Good, bad, ugly or indifferent, it tells the truth." Tre's true life approach to rap clearly distinguishes him from other young artists. "Statistically I was doomed to go to prison or die by 25.” Tre Pound chose prison, or rather prison system found him. Fresh off of a five-year stint for drug trafficking and gun possession, Tre expresses his frustrations through his music. “A lot of people want to play gangster; trying to be something they aren’t. You can’t teach heart. You have to be built for this. Aside from working on his own music Tre is busy shooting videos, producing, and collaborating with a number of artists, including, DMV rappers Nizz, Bang Man, Chase Dollaz and Ty Law. He has opened a number of established Hip-Hop artists including B.O.B. and B.G. I treat the rap game, like I treated drug trafficking, only 110%." That’s real, but what else would you expect from a survivor.