Meet De’Ante Roberts | R&B Artist, Songwriter, Label Owner, Distributor, & Business Mogul

We had the good fortune of connecting with De’Ante Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi De’Ante, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
To be completely honest, music has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up in the church playing the drums alongside my mother who has played the piano for most of her life. She was the real cultivator. She identified what I had within me and pushed me to purse it. I was always brilliant as a child. I had dreams of being a doctor. I never really thought any of what I do now would be possible. I was shy when it came to letting people know that I can sing but when they would hear me the reaction would give me chills. I spent time trying to overcome my fear of performing, learning how to write, and mastering the ability to show my emotions through what I sang. I was in my second year of college at Sam Houston State University and became extremely bored with anything that wasn’t music. That was the turning point when I knew, I could do anything but it would never give me the happiness and overall satisfaction that creating music does. Coming from where I’m from, getting a degree was the top priority for my family. Most people don’t make it out of Livingston, TX so there was a real push on education from all sides. I just figured it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I’ve always been a leader of some sort. In my hometown, there were tons of people who had the same dreams as myself. I began to connect the dots and those same people are still my closest friends today and huge part of who De’Ante Roberts is.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What I feel sets me apart from others is my ability to be completely vulnerable in my music. We live in a private world but we all deal with alot of the same things. I just taken the approach that nothing is private for me. If I can use my experiences as a canvas and deliver it in a way that will help someone I’ve done what God has put me here to do.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’m just capable of doing what I love. Coming from Livingston. Opportunities were scarce. People use to laugh in my face and talk behind my back when I told them one day I would only being doing music. The grind and sacrifices it took to get here, makes being at this point all worth it.

Honestly alot of prayer and faith that God had given me this gift to spread it to the world. I went through alot of hardships. Alot of times having to choose between my music and the life people thought I was supposed to be living. As you can see. Music always was the choice. It wasn’t easy watching everyone around me progress in life while i was pouring everything I owned into my dream. I just learned to have tunnel vision. Block everything out and remind myself every day why i was doing this.

I want the world to know that I’m here. I exist. My art is incredible and once it’s given a real chance to be placed in front of you I’m believing it’s going to blow you away. I’m a humble man from humble beginnings. The obstacles I’ve overcome and the sacrifices I’ve made to get here are the very things that define me! You can feel it in every lyric I write.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Man I love going to brunch, so grooves would be my first stop. They have the best food and the vibe is welcoming! I enjoy the live music. If I’m feeling like bar hopping I’m taking them. I can’t forget about taste bar and kitchen! Their mimosas and seafood grits are fire!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shout out to my closest friends that work hard every day to help make my dreams come true. I’d like to give a HUGE shoutout to my homies Lucas Martin, Christian Whattys, Dwight Patrick, London Wallace, and Cameron Duncan. These guys all grabbed ahold of my dreams and helped me push it forward. I could never repay them for everything they have done for me. These guys truly have love for me and my best interest at hand. I’d also like to give a shoutout to my mother Aretha Horton. She inspired the love for music that I have and also the interest in owing my own business. She’s a go getter who has always supported me from day one. I have the fondest memories of my mom riding around in her Camero with the top down blasting my music. I love you lady and thank you for everything. Last but not least I want to give a shoutout to my family over at Brolly Music Group. These guys found me and poured so much knowledge into me. It’s much more than a label as they’ve mentored me to become successful even if it doesn’t happen with music. God couldn’t have brought these guys in my life at a better time. I’m forever grateful for you guys!