In a busy world wracked by news and devastation of a persistent virus, hope and peace are concepts that are now elusive. Bringing light and spreading optimism within his audience, the rising music artist and entrepreneur Willie J has soared up the charts with uplifting music and advocacies.
Born and raised in East Saint Louis, Illinois, Willie J is a CEO, artist, author, songwriter, producer, motivational speaker, and versatile musician. He is an internationally well-loved character, and it is hard to believe that the enterprising creative carries a heartwarming success story beneath his sleeves.
Willie J had always carried a strong faith even at an early age. Recognizing his God-given musical potential, he explored and honed his talents, revealing an infectious love for life and inspiring the same from his reach. However, life would soon test Willie’s conviction.
To say that the next few years of his life were a struggle would be an understatement. From losing his mother to cancer, facing six to 30 years in prison, being slipped a Mickey with 42 blade cuts, and dealing with addiction, the bright young artist’s light dimmed. So lost and determined to rediscover his path, he found solace in music.
Experiencing the wonders that the art had done to him and knowing the countless suffering through the same situation he was in, Willie J launched Pure Mission Entertainment.
“My motivation was just seeing the need for creating hope through arts and entertainment,” he reveals. “So my president and I started masterminding and meeting annually and just seeing how we can impact the world with our brand.”
From being high off substances to riding high success, Willie J’s drive to spread music and love translated into his work and drove his company to become a well-known international voice for hope and peace. Since its inception, Pure Mission Entertainment has stood behind the scoring accomplishments of the movies Waist Deep and Johnson Family Vacation. The company has also worked with top artists such as Boyz II Men, Iggy Azalea, Anthony Hamilton, Lil Zhane, and Cedric the Entertainer.
Outside of elevating his fellow artists, Willie J is an award-winning artist himself. Mixing philanthropy with passion, the brilliant entrepreneur released “We Love You, Puerto Rico,” a Hurricane Maria survivors’ tribute featuring various artists with a portion of the proceeds going to the Puerto Rican Society.
It was an instant hit. The song climbed to the #2 spot on the European Top 200 Music Indie Charts and the Top 100 World Music Charts with a staggering three million streams on SoundCloud. It was immediately followed by the overwhelmingly positive feedback received by his latest masterpiece, “In The Morning.”
Written and dedicated to the victims of COVID-19, including Willie’s friend and rock artist Terry Sanford, “In the Morning” carries uplifting notes and, sung with soulful vocals, imparts a message of hope and faith in its listeners. The song gained 5.1 million SoundCloud streams. The international recognition and numerous features that the song gained set the ideal stage for the artist’s recently released EP Sunshine with the Rain vol 1, which dropped just in time for International Women’s Day.
When asked about the inspiration behind his powerful tracks, Willie reveals, “I’ve seen teens as young as 15 who have reported that they were about to commit suicide until hearing one of my songs. So stories like that and beyond motivated me to build my own brand and to have creative control over the content.”
Going back to his faith, he continues with, “God was my greatest motivation. He gave me the gifts, the vision and pure mission to build,” and build is precisely what he’s doing. Shaping a community of like-minded, positive individuals through Pure Mission Entertainment, Willie J empowers people worldwide.
Fulfilling his mission to mold his company into a vehicle of change and hope, the artist is working on an upcoming song, “Isabell”, which seeks to raise awareness on mental health and the dangers of cyberbullying. Stay updated on the release of “Isabell” and learn more about the multi-talented Willie J by visiting Pure Mission Entertainment’s official website.
