Willie J Overcoming His Life Struggles to Build the Internationally Acclaimed Pure Mission Entertainment

Willie J is an international recording artist, author, producer, CEO, and public speaker from Belleville, Illinois. Although a native of East Saint Louis/Washington Park, Illinois, Willie’s interest in music dates back to his teenage years after a childhood of struggle and unconventional experiences. He recalled one of his best friends getting killed when he was 13 as the deciding factor that prompted his highly spiritual parents to decide to relocate to the suburbs, and this proved to be a turning point for Willie, not just personally but also in his music career. As soon as he had settled into his new environment, he turned his pain into his gain. He hasn’t looked back ever since.

With his mind already set on music, Willie J partnered with The MuzicDortorz, the only production he has worked with for more than 20 years, comprising Louis, Theo, and 88. Following a dark phase in his life when he was looking at jail time in the Maximum Penitentiary, surviving blade wounds, and losing both his mother and grandmother to breast cancer just one year apart, Willie J moved from music as entertainment to a much deeper part as gospel. Since then, he has spread hope through his music—eventually partnering with his production team of 20-plus years: (The MuzicDortorz) Louis, Theo, and 88. The MuzicDortorz, as a brand of music creators and producers, has worked with global artists such as Anthony Hamilton, Cedric The Entertainer, Iggy Azalea, Boyz To Men, Mac 10, and more. Their production has also been featured in the hit films Waiste Deep and The Johnson family vacation, but this wasn’t the end of Willie’s struggles.

Since experiencing struggles in his life, Willie has been on the move, sharing his hope through arts and entertainment led him and his business partner, Aaron, to establish his internationally known company, Pure Mission Entertainment, an entertainment company and record label that is rubbing shoulders with some of the bigwig record labels in the industry. The label was founded following the success of Willie J’s Valentine’s day EP release, Sunshine with The Rain vol. 1., which has recorded 3.3 million streams on SoundCloud in over 50 countries. The Sunshine with the Rain EP features singles such as “Sunshine with the Rain,” where he featured NAACP awards winner Arthur Flash Johnson. The single peaked at Top 3 on the European Indie Charts, with over 2 million streams, among several successes.

In recognition of their work, Willie J and his company have been featured on ABC, KCTV5, NBC and YAHOO three times since February, as well getting featured in The Chicago Journal list of Top 10 CEOs and the New York Wire and LA Wire. Willie J is also in the New York Weekly list of Top 10 Musicians of 2021, and he recently had his EP Cover featured on a New York Times Square Billboard.

Willie J attributes all of his honors and achievements to God and intends to keep creating hope for the masses through arts and entertainment. He intends to release more music/musical charity projects, books, and content for speaking engagements. Willie J understands the God factor in his journey and knows that his achievements are not entirely up to him. 

Willie J also released his newest single, “In the Morning”, a dedication to COVID-19 and the friends he lost because of it. It was in memory of one of his best friends and artist. Currently, the single has 6 million streams on SoundCloud.

When asked where he sees himself and his company five years from now, he said, “I see myself being a beacon of HOPE and creating more hope for the world today in a most historic fashion. Breeding other leaders who would spark more change in the world today. I see PME being the driving force of the arts and entertainment industry with God’s help.”

Follow Willie J and PME on Instagram.

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