Charlie Bereal

Charlie Bereal is a testament to the power of divine timing. Born into a family of musicians, the multi-talented artist has collaborated with some of the most iconic names in the world, from JAY-Z and Beyoncé to the late Aaliyah. Despite forging an incredibly fruitful path as a producer and songwriter, he’s now poised to conquer the world as a solo artist. Having come full circle by reuniting with early inspiration Snoop Dogg and the legendary Death Row Records, Bereal is just getting started. Oh, and did we mention he’s already Grammy-nominated?

There’s a good chance you’ve heard Chris Dave play drums, even if you didn’t know it was him. Over the last 20 years, the Houston-born percussionist, bandleader, and producer has played with some of the most revered names in jazz and R&B, offering his unique drumming style to songs by D’Angelo, Justin Bieber,The Robert Glasper Experiment, and Adele. The Roots’s bandleader Ahmir Questlove Thompson once called Dave “the most dangerous drummer alive,” a characterization that Dave playfully dismisses. “I don’t believe that at all,” he deadpanned during a recent interview. Maybe that’s why he endures: He lets the work speak for itself. And his music is so resonant that it does just that.