Conversations with Tydre

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tydre.

Hi Tydre, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always had this drive to be something more. I grew up in a really creative household. My mom was a recreation center manager who ran her own party-promotion business, my dad went from club promoter to senior photographer for NYC, and my older sister was performing her poetry and filmmaking on big platforms/stages. So creativity was the air I breathed.

I started drawing as a baby, and everyone around me saw the talent early. My parents put me in art camps, bought me the best supplies, and I kept winning art competitions through elementary and middle school. That eventually led me to the High School of Art & Design. Even then, I was still performing in every school play I could, starting in pre-k. But in high school, I fell in love with Hip Hop, and that shifted everything.

I went on to Virginia State University, where I moved from visual art into performance art. While earning my degree and developing my music, I stayed extremely active on campus. I was the president of the Mass Communications Club, curating weekly events, interning as an on-air personality at 91.3 WVST, joining Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and performing as a rapper, actor, and dancer with the performing arts organization P.A.N.I.C. 2000. Eventually, I built enough buzz to perform at every major campus event and open for major artists like Teyana Taylor, 21 Savage, Wale, and G Herbo.

After graduation, I came back to NYC to grow in the music scene. Then COVID hit. During quarantine, I started making funny TikTok skits just for fun, and they went viral with millions of views. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just a musician anymore; I was a content creator too.

A few years later, I co-founded The GOAT Collective with friends who shared the same artistic vision. Our goal is to use music, media, fashion, sports, and culture to empower communities. In just four years, we’ve grown beyond NYC, expanding even to LA, and partnered with major companies and public figures—from the Negro Baseball Leagues and the USTA to the Brooklyn Nets, Junior Knicks, SportsNY, Wilson, and local council and assembly members.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely never been a smooth road. A never ending roller coaster of highs and lows. Having a talented family is a blessing, but it comes with a kind of pressure people don’t always talk about. Not pressure from them—never that—but pressure I put on myself. From a young age, everyone saw me as someone who was “bound to make it,” and that created this invisible standard I felt I had to live up to. I thought I had to win at the highest level no matter what. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how heavy and unhealthy that mindset can be.

I remember right before graduating college, a faculty member told me, “If you don’t make it, you did something wrong.” I know he meant it as encouragement, but it had the opposite effect. It added to the weight I was already carrying.

People see the highlights you know, the stages I’ve touched, the partnerships, the sponsorships, the events I’ve put together, but they don’t see the grind behind it. The humility it takes. The moments where I have to put my pride aside and do the constant outreach and follow-ups over and over and over and over, for sometimes to finally get a response and it’s a “No.” Sometimes I look at myself like, “Malcolm, have some dignity,” haha. But that’s the reality. The public only sees the finished product.

And now, running a company on top of everything adds another layer of responsibility. Leading people with different personalities, people who believe in you and depend on you, that’s a different kind of pressure.

I said it in my song “Best Life”: “I let my past depression catapult me into succession.” I don’t let pressure hold me hostage anymore. I still have moments though where anxiety creeps in, the struggle gets real, but this journey is what I live for.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multi-hyphenate creative, entrepreneur, and visionary leader dedicated to empowerment, especially with the youth. A dynamic performer who has graced national stages—from Pharrell Williams’ Something In The Water festival to electrifying crowds at the Barclays Center for the NBA, my artistic reach extends far beyond the spotlight. Like I said before my digital content has amassed millions of views across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, forming a deeply engaged global audience inspired by my authenticity, creativity, and mission-driven storytelling.

As the Founder and President of The GOAT Foundation, I lead an organization committed to expanding access, opportunity, and imagination for young people in historically underserved communities. The GOAT Foundation is the home of two flagship initiatives: The GOAT Classic, an annual community celebration blending basketball, culture, mentorship, and education; and The GOAT Academy, a youth development program providing hands-on exposure to music, fashion, sports, entrepreneurship, leadership, and emerging technologies.

Now entering its fourth year, the GOAT Classic has evolved into a beloved cultural moment in NYC—a full day rooted in community pride, intergenerational connection, and the idea that greatness lives within every young person. The event has become a platform for local youth, athletes, creators, and families to gather, learn, play, and be inspired. And hope one day to bring it to LA.

So far, we’ve also been focused on opening up racquet sports to a wider community thanks to All-Love Racquet Club, who’s allowing us to partner with them to create inclusive spaces in tennis, paddle, and pickleball places where people from all backgrounds feel welcome across the country. We helped them launch their first pop-up in Long Beach in 2023 through collaboration with the USTA. Erika (founder of All-Love) and Malik Norris (co-founder of GOAT Collective) both played D1 tennis at Prairie View A&M, so they understand how important representation and access are. Together, we’re creating opportunities for underrepresented youth and helping reshape the culture around racquet sports in a meaningful way.

Through the GOAT Foundation, we champion a model of empowerment grounded in representation, access, and real pathways for young people to discover their passions and pursue their goals. His work sits at the intersection of creativity, community, and social impact—fueling a movement that encourages every young person to show up as their greatest self, every day.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Two things people never believe about me: I actually love being alone, and I’m one of the most extroverted introverts you’ll ever meet. It sounds crazy (especially to anyone who’s close to me reading this) because at events—whether I’m hosting, performing, or just showing up—you practically need Thano’s infinity gauntlet to pull me away from talking to people. And it’s not fake. I genuinely enjoy those conversations, whether we’re talking about life or just joking around.

But what people don’t see is that I have a social battery, and when it’s drained, it’s done. I need real alone time to recharge and for a good while. And honestly, if you asked me to choose between being around people or being by myself forever, I couldn’t give you an answer. Being around folks is healing in one way, but staying home and being in my own space gives me that same feeling in a different way.

It’s a balance I’m still learning to be honest. Figuring out how to show up for people while still protecting the quiet moments I need for myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://welcometothegoat.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tydre/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malcolm-pinckney-jr-7000b011a/
• Twitter: https://x.com/MallyMal214
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tydre_