Willie Crum, Jr., best known as Dink Dinero, was born August 30, 1978 in Southside Jamaica Queens, New York. Willie was fortunate to have both parents in his life even though they weren’t together. He grew up with his mother, Denise Hyland, stepfather, Mac Davis, in a three-bedroom apartment filled with kids his mother took care of. There were ten of us in all.

Willie’s mother being a foster parent and a day care provider, Willie says “She’s a hustler and a businesswoman. My mother had a special kind of love for kids and with her not being able to have anymore and me being her only child, I guess she wanted to make sure I had company growing up.” At times feeling neglected and wanting attention from his mother, Willie started taking a few bad turns in life; getting kicked out of school and hanging in the streets. Willie’s mother was not having that, so she sent him to Long Beach, Long Island New York to live with his father.

Willie’s father, Willie Crum, Sr., born in Georgia and raised in Queens, New York, is a musician and Willie’s idol and musical inspiration. His father pays the organ and drums, he has played for local groups back and played the organ on Sunday mornings at church. Willie’s father’s household was a little more family-structured than his mother’s house. Willie’s father was married with two daughters and we had to have dinner at the dinner table, completed chores and you know shit like that.

His father was strict but down to earth, instilled a lot of knowledge and wisdom inside him because he was from the streets; but Willie, Jr. was hardheaded and nobody could tell him shit.

His attitude had him back and forth living with his mother and father and in jail a few times. One day he grew up a little, buckled down and finished high school. Willie also did two years of junior college

Growing up, Willie had hoop dreams and dreams of becoming an actor. He pursued both but gave up down the line. He made a promise to himself that the next goal or dream he had, he would never give up on. Willie’s mother used to sing around the house cleaning and she had a beautiful voice, and his pop played the organ so music is something that’s in his blood. Willie said “I believe I was born to do this. I also believe that I will be a great success and will have a major impact on the rap game.”

Dink Dinero started rapping when his stepbrother, Dye, came home from jail. His brother was writing rhymes when he was on lockdown, so he used to always spit a verse and be like Dink what you got? Willie didn’t write rhymes back then so he would freestyle. Dye told him he had a good voice and flow and that he should take it more serious. They would be in their hallway flowing on the boulevard and flowing everywhere sharpening his craft.

In 2002 Dink moved to Atlanta to pursue his career and shortly after signed a recording deal with Worldwide Records and began recording his album and hitting the streets, after a few ups and downs Dink has evolved as one of the premier up & coming rappers right now, his debut album Strizzlez is set to hit the stores in the summer of 2008. His mix tape & single Hood Anthem is in stores now and has taken the streets by storm.