First Trey Songz is an acclaimed R&B artist, with five successful albums, and even a budding acting career, but the 28 year old singing star also believes it's important to use his platform to be engaged with politics and the community.
He's held voter registration drives in Texas and helped get-out-the-vote in his home state of Virginia. And he continued that work at Essence Fest, where he performed to a huge crowd Saturday night, then joined Rev. Sharpton on PoliticsNation Sunday to discuss his activist work.
"Coming from where I come from, and so many of us come from, and having the opportunities I've been given I think it's my duty to share that with the people that listen to my music," he said. "To give them the insight that I have on the world and to give them hope that this is not all that life is. Whatever you're surrounded by doesn't have to be your only escape."
He believes he's a "living testament" to the possibility of success.
"This is a dream for me. I'm down at Essence Festival four years straight, performing for 80-thousand people," he said. "I started in my high school auditorium, you know, so if this is something that I can do, then whatever it is you put your mind to, you can do the same."
"As many times as I can tell people that, and if that affects one live, then I've done my job," he added.
Watch more of Rev. Sharpton's interview with Trey Songz below.