Reggie Thomas Dickerson II, also known as rap lyricist, Renagade is a native of Northwest, Washington DC. Born on June 22nd, 1984 and raised in Lasalle Park, an urban dwelling in Hyattsville, MD. Renagade has major plans on attacking each angle of rap, intertwining “rhythm and blues, neo-soul, gospel, and even country,” not only attracting one particular audience, but all people with an open mind and a respect for the streets. That is the sole reason rap artist 50 cent inspires Renagade. “It’s his work ethic,” he remarks. “50 does what he does for the ladies, for the streets, for the club, he doesn’t just stick to one subject.” As his name exemplifies, “unlawful behavior,” Renagade does not conform to or abide by the laws of mainstream rap and hip hop. Renagade has fond memories of first embracing the art of being a rap lyricist. “I was 15 I remember vividly buying Rap CD’s and breaking down albums song for song.I wrote down their rhymes word for word and realized how basic their lyrical content was.” The rest is history, at the tender and beardless age of 15, Renagade’s mind was made up- rap was his destiny. The years ahead definitely were a gamble for him, his adamant decision to pursue rap got him thrown out of his home, reckoning him homeless at one time. The studio became his home, his comfort zone. “Three days straight living on nothing but cheetos and water, with nothing else in your brain but work, the struggle, that’s real.” The work Renagade was so ardently consuming himself is his most recent project up to date “The Art of War.” Appropriately titled, The Art of War, symbolizes Renagade’s war against music. It features an array of topics, everything from gospel, club, street, love, and he has even embodied the garb of a street griot- exploring the art of story telling. Renagade always makes it a point to address how there are some rappers out there who create entire albums on blazing, swooning females, the material possessions they’ve accumulated. Renagade distinguishes himself by being holistic, never focusing on one topic- but probing into the “whole” of rap. His lyrical diversity supports his strong views on “hip hop being universal.” He strives to be a man of content and refuses to sell his soul to cater to big time record executives. Renagade has circulated two mixed tapes, Renagade Now and Killing Season. Making sure the listener’s were composed of a strictly neutral audience, all of his songs were “favorably responded to,” he states with a contagiously cocky smile. Renagade’s most proud of “Growing Pains,” a song featured on The Art of War. This song is an informal invitation to his brain’s left and right hemispheres. It’s about his struggle, pure truth- no fictional exaggeration. Renagade has performed at local venues throughout the metropolitan area. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family. He has no problem admitting from his past experiences he’s learned to stay off the streets. Renagades’s family is the seed of his motivation. “It’s do or die now that I have completed my CD. Now it’s in God’s handsonce the mails in the mailbox, it’s up to the mail man to deliver it,” says Renagade. He believes rap evolved from hip hop. In theory, the only thing constant is change, therefore rap will probably evolve into something even more dynamic. However, Renagade sees himself solid in it’s evolution...you be the judge. By: Mikia Clemmons