Renagade D

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

Renagade Interview Pt.1 By Mike Spurell So Renagade, How long you been rapping? I say” seriously since I was 17 years old Who inspired you to become a rapper or was it just a choice you made? It was a choice that I made. I felt I had nothing else to try. Everything else I’ve attempted I gave up on it before I could make something out of it. Basically I did not put my all into it. So do you put your all in music? Yea! Hell Yea! That’s why this music thing has to work for me because I put everything off for it including my family. You put your Family off for music? Can you elaborate on that statement? My family hated me and my choice for quitting school and not working for music. But I had a plan, a plan that would only work my way. And thank God I made the right decision because I can get my diploma on the road taking home school. I only need 2 credits. Switching topics what type of rap do prefer? What you mean? Street music or Commercial music? I prefer what’s hot How do you feel about Rappers going Commercial? What you mean? About Commercial rap? To me going commercial has sort of a bad name. Why you say that? I say that because people from the streets don’t appreciate club music until they in the club. I know in a car, most nigga’s rather listen to Dip Set or G Unit or Young Jeezy. But in the club, the girls wanna Hear Ying Yang Twins “Wait Till You See My” (u know what) Or Nelly “Drop Down and Get Your Eagle On” Then Commercial rap is considered good because it gets the Females going. So would you prefer staying Street or going Commercial? I prefer making money. If money is in the street you’ll see Street music, if money is in Commercial I’ll go commercial music. But I won’t limit myself to just only one style of music. That’s why my album, I touch on so many different topics and styles of music. (Correct me if wrong), your saying that your in it for the money? Listen If you spend money promoting and making a album, studio time, T-shirts, Cd’s, and buying beats, Of Course you wanna make money. Because if you don’t your loosing money, and who has money to loose. Rich people don’t like wasting money so why would a poor person wanna loose money. As of right now, who is running Hip Hop? 50cent hands down! No doubt about it Why 50cent? He is always finding ways to recreate his music. From “Wankster” to “Outta Control” Street to commercial he’s gave the world different sides of him. If I had to follow a blue print of the rap game I would either use 50cent, Jay-Z, or Eminiem. What do you mean Blue Print? The same approach. For the start of all 3 hip-hop careers they took the rap game by storm. I think that those 3men are responsible for keeping Hip-hop alive after Tupac and Biggie passed away (R.I.P.)