REBEL, formerly of the Roc-a-Fella Records’ group Diamonds in da Ruff, is now a solo phenomenon poised to dominate the rap scene.
Jan 25, 2007 First stepping on the commercial rap scene in 1998 signed to Roc-a-Fella Records, REBEL and his rap partner saw notable success with the hit single We Need the Doe (Streets is Watching soundtrack) as well as the cult classic Respect (Hard Knock Life Vol. 2 bonus CD).Headlining numerous shows, they performed in front of capacity crowds from Denver to Boston, and even opened for Jay-Z at sold-out shows in the MCI Center and Hampton Coliseum.
REBEL was on the brink of stardom when his career came to an unceremonious halt in 2000 after a tragic accumulation of poor management and unfulfilled promises from the label left him with no choice but to abandon his deal. Disheartened and ready to quit music for good, it wasn’t until 2 years later that he found himself tired of a life of street hustling and motivated by the death of his friend and fellow rapper Chip Banks. To honor his memory REBEL decided to carry on what Chip had started.
Now solo, REBEL hit the studio with a vengeance. In the fall of 2002, he released the independently recorded and distributed mix-tape WSIB-Radio and in 2004 followed it up with an 18 track CD hosted by Damon Dash entitled Throwback Makeover Vol. 1. In the summer of 2006, REBEL flooded the streets with the buzz CD We Still Need The Doe 2006. Professionally mastered and duplicated, the CD would serve as his official re introduction to the world as a unsigned solo artist.
Fast Forward to present day and you’ll find a seasoned artist armed with both the tutelage he received from Jay-Z and Damon Dash and the hard lessons learned and corrected. Well aware that he is blessed with the fact that his temporary hiatus wasn’t due to commercial failure but rather inadequate guidance, he is energized from the love he still receives from fans and hungry to take his rightful place at the top of rap game.
REBEL wants the world to know that he isn’t an artist trying to make a comeback but rather a newly solo artist writing a new chapter in his life. A chapter that includes a freshly formed partnership with accomplished producer Ski Beatz (best known for his production on Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt), a monthly column on new hip-hop web site HHNLive.com and a stash of heaters ready to put the game on smash.
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