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Reks

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Before the Grey Hairs, REKS was just a teenager who fell in love with the Hip-Hop movement. Little did he know, one day he would experience working with and alongside some of those legendary hip-hop icons. Born Corey Isiah Christie in Lawrence, Massachusetts, August 24th, 1977, REKS practically grew up with Hip-Hop. He first embraced the culture by becoming a break-dancer with Funk Town Connection (FTC), competing all over the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. The legendary Rap styles of KRS-One, Slick Rick, and Ice Cube inspired him to pick up the mic and he started writing rhymes at a very young age. Soon thereafter, REKS began gaining notoriety in his hometown through cipher battles and memorable stage performances. After high school, REKS enrolled at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. With a “Kanye West” drive and mentality, REKS decided to drop out of college after one year to pursue his dream and music career full-time.

REKS took the underground scene by storm with his debut LP, Along Came The Chosen (2001). The album featured production from his ex-classmates Soul Searchers, Fakts One, and a then 18-year old Statik Selektah. The album also featured collaborations with underground stalwarts including Pace-Won & Young Zee of the Outsidaz, 7L & Esoteric, J-Live EDO. G and MSC group members Lucky Dice and Chi Knox. The critically acclaimed LP was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Album & Artist of the Year at The Boston Music Awards and was featured in the Source, XXL, Vibe, and URB Magazine’s “Next 100”. The album’s single “Skills 101” reached #45 on the Billboard Singles chart, putting him on shows and tours with The Clipse, Ghostface Killah, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Redman, De La Soul, Method Man, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Boot Camp Click, JR Writer and one of his idols KRS-One.

After releasing several mixtapes in the interim, REKS finally released his highly anticipated sophomore LP, Grey Hairs, in 2008 and it saw him once again team up with his former DJ, longtime friend, Statik Selektah who served as the projects Executive Producer and the momentous album featured production from DJ Premier, Large Professor, DC The Midi Alien and ten-tracks from Statik and featured collaborations with Lil Fame of MOP, Consequence, Skyzoo, Termanology, Jon Hope and Big Shug. Grey Hairs firmly established REKS as one of the top rising Indy artists as it is considered an underground classic and it lead to REKS being profiled by XXL Magazine in their “Show & Prove” section. In early 2009, REKS released the companion piece More Grey Hairs, appeared on Statik Selektah’s Spell My Name Right: The Album and released two more mixtapes (In Between The Lines Series Vol’s 1 & 2 which were hosted by Statik Selektah/DJ Green Lantern and DJ Ill Will respectively) and both mixtapes garnered thousands of downloads and widespread praise.

REKS now sets out to take the next step in his progression with what promises to be an instant classic, with his third LP, R.E.K.S (Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme), which is scheduled to be released on March 8th, 2011 on Showoff/Brick Records.

The LP lists such notable legends as DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Hi Tek, Alchemist, Nottz, Sha Money XL, Sean C & LV, Fizzy Womack and the ever present Statik Selektah contributing production; and newcomers Blaze P and Mike Frey join in for this classic as well. Throw in highlight tracks with Styles P, Freeway, Termanology, Lil Fame, Attica Bars and DJ Corbet and you have the recipe for another instant classic!

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