Mac Dre
Encyclopedia
Andre Hicks better known by his stage name
Mac Dre, was an American rapper.
while still a child. Under the stage name
"Mac Dre", Hicks began his rap career in the early 1980s, gaining a greater degree of recognition in the late eighties and early nineties.
After recording his first three albums between 1989 and 1991, Mac Dre was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. Hicks's record label, Romp Productions, and his many references to "Romper Room" in his songs, bore a similarity to a group of robbers targeting banks and pizza parlors who were active in Vallejo at the time called the "Romper Room Gang." Hicks, alleged by authorities to be a member of the gang, was convicted of conspiracy to commit robery and was sentenced to five years in prison in 1992 after refusing a deal offered by law enforcement authorities that would have required him to inform on other gang members.
In prison, Hicks gained some notoriety by recording the lyrics to songs directly over the Fresno County Jail and Lompoc United States Penitentiary inmate telephone. His album, Young Black Brotha
, was a result of such efforts, as well as guest appearances on fellow artists' songs, all while Hicks was still imprisoned. A later album, Back 'N Da Hood, was also made up of these prison-recorded songs.
After his release from prison in 1997, he released Mac Dre Presents the Rompalation. In late 1997 and early 1998 he recorded his album second album "Stupid Doo Doo Dumb". It was released April 28th, 1998. Following those albums, Hicks met with Executive Producer Bernard Gourley and recorded the album Rapper Gone Bad
with production help from Tone Cappone, Lev Berlak, and Warren G
. This started a new beginning for Mac Dre as he began to release albums steadily, building a huge catalog of music recorded at The Grill Studios in Oakland. In 2000. Mac Dre's audience was growing, and mainstream hip-hop stations were beginning to give Hicks' music more airtime. Hicks relocated to Sacramento
, California in 2001, where he began a label, Thizz Entertainment.
He worked with well-known artists such as Keak da Sneak
, E-40
, B-Legit
, Brotha Lynch Hung
, Dubee
, Mistah Fab, Rydah J. Klyde
, Richie Rich
, Lil Ric
San Quinn
, Mars
, Yukmouth
, PSD
, Andre Nickatina
, Mac Mall
, Smoov-E (aka Eli Meltzer
), Messy Marv
, and Too Short. He also provided an uncredited hook to the track "Gotta Survive" from Young Lay
's Black 'N Dangerous album that featured 2Pac.
Mac Dre was gunned down on November 1, 2004, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Mac Dre, was an American rapper.
Biography
Andre Hicks was born in Oakland, California but moved to VallejoVallejo
Vallejo is a common Spanish lastname. There are various places in the Spanish provinces of Burgos, León, and Cantabria named Vallejo. The name seems to have been rooted as a diminutive of valle...
while still a child. Under the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
"Mac Dre", Hicks began his rap career in the early 1980s, gaining a greater degree of recognition in the late eighties and early nineties.
After recording his first three albums between 1989 and 1991, Mac Dre was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. Hicks's record label, Romp Productions, and his many references to "Romper Room" in his songs, bore a similarity to a group of robbers targeting banks and pizza parlors who were active in Vallejo at the time called the "Romper Room Gang." Hicks, alleged by authorities to be a member of the gang, was convicted of conspiracy to commit robery and was sentenced to five years in prison in 1992 after refusing a deal offered by law enforcement authorities that would have required him to inform on other gang members.
In prison, Hicks gained some notoriety by recording the lyrics to songs directly over the Fresno County Jail and Lompoc United States Penitentiary inmate telephone. His album, Young Black Brotha
Young Black Brotha (album)
Young Black Brotha is the 1993 debut LP by Mac Dre, not to be confused with an earlier Mac Dre release, Young Black Brotha . The album contains several new recordings as well as most of the recordings of What's Really Going On? and a couple of tracks from Back N' Da Hood including and extended...
, was a result of such efforts, as well as guest appearances on fellow artists' songs, all while Hicks was still imprisoned. A later album, Back 'N Da Hood, was also made up of these prison-recorded songs.
After his release from prison in 1997, he released Mac Dre Presents the Rompalation. In late 1997 and early 1998 he recorded his album second album "Stupid Doo Doo Dumb". It was released April 28th, 1998. Following those albums, Hicks met with Executive Producer Bernard Gourley and recorded the album Rapper Gone Bad
Rapper Gone Bad
Rapper Gone Bad is the third album by Mac Dre, released September 28, 1999, on Thizz Entertainment. Guest appearances include Warren G, Kokane, The WhoRidas, Little Bruce, B-Legit and others.-Track listing:#Intro...
with production help from Tone Cappone, Lev Berlak, and Warren G
Warren G
Warren G , is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer. He is also Dr. Dre's half-brother.His biggest hit is the song "Regulate" with Nate Dogg released in 1994...
. This started a new beginning for Mac Dre as he began to release albums steadily, building a huge catalog of music recorded at The Grill Studios in Oakland. In 2000. Mac Dre's audience was growing, and mainstream hip-hop stations were beginning to give Hicks' music more airtime. Hicks relocated to Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California in 2001, where he began a label, Thizz Entertainment.
He worked with well-known artists such as Keak da Sneak
Keak da Sneak
Charles Toby Bowens , commonly known by his stage name Keak da Sneak, is a rapper from Oakland, California . At the age of 16 he was known as Z-Kush but became known as "Keak da Sneak" at 17, best known for his scratchy, gruff rapping voice and coining the term "hyphy" in 1994.-Career:Keak da Sneak...
, E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
, B-Legit
B-Legit
Brandt Jones, better known by his stage name B-Legit, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California.He is a member of The Click, a rap group formed by his cousin E-40. He was featured on the track "Aint Hard 2 Find" by 2Pac in All Eyez on Me. He has been on several independent labels such as...
, Brotha Lynch Hung
Brotha Lynch Hung
Kevin Danell Mann , better known by his stage name Brotha Lynch Hung, is an American rapper and record producer from Sacramento, California...
, Dubee
Dubee
file:///C:/Users/macki/Desktop/Dubee.jpgDubee A.K.A. Sugawolf , is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. A longtime player in the Northern California Bay Area rap scene, he signed his first deal with local producer Khayree Shaheed's Young Black Brotha Records in 1995 and released a self...
, Mistah Fab, Rydah J. Klyde
Rydah J. Klyde
Rydah J. Klyde is a Bay Area rapper from Pittsburg, California best known for his affiliation with the rap group Mob Figaz. Around 2002, Rydah signed a solo deal with Mac Dre's Thizz Entertainment label. In 2003, he released his album Tha Fly Gangsta...
, Richie Rich
Richie Rich (rapper)
Richard Serrell, better known by his stage name Richie Rich, is a rapper from Oakland, California.He is currently signed to Mack 10's Hoo-Bangin' Records.-Early years :His rapping style is an influence on Snoop Dogg. In Snoop's own words...
, Lil Ric
Lil Ric
Lil Ric is an American rapper from Richmond, California, formally of No Limit and Noo Trybe Records. He released his debut album, Deep N tha Game, in 1995 through No Limit, but left the label in 1995 just at it was beginning to take off. He later joined Noo Trybe and released 1998's It's Like...
San Quinn
San Quinn
Quincy Brooks IV better known by his stage name San Quinn, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California.-Career:Born in Oakland, California, Quincy moved to the Fillmore district of San Francisco at the age of three...
, Mars
Mars (rapper)
Mars is an American Horrorcore rapper from the San Francisco Bay Area.-Biography:In 2005, he received national attention when fan Jeff Weise frequented Mars' website and forum before killing nine people...
, Yukmouth
Yukmouth
Jerold Dwight Ellis, III, better known by his stage name Yukmouth, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper from East Oakland, Oakland, California. He is the founder of The Regime, Smoke-A-Lot Records and Godzilla Entertainment.-Career:He is a member of the platinum-selling rap duo Luniz along with...
, PSD
PSD (rapper)
Steve Davison, better known as PSD, PSD Tha Drivah or Stevie Dee, is a rapper and producer from Vallejo, California who is closely associated with the late Mac Dre and his record label, Thizz Entertainment.-Biography:...
, Andre Nickatina
Andre Nickatina
Andre L. Adams , better known by his stage name Andre Nickatina, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California. He previously performed under the stage name Dre Dog.-Musical career:...
, Mac Mall
Mac Mall
Mac Mall, is a West Coast rapper who became known in the mid/late 1990s, as one of the local artists putting the Bay Area on the hip hop map. Mac Mall was signed to Young Black Brotha Records....
, Smoov-E (aka Eli Meltzer
Eli Meltzer
Eli Meltzer, better known by his stage name Smoov-E, is an American musician. He is from Summertown, Tennessee but moved to Sebastopol, California at a young age.-Biography:...
), Messy Marv
Messy Marv
Marvin Watson, better known by his stage name Messy Marv, is an American rapper from Pittsburg, CA, but represents the Fillmore Area of San Francisco, CA.Messy Marv is affiliated with the blood gang...
, and Too Short. He also provided an uncredited hook to the track "Gotta Survive" from Young Lay
Young Lay
Lathan Williams , better known by his stage name Young Lay, is a San Francisco Bay Area-based gangsta rapper.He has worked with artists such as label mate Ray Luv, Tupac Shakur and Mac Dre....
's Black 'N Dangerous album that featured 2Pac.
Mac Dre was gunned down on November 1, 2004, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Solo albums
- 1993: Young Black Brotha: The AlbumYoung Black Brotha (album)Young Black Brotha is the 1993 debut LP by Mac Dre, not to be confused with an earlier Mac Dre release, Young Black Brotha . The album contains several new recordings as well as most of the recordings of What's Really Going On? and a couple of tracks from Back N' Da Hood including and extended...
- 1998: Stupid Doo Doo DumbStupid Doo Doo DumbStupid Doo Doo Dumb is the second album by Bay Area rapper Mac Dre. It is one of his most popular albums to date. -Track listing:#"JT's Intro" #"Life's a Bitch"#"Da Real Deal" #"3C Romp"...
- 1999: Rapper Gone BadRapper Gone BadRapper Gone Bad is the third album by Mac Dre, released September 28, 1999, on Thizz Entertainment. Guest appearances include Warren G, Kokane, The WhoRidas, Little Bruce, B-Legit and others.-Track listing:#Intro...
- 2000: Heart Of A Gangsta, Mind Of A Hustla, Tongue Of A PimpHeart of a Gangsta, Mind of a Hustla, Tongue of a PimpHeart of a Gangsta, Mind of a Hustla, Tongue of a Pimp is the fourth album by Hyphy Bay Area rapper Mac Dre. Originally released on Outbac Records...
- 2002: Thizzelle WashingtonThizzelle WashingtonThizzelle Washington is an album by rapper Mac Dre. Released in 2002, this album introduced the "Thizzle Dance".- Track listing :#"Intro" - 1:37 #"Monday Thru Sunday" - 4:23#"Stuart Littles" - 3:30...
- 2003: Al Boo Boo
- 2004: Ronald Dregan: DreganomicsRonald Dregan: DreganomicsRonald Dregan: Dreganomics is a 2004 album by Hyphy Bay Area rapper Mac Dre. This album was released on the Thizz Entertainment label.-Tracklisting:#Feelin' Myself#Fa My Niggaz #Jump It#Witme?? Produced by Lev Berlak...
- 2004: The Genie of the LampThe Genie of the Lamp-Track listing:#"Genie of the Lamp"#"She Neva Seen"#"Early Retirement"#"Out There"#"My Alphabets" #"Err Thang" #"Non Discriminant" #"Hear Me Now ?"#"I Feed My Bitch"...
- 2004: The Game Is Thick, Vol. 2The Game Is Thick, Vol. 2The Game Is Thick, Vol. 2 is a 2004 album by Hyphy Bay Area rapper Mac Dre. The album was released just 13 days before his death.-Track listing:# "Tha Introduction"# "Get Loud" # "Cutthoat Soup"# "Retro Dance Record"...
- 2007: Pill Clinton
- 2008: re Day: July 5th 1970]
Compilation albums & Remix albums
- 2002: Do You Remember?
- 2006: 16 wit Dre16 Wit Dre16 wit Dre is a 2006 Mix album by Hyphy Bay Area rapper Mac Dre mixed by DJ Backside.-Track listing:#"DJ Backside"#"Home Wrecka"#"U.S. Open"#"U.G.A."#"Weekend"#"Fast Money" #"Free Agents"#"P.I.M.P."...
(with DJ Backside) - 2006: 16 wit Dre, Vol. 216 Wit Dre, Vol. 216 wit Dre, Vol. 2 is a 2006 Mix album by Hyphy Bay Area rapper Mac Dre mixed by DJ Backside.-Track listing:#"Dretro"#"Chedda Getta"#"Hongry"#"Gas You Up"#"California Bear"#"Legend"#"Many Styles"#"3rd Wall"#"Wild Night"...
(with DJ Backside) - 2006: Uncut
- 2007: Starters in the GameStarters in the GameStarters in the Game is a 2007 compilation album by Hyphy Bay Area rapper Mac Dre.-Track listing:# "Ice Cream" # "Mac Dre" # "Unreleased"...
- 2008: The Dre Area
- 2008: What Iz Thizz
- 2008: For the Streets (14 Unreleased Tracks)
- 2011: The Last of the Treasure
Extended Plays & Cassettes
- 1989: Young Black Brotha
- 1991: California Livin'
- 1992: Back n Da HoodBack N Da HoodBack n da Hood is a 1992 EP by Hyphy Bay Area rapper Mac Dre. It was recorded live from Fresno County Jail and U.S.P. Lompoc over the phone...
Best Of Albums
- 1993: The Best of Mac DreThe Best of Mac DreThe Best of Mac Dre is the first "best of" album by Mac Dre. It was released in 2002 by Sumo/Thizz Entertainment ©. It is the first compilation of his hit songs, later followed by The Best of Mac Dre, Vol. 2 & 3. Though Mac Dre was killed by gunshot on Nov. 01, 2004, his Bay Area legacy lives on...
- 2004: The Best of Mac Dre IIThe Best of Mac Dre IIThe Best of Mac Dre 2 is a 2004 two-disc compilation album by hyphy San Francisco Bay Area rapper Mac Dre.-Disc 1:#Can't No Nigga#Miss You#The Coldest MC#If You#Stupid #Outrages#All It Takes#Feel Me Cuddie#Game 4 Sale#Got Me Crazy...
- 2006: The Best of Mac Dre Vol. 3
- 2008: The Best of Mac Dre Vol. 4
- 2010: The Best of Mac Dre Vol. 5
Collaboration albums
- 2001: Turf BuccaneersTurf Buccaneers-Track listing:# "Intro" - # "Talk Big Shit" # "It's Nothin"# "I Don't Won't"# "When We Roll" # "Cutthroat Committee" # "First Time I Seen Her"...
(with Cutthroat Committee) - 2005: Money iz Motive (with Cutthroat Committee)
- 2005: Da U.S. Open (with Mac MallMac MallMac Mall, is a West Coast rapper who became known in the mid/late 1990s, as one of the local artists putting the Bay Area on the hip hop map. Mac Mall was signed to Young Black Brotha Records....
) - 2005: 15 Years Deep15 Years Deep15 Years Deep is a 2005 album by Hyphy Bay Area rappers Mac Dre and Da'unda'dogg-Track listing:...
(with Da'unda'doggDa'unda'doggDa'unda'dogg is an American recording artist, producer and CEO of Cavvy R. Records. In addition he owns Da'unda'dogg clothing company and was once Co-CEO of Thizz Entertainment....
) - 2007: DreDiggs: Me & My Cuddie (with J-Diggs)
- 2007: Everybody Ain't Able (with Jay TeeJay TeeJames Trujillo, better known by his stage name Jay Tee, is a rapper, songwriter and producer from Vallejo, California. He has been a part of the city's scene since the early 90's as the lead member of N2Deep and Latino Velvet along with Baby Beesh...
) - 2008: A Tale of Two AndresA Tale of Two AndresA Tale of Two Andres is an album released by Bay Area rappers Andre Nickatina and Mac Dre. Initially conceived in 2004, it was released in 2008.# "U Beezy" - 2:35# "My Homeboy's Chevy" - 2:51# "Cocaine" - 1:47# "Neva Seen" - 4:03...
(with Andre NickatinaAndre NickatinaAndre L. Adams , better known by his stage name Andre Nickatina, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California. He previously performed under the stage name Dre Dog.-Musical career:...
) - 2009: Maccin' & Doggin' (with Da'unda'doggDa'unda'doggDa'unda'dogg is an American recording artist, producer and CEO of Cavvy R. Records. In addition he owns Da'unda'dogg clothing company and was once Co-CEO of Thizz Entertainment....
) - 2010: Tha Furly Ghost Vol. 2 (with DubeeDubeefile:///C:/Users/macki/Desktop/Dubee.jpgDubee A.K.A. Sugawolf , is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. A longtime player in the Northern California Bay Area rap scene, he signed his first deal with local producer Khayree Shaheed's Young Black Brotha Records in 1995 and released a self...
) - 2010: Tha Furly Ghost Vol. 3 (with HusalahHusalahHusalah is an American rapper from Pittsburg, California. He began his career with the Pittsburg group the Mob Figaz, whose first album, C-Bo's Mob Figaz, was released in 1999...
)