Uncle Reece Profile
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“I could be making a whole lot of money singing about things that don't help people … things that don’t direct people to heaven. But it's not hard to give up those riches to sing about Jesus … to talk about what gets people into heaven, because of the way Jesus lived His life. Jesus was so real that I don't mind giving up everything for Him. I'm not just a Christian because I heard about Him – I get Him...So, I thank Him for His example."
Most see Jesus as a leader, right? But people may help you, but they’re never going to become you. Somebody may donate some money to you or help you get to another spot. The CEO of that company who donates millions of dollars … is not ever gonna move to Haiti or you’re never going to see people become them. We give to the homeless, but we aren’t ever going to leave the safety of our homes and go live on the streets and die on the streets for homeless people. Now if we go to the homeless shelter, we might give them a bowl of soup. But we aren’t ever going to sell everything we have and just say, ‘You know what? I am going to be homeless.’ So, they become homeless, just so they’ll know how to defeat homelessness. We’re not ever going to do that. That’s crazy to me.”
He noted how the example, sacrifice, and love of Jesus propelled his musical perspective.
“I could be making a whole lot of money singing about things that don't help people … things that don’t direct people to heaven. But it's not hard to give up those riches to sing about Jesus … to talk about what gets people into heaven, because of the way Jesus lived His life. Jesus was so real that I don't mind giving up everything for Him. I'm not just a Christian because I heard about Him – I get Him. You know what I’m saying? So, I thank Him for His example. I think a lot of Christians are my heavenly heroes, because it’s easy to turn your back on Jesus for something; and I think anybody who doesn't, they get how real His sacrifice is.
He noted how the example, sacrifice, and love of Jesus propelled his musical perspective.
“I could be making a whole lot of money singing about things that don't help people … things that don’t direct people to heaven. But it's not hard to give up those riches to sing about Jesus … to talk about what gets people into heaven, because of the way Jesus lived His life. Jesus was so real that I don't mind giving up everything for Him. I'm not just a Christian because I heard about Him – I get Him. You know what I’m saying? So, I thank Him for His example. I think a lot of Christians are my heavenly heroes, because it’s easy to turn your back on Jesus for something; and I think anybody who doesn't, they get how real His sacrifice is.
"When I'm reminded of that type of love, how could I do anything else? How could I go make a song about getting money, or a girl defiling her own body, or me shooting at somebody else of my color? How can I spit in the face of that type of sacrifice? How could I do that after experiencing that type of compassion and understanding? Not even fully understanding, but just understanding that something was really given to me.”
When I'm reminded of that type of love, how could I do anything else? How could I go make a song about getting money, or a girl defiling her own body, or me shooting at somebody else of my color? How can I spit in the face of that type of sacrifice? How could I do that after experiencing that type of compassion and understanding? Not even fully understanding, but just understanding that something was really given to me.”
Along with shedding light on Jesus’ life through his lyrics, Uncle Reece hopes there is a parallel message his listeners receive through his music. “I want people to know that it is still very possible for His hand to be on your life and to understand that He really rewards people for obedience. I want people to still dream. I'm the type of person … I hate playing the game. I hate it with all my heart. I wouldn't even consider myself an industry person. I don't really like the industry. I’m more ministry oriented. I really like loving people. I really like the supernatural. I believe in the supernatural. I still believe in miracles because my entire career was a miracle. I didn't get in because I played the game. I met somebody on Twitter that said God gave me their name and they blessed me with $30,000 with no strings attached. |
"No, I want people to still know that you can completely and fully trust God. Do it His way, and you can still win. You don't have to sideswipe the game. You don’t have to compromise.”
So, I believe in miracles. I want people to understand that the supernatural still exists. God is a Rewarder to those who diligently seek Him. My wife is the love of my life and I didn’t get her by playing … by running no games – none of that. I trusted God and he brought increase to my life. I think in this time, especially with the culture of the world, I’m seeing Christians just falling off. I’m not talking about all the way, but they just go out there and play the game. They say, ‘You know what? I'm going to just go out there and compromise a little bit on this because I got a few hits.’ No, I want people to still know that you can completely and fully trust God. Do it His way, and you can still win. You don't have to sideswipe the game. You don’t have to compromise. There’s certain people – I don't care what happens – I’m not working with them. I'm not. I don't care what it costs me. There’s just certain people I'm not working with. There’s certain things I'm not doing. I don’t care if it costs me my whole career. God has honored that. I have put my career on the line at least 20 times, and every time, God has honored that. I want people to know that … it still works like that. Hallelujah. God can connect you to whoever he wants to connect with. You don’t have to kiss anybody’s behind. You don’t have to play games to make a connection. You don’t even have to downgrade yourself. God will connect you with whoever He wants you to be connected to.”
That being said, Uncle Reece points to faith as an important influence on his music, himself, and his audience.
“I think my music, my performances – it causes people to just have faith in God. And when I say have faith in God … we mature. I don't even love God to go to heaven any more. I say having faith in God … it’s having faith that His way is still more powerful than the world’s way … faith really was the key to my success.
That being said, Uncle Reece points to faith as an important influence on his music, himself, and his audience.
“I think my music, my performances – it causes people to just have faith in God. And when I say have faith in God … we mature. I don't even love God to go to heaven any more. I say having faith in God … it’s having faith that His way is still more powerful than the world’s way … faith really was the key to my success.
"God can connect you to whoever he wants to connect with. You don’t have to kiss anybody’s behind. You don’t have to play games to make a connection. You don’t even have to downgrade yourself. God will connect you with whoever He wants you to be connected to.”
I think people get that when they see me perform. When they see me speak, they’re not seeing me speak. Honestly, I’m actually a pretty lame, corny dude. But, when the Spirit of God comes on me and I speak with boldness, people know, okay, Reece is in the presence of God right now. They also know when they’re just dealing with Maurice. They know the difference. You know who you’re talking to. You’re like, ‘I’m talking to corny Reece. I’m talking to video game playing, joke - all -the -time Reece versus ‘I'm talking to a soldier of God.’ I'm not always in Holy Spirit mode. I'm not always there. I think it will be difficult to be in that mode all day. God allows me to have fun and be myself. Then when it’s time for Him to use me, He uses me. I just want people to know that it's not that difficult ... just be available. God will hit the light switch on when He goes on, and He’ll tell you when you can chill.
Let me tell you something, when I get home, I hop on my PS4, call my nerdy friends, and we play video games all night online with the headset. I thought that stuff wasn’t going to be relevant in the streets man. I thought people in the streets, once they find out I'm a gamer, they’re not going to rock with me. Listen, they rock with me – church people, street people, business people – everybody rocks with me. I don’t try to fit in anywhere, and they still rock with me.”
The youthful singer and rapper described how he began creating music at a young age, yet, creatively speaking, in an altogether different direction.
“When I first started doing music in high school, I created secular music. As my eyes became more open, I began to realize that God was really who He said he was … that He was real. I began to see the lies of the enemy – to see the things that he had done to a lot of my peers, to me and saw the disservice … just the disservice that he was doing, especially in my community. I decided, man, I wasn't going to be a part of that.”
Let me tell you something, when I get home, I hop on my PS4, call my nerdy friends, and we play video games all night online with the headset. I thought that stuff wasn’t going to be relevant in the streets man. I thought people in the streets, once they find out I'm a gamer, they’re not going to rock with me. Listen, they rock with me – church people, street people, business people – everybody rocks with me. I don’t try to fit in anywhere, and they still rock with me.”
The youthful singer and rapper described how he began creating music at a young age, yet, creatively speaking, in an altogether different direction.
“When I first started doing music in high school, I created secular music. As my eyes became more open, I began to realize that God was really who He said he was … that He was real. I began to see the lies of the enemy – to see the things that he had done to a lot of my peers, to me and saw the disservice … just the disservice that he was doing, especially in my community. I decided, man, I wasn't going to be a part of that.”
"I need Jesus. I'm not a Christian because I don’t have anything else to do. I'm a Christian because I love Jesus, and I’m one step away from messing up my whole life."
He talked about the evolution of his music, recalling his transition from secular to gospel music.
“The first song I ever made that didn't have curse words in it was called “Young Dreamer”. I used to curse every other line … back when I was young. The first rap I did, no cursing, was called “Young Dreamer” and … that was cool. But what ended up happening, I started to think this was deeper than me just being positive. I really wanted to lift up the name of God because I really believe in Him. So, I started doing gospel rap. I started meeting and getting to know more people. One of my friends said to me, ‘Man, you know, you can really sing. That's something you need to implement in your music.’ A lot of my raps were melodic anyway. So, I dropped the song called “Until I Pass Out”.
“The first song I ever made that didn't have curse words in it was called “Young Dreamer”. I used to curse every other line … back when I was young. The first rap I did, no cursing, was called “Young Dreamer” and … that was cool. But what ended up happening, I started to think this was deeper than me just being positive. I really wanted to lift up the name of God because I really believe in Him. So, I started doing gospel rap. I started meeting and getting to know more people. One of my friends said to me, ‘Man, you know, you can really sing. That's something you need to implement in your music.’ A lot of my raps were melodic anyway. So, I dropped the song called “Until I Pass Out”.
He went on to share his thoughts about the popular single and its impact.
“The song blew up. People started calling. I started getting booked for shows. I put together the Bold album. By the grace of God, we were number nine on the Billboards. All three singles that I put out for that album were all top 30 Billboard hits. So, it was the grace of God.
A lot of these songs, I didn’t know what I was talking about. I just wrote what the Holy Spirit had given me, you know? I don't think I’ve ever went to a producer and I just started writing. I usually write my songs, then I meet a producer, and I tell them, ‘This is what I heard in my head. I need you to make this song exactly how I heard it.’ I would hear a song from Him like “Until I Pass Out”. I was so angry when I wrote that song. I was mad. I was hurt. I was … hurt. I was angry because … why do I have to go to church where this is the place for me, but I have to worry about how everybody's looking at me because of my hair, because I want to dance, because I want to jump for joy? I have so much joy and these people at this church are having a bad day and want to make me feel bad because I have joy.
I was at church just shouting praising God one day and a couple of my friends pulled me to the side. They said, ‘Brother, you are really making people a little uncomfortable. You’re going a little too hard.’ I thought about that thing when I went home. And I declared this:
“The song blew up. People started calling. I started getting booked for shows. I put together the Bold album. By the grace of God, we were number nine on the Billboards. All three singles that I put out for that album were all top 30 Billboard hits. So, it was the grace of God.
A lot of these songs, I didn’t know what I was talking about. I just wrote what the Holy Spirit had given me, you know? I don't think I’ve ever went to a producer and I just started writing. I usually write my songs, then I meet a producer, and I tell them, ‘This is what I heard in my head. I need you to make this song exactly how I heard it.’ I would hear a song from Him like “Until I Pass Out”. I was so angry when I wrote that song. I was mad. I was hurt. I was … hurt. I was angry because … why do I have to go to church where this is the place for me, but I have to worry about how everybody's looking at me because of my hair, because I want to dance, because I want to jump for joy? I have so much joy and these people at this church are having a bad day and want to make me feel bad because I have joy.
I was at church just shouting praising God one day and a couple of my friends pulled me to the side. They said, ‘Brother, you are really making people a little uncomfortable. You’re going a little too hard.’ I thought about that thing when I went home. And I declared this:
I truly understand what people may say – to think how we think is far from okay. That means people like me. I really want to give God everything, but culture says that’s far from okay. But to me, it's never okay to abandon my dreams, and it just so happens for me my dream is to lift up a Holy King. And this is my life, my choice, and I choose to lift up my hands. So please don’t be alarmed that when the music comes on, I began to dance. And you know what? I’m not just going to dance. I‘m gonna run across the room until I can barely catch my breath; and fall on the floor until I have nothing left because I actually came to church today to worship until I pass out. Because there is no other option for people like me.
When I declared that, that was a declaration for everybody that, you know what? I'm gonna stop caring what y’all think about me and I’m going to get my worship on. And if y'all didn’t come for that, cool – just kick me out. Just tell me I can’t come back, and I’ll go to another church.
I feel like when I released that song into the atmosphere, I found out, there’s a whole bunch of Uncle Reece - like - minded people. I wrote this song because I needed this music. Then I just found out that there are a lot of other people who needed it just like me. I mean it ministered to me.
We’re not at church because it is cool or because our parents made us go. My parents didn’t make me go to church. I didn’t ever have to go to church. Once I became a teenager, my parents told me, ‘You don’t have to do this anymore.’ So, I'm really at church because I want to be there. I need to be there. If I’m not there, I'm going to be in the club in a little bit. If I’m not there, I’m gonna be up on somebody’s daughter. I need Jesus. I'm not a Christian because I don’t have anything else to do. I'm a Christian because I love Jesus, and I’m one step away from messing up my whole life. I need to go hard for God. I can’t just come here on Sundays, making it six days. Man, on that sixth day, y’all are going to gonna see me right up in the club. Shoot, I need to go hard for God.
When I declared that, that was a declaration for everybody that, you know what? I'm gonna stop caring what y’all think about me and I’m going to get my worship on. And if y'all didn’t come for that, cool – just kick me out. Just tell me I can’t come back, and I’ll go to another church.
I feel like when I released that song into the atmosphere, I found out, there’s a whole bunch of Uncle Reece - like - minded people. I wrote this song because I needed this music. Then I just found out that there are a lot of other people who needed it just like me. I mean it ministered to me.
We’re not at church because it is cool or because our parents made us go. My parents didn’t make me go to church. I didn’t ever have to go to church. Once I became a teenager, my parents told me, ‘You don’t have to do this anymore.’ So, I'm really at church because I want to be there. I need to be there. If I’m not there, I'm going to be in the club in a little bit. If I’m not there, I’m gonna be up on somebody’s daughter. I need Jesus. I'm not a Christian because I don’t have anything else to do. I'm a Christian because I love Jesus, and I’m one step away from messing up my whole life. I need to go hard for God. I can’t just come here on Sundays, making it six days. Man, on that sixth day, y’all are going to gonna see me right up in the club. Shoot, I need to go hard for God.
I’ve never met a person that can hear that song, and they’re not like wow, this young man … I’ve met people who don't even believe in our God who say, ‘Man, brother, you keep on believing in God. And I say, ‘How are you gonna tell me to believe in something you don't even believe in? The response: ‘Man, I hear the passion and I see the good that you’re doing.’ I’ll say this, I've never met a human being on this earth, who heard, ‘Until I Pass Out’, and did not completely 100 percent feel it, no matter what they believe. Whether I perform that song at a church that’s over a hundred years old or at a prison, I get the same reaction every time.”
With enthusiasm, he described how the music he created, personally impressed his life and others, and shared samples of that music through verse.
“My music has affected me personally in this way:
I have songs like, “He Died and He Rose”, where I had to read the Bible to write that song. I had to research these things. I had to talk to theologians. I had to study the Word of God for that song. It’s so biblically accurate. I had to learn everything about the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus. I have a song called “Joseph Job David”, where the verse is:
With enthusiasm, he described how the music he created, personally impressed his life and others, and shared samples of that music through verse.
“My music has affected me personally in this way:
I have songs like, “He Died and He Rose”, where I had to read the Bible to write that song. I had to research these things. I had to talk to theologians. I had to study the Word of God for that song. It’s so biblically accurate. I had to learn everything about the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus. I have a song called “Joseph Job David”, where the verse is:
I got a coat of many colors.
Betrayed by 10 brothers,
Sold into slavery,
God you saved me.
I was a dreamer with no plan.
Betrayed by 10 brothers,
Sold into slavery,
God you saved me.
I was a dreamer with no plan.
Those songs are so biblically accurate. I had to learn them. I had to learn about God and it pushed me and challenged me as an artist and even as a Christian.
Then I have a song like the “Bold Intro”. Tony Gaskin is preaching the Word of God on there. I was listening to that – it's my ringtone when I wake up. Every morning I wake up, I hear Tony Gaskin preaching. The things that he's saying in that song, even though it was a couple years ago, are right for this time. You listen to the “Bold Intro” and he says, ‘The wicked, they run, but we stand bold.’ Everything he’s saying ministers to me. I have a song with Canton Jones where God is saying, ‘If I don't have your heart nothing that you do for me, really matters to me at all’. When I wrote that song, I wasn’t famous. I wrote a song (Have Your Heart) before I was famous where I wrote God saying,
Then I have a song like the “Bold Intro”. Tony Gaskin is preaching the Word of God on there. I was listening to that – it's my ringtone when I wake up. Every morning I wake up, I hear Tony Gaskin preaching. The things that he's saying in that song, even though it was a couple years ago, are right for this time. You listen to the “Bold Intro” and he says, ‘The wicked, they run, but we stand bold.’ Everything he’s saying ministers to me. I have a song with Canton Jones where God is saying, ‘If I don't have your heart nothing that you do for me, really matters to me at all’. When I wrote that song, I wasn’t famous. I wrote a song (Have Your Heart) before I was famous where I wrote God saying,
I don't want your money.
I don't want your time.
I don't want your tears so stop all that crying.
I don't want your praise.
I don't want your dance.
I don't want your worship so put down your hands.
I don't need your skills.
I don’t need your talent.
You got them from me, so I already have them.
I don't want your time.
I don't want your tears so stop all that crying.
I don't want your praise.
I don't want your dance.
I don't want your worship so put down your hands.
I don't need your skills.
I don’t need your talent.
You got them from me, so I already have them.
I wrote this song before I was famous, before I had money, before I had any recognition. Now, the world, they're looking at us gospel artists like we have it all together. There have been so many times that I have been on that stage and saw a whole stadium of people get blessed and I walked backstage and wept. I said, ‘God, I don't even feel you.’ That's because it got it to a point where God said to me, ‘I don’t even care what you do on stage any more. I don’t even care. Okay, you’ve got the songs, you’re talented, but I still want your heart … I want you.’ It’s in those moments where I sit down, and I actually listen to the music that God gave me. I say to God, ‘God, you are preparing me to finish this race.’
That song (“Glory on the Other Side”) that says,
That song (“Glory on the Other Side”) that says,
I just want to love you and never ever leave your side,
Hallelujah.
I just want you to trust me when I tell you My child,
There is paradise on the other side,
Paradise on the other side.
Hallelujah.
I just want you to trust me when I tell you My child,
There is paradise on the other side,
Paradise on the other side.
I wrote that song because … it was hard for me to live my life like heaven is on the other side. I started feeling stupid. I said, ‘You know other cats are not honoring you God. It looks like they’re winning, but I can't forget about the other side. I can't forget that this life is a vapor.’ So, I wrote these songs for a reason. Every song on my album tells me not to give up … me personally – Uncle Reece. I didn’t write these songs for anybody else. This is the most selfish album.
I have a song (“Free Some Minds”):
I have a song (“Free Some Minds”):
Ain’t nobody in church,
Cause you’re in clear divide.
Your whole congregation,
Is barely alive.
But I’m gonna free some minds today.
Cause you’re in clear divide.
Your whole congregation,
Is barely alive.
But I’m gonna free some minds today.
That’s number four on the album (Bold). I didn’t understand … when I wrote that song, I hadn’t been to churches that were … crazy like that. And when I started traveling, I started going to all these dead churches. They have all these resources, but they were seriously dead. I begin to just breathe life into those places. People begin to thrive and then you just start noticing stuff. So, when I wrote the songs … I just wrote the songs because I heard them in my head. Some of them weren’t even for me in the year that my album came out – but they are for me right now.
I have some new music that I just put out. One of the songs is called, “Stir it Up”. It’s just a song about stirring up your faith.” |
The prolific songsmith shared his testimony of how he became a Christian, and how his story is directly correlated to his song, “My Mess."
“The song you should check out called “My Mess”, talks about where God found me. He found me in my mess. You know my story wasn’t … I wasn't like some people. I got saved in my car … by myself. I got saved in my car, by myself, while I was really high.
It’s strange. God began to fill my heart with compassion … so much compassion that it confused me. I remember I thought I hit a cat or something while I was driving. I hit something. It was a squirrel or a cat or something. I never found it. I looked. I don’t even know if I hit anything. I probably hit a rock or something. Like I said, I was high that night.
“The song you should check out called “My Mess”, talks about where God found me. He found me in my mess. You know my story wasn’t … I wasn't like some people. I got saved in my car … by myself. I got saved in my car, by myself, while I was really high.
It’s strange. God began to fill my heart with compassion … so much compassion that it confused me. I remember I thought I hit a cat or something while I was driving. I hit something. It was a squirrel or a cat or something. I never found it. I looked. I don’t even know if I hit anything. I probably hit a rock or something. Like I said, I was high that night.
It’s crazy because I had just met this guy – his name was William Davis. I call him Bill. He was a cat lover. I never liked cats. I always liked dogs. But this guy was a cat lover. He was involved in my campus ministry. I began to hang with him and he had a cat. I would go to his house and see this cat. I began to like cats after dealing with this guy’s cat. One day I was riding with Bill. I think Bill hit a squirrel or something. This guy got out the car and he was so hurt by it, he tried to take the squirrel to the vet. He was crying for the squirrel and everything. I had never saw compassion like that for an animal. And this is what I like about God. This guy named Bill Davis, I would have never been his friend if it wasn’t for Jesus. We probably would have never even met if it wasn’t for Jesus. If we would have been who we were before Christ, we wouldn’t have even been in the same lane. But he taught me to have compassion and love for animals.
So, I'm driving one night, and I thought I hit a rabbit or a cat or something. I got out of the car and I'm frantically look for this animal. I’m looking for the animal. Since I’d experienced all this compassion and all this love for animals, I began crying and praying that God will help me find this cat, so I can go take care of it. I said to myself hold up man … I’m black. I just remembered, wait a minute, I’m black … why am I out here crying, asking God to help me find this animal and praying that it'll be okay? I'm like, ‘God, what's going on with me?’
It’s almost like when I began to find Jesus, I just became the biggest cry baby in the world. I'm talking about I just began to cry for anything. I remember I saw this St Jude’s commercial. After God began to speak to my heart, I could not stop weeping. I was in Ocala, Florida. There was a girl who had started an organization because a horse kicked her in the head and she had lost her brain power. She had a nonprofit organization for handicapped children that conducts horse therapy. And I just remember weeping uncontrollably and asking and begging God to heal this girl, begging Him. So, I was just like what's going on with me? I was not the type of person to cry for anybody. I didn’t even cry for myself.
So, I'm driving one night, and I thought I hit a rabbit or a cat or something. I got out of the car and I'm frantically look for this animal. I’m looking for the animal. Since I’d experienced all this compassion and all this love for animals, I began crying and praying that God will help me find this cat, so I can go take care of it. I said to myself hold up man … I’m black. I just remembered, wait a minute, I’m black … why am I out here crying, asking God to help me find this animal and praying that it'll be okay? I'm like, ‘God, what's going on with me?’
It’s almost like when I began to find Jesus, I just became the biggest cry baby in the world. I'm talking about I just began to cry for anything. I remember I saw this St Jude’s commercial. After God began to speak to my heart, I could not stop weeping. I was in Ocala, Florida. There was a girl who had started an organization because a horse kicked her in the head and she had lost her brain power. She had a nonprofit organization for handicapped children that conducts horse therapy. And I just remember weeping uncontrollably and asking and begging God to heal this girl, begging Him. So, I was just like what's going on with me? I was not the type of person to cry for anybody. I didn’t even cry for myself.
That night I'm looking for this …whatever I hit, I don't know what it was, and I’m praying for a dog or cat. I'm in the car praying for it and I said, ‘God, I think I'm a Christian. And I just feel like … God help me.’ I was scared. I was like, man, what's going on with me? And then that night, I said, God, I think I'm really a Christian.’ Other things happened and just one by one, I just asked God to … I said … ‘God I’m yours … I’m yours for real.’ That's how it happened. I wasn't in church. No one laid their hands on me … none of that. They didn’t lead a circle around me and tell me, ‘Let it come out my belly’ … none of that. They, you know …they make the circle around you … screaming, ‘Let it out your stomach.’ You’re like: ‘Han? I don't know what to do.’"
Uncle Reece continued to express how his walk with Christ, caused him to make more than one life adjustment.
Uncle Reece continued to express how his walk with Christ, caused him to make more than one life adjustment.
“I think loneliness was a real hardship for me. Before I was a Christian, I was a womanizer you know? I had a lot of girlfriends. I was just really into playing with women’s emotions. When I gave my life to God, that's one of the things that I denounced immediately. So, once I got saved, I refrained from sex for 10 years. I call it being born again, again. Then I was so lonely.
I'm having this success. I'm doing these great things. I wasn't even dating. It was just cold turkey. I was just waiting on God. The loneliness was extremely difficult. I met my wife in the midst of this. I just remember meeting her and seeing just how amazing she was and how much she brought to the table. I would say that one of the most frustrating parts for me, and I think for young Christians as well, is when you're actually trying to live for God and you see everybody else recreationally dating. You see everybody else just hooking up and you're really trying to wait for your wife, for real. It’s hard when you’re always the third wheel. It's hard going home by yourself. Then I met my wife who was just an amazing woman of God, who brought so much to the table. I went from linking up with her, courting her, becoming her friend, becoming her boyfriend, then becoming her fiancé, and now being her husband. We just celebrated three years of marriage on October 19th. So, I would say one hardship was loneliness; one joy: being married to my wife.”
I'm having this success. I'm doing these great things. I wasn't even dating. It was just cold turkey. I was just waiting on God. The loneliness was extremely difficult. I met my wife in the midst of this. I just remember meeting her and seeing just how amazing she was and how much she brought to the table. I would say that one of the most frustrating parts for me, and I think for young Christians as well, is when you're actually trying to live for God and you see everybody else recreationally dating. You see everybody else just hooking up and you're really trying to wait for your wife, for real. It’s hard when you’re always the third wheel. It's hard going home by yourself. Then I met my wife who was just an amazing woman of God, who brought so much to the table. I went from linking up with her, courting her, becoming her friend, becoming her boyfriend, then becoming her fiancé, and now being her husband. We just celebrated three years of marriage on October 19th. So, I would say one hardship was loneliness; one joy: being married to my wife.”
He recalled how he was not alone and what helped get him to the other side.
“Christian brothers. They really helped me and gave me hope. This reminded me that God had a woman for me and the perfect woman for me – not a perfect woman, but the perfect woman for me. My Christian brothers … we really joined together and helped each other through that because we were all lonely. We were all single. We were all good men trying to do this thing right. Not one of us was getting any play. We just tried to focus on God and wait for our wives. We really had to cling together.
We really had to encourage each other. These strong Christian brothers really helped me through that.
And I'll say this, you know, from these young strong Christian brothers … they also helped me get rid of the counterfeit, and not waste my time. That’s another thing we did for each other. One of the brothers maybe would say, ‘Yo, I’m thinking about this girl.’ We’d say, ‘No brother, she ain’t what you want. You’re thinking with your flesh, boy. Nah, brother, you’re thinking with your eyes … think with your spirit.’ So that was one of the things that really helped me through that. That good fellowship, that association between each other in Christ, really helped me wait during that time, even though it was challenging.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have waited. I have friends who wouldn’t have waited. There’s always going to be a counterfeit that comes through. When you’re lonely, you’re always … especially when you're doing something with your life … there’s always going be a young lady that tells you everything you want to hear and look exactly how you want her to look. That's why you need good brothers in the faith around you that will say, ‘Hey brother, that ain’t your wife dog.’ So, those brothers really helped me and saved me from a lot.”
“Christian brothers. They really helped me and gave me hope. This reminded me that God had a woman for me and the perfect woman for me – not a perfect woman, but the perfect woman for me. My Christian brothers … we really joined together and helped each other through that because we were all lonely. We were all single. We were all good men trying to do this thing right. Not one of us was getting any play. We just tried to focus on God and wait for our wives. We really had to cling together.
We really had to encourage each other. These strong Christian brothers really helped me through that.
And I'll say this, you know, from these young strong Christian brothers … they also helped me get rid of the counterfeit, and not waste my time. That’s another thing we did for each other. One of the brothers maybe would say, ‘Yo, I’m thinking about this girl.’ We’d say, ‘No brother, she ain’t what you want. You’re thinking with your flesh, boy. Nah, brother, you’re thinking with your eyes … think with your spirit.’ So that was one of the things that really helped me through that. That good fellowship, that association between each other in Christ, really helped me wait during that time, even though it was challenging.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have waited. I have friends who wouldn’t have waited. There’s always going to be a counterfeit that comes through. When you’re lonely, you’re always … especially when you're doing something with your life … there’s always going be a young lady that tells you everything you want to hear and look exactly how you want her to look. That's why you need good brothers in the faith around you that will say, ‘Hey brother, that ain’t your wife dog.’ So, those brothers really helped me and saved me from a lot.”
He went on to illustrate how his album impacted people's Christianity walk.
“I had heard from people that completely were done with Christianity. They completely walked away from the faith. They heard my album and got caught back up in Jesus.
There's a guy in Atlanta – he’s a youth pastor in Atlanta. He has one of the fastest growing youth groups in Atlanta. He was in jail. He was the youngest prisoner in the history of Angola prison to get a life sentence. He had life plus 99 years. By the grace of God … he got out of prison through a miracle … through him praying and learning about God. God touched an attorney’s heart to put $250, 000 toward his case, took his case, for free, and got him out of prison. This guy reached out to me a couple years ago. He’s said ‘Reece, I listened to your album every day while I was finding Jesus. Your album caused me to look at myself and examine my relationship and examine everything that I knew to be true. Your album walked me right to the altar.’ He’s tearing Atlanta up. “Donksreallife” is his Instagram. Now that’s a brother in Christ, man. Everybody in the streets call him Donkey. Matter of fact he’s Little Boosie’s first cousin.”
“I had heard from people that completely were done with Christianity. They completely walked away from the faith. They heard my album and got caught back up in Jesus.
There's a guy in Atlanta – he’s a youth pastor in Atlanta. He has one of the fastest growing youth groups in Atlanta. He was in jail. He was the youngest prisoner in the history of Angola prison to get a life sentence. He had life plus 99 years. By the grace of God … he got out of prison through a miracle … through him praying and learning about God. God touched an attorney’s heart to put $250, 000 toward his case, took his case, for free, and got him out of prison. This guy reached out to me a couple years ago. He’s said ‘Reece, I listened to your album every day while I was finding Jesus. Your album caused me to look at myself and examine my relationship and examine everything that I knew to be true. Your album walked me right to the altar.’ He’s tearing Atlanta up. “Donksreallife” is his Instagram. Now that’s a brother in Christ, man. Everybody in the streets call him Donkey. Matter of fact he’s Little Boosie’s first cousin.”
The melodic rapper did convey how he was caught off guard by his overall success.
“The response was extremely overwhelming. I never planned on really making it for real. You know, people say that they want to make it, but I just never thought I would actually ever make it. I was just trying to get me a job and really just live the rest of my life out making music for fun. I always knew in my heart that I wanted to make music. I thought I was going to be a starving artist for the rest of my life, and I was cool with that. I thought I was just going to work a job and in my free time, just make music.
I think the thing that really surprised me was actually becoming successful. I don't think anybody's ready for this – when you actually make some money. You actually make income for yourself. You actually have people who begin to know you by your music. I think those are new experiences. I don't think anybody's ready for that. I had mentors around me, so I was a little bit more balanced. But I'll be real now. From being a starving artist to having a little bit of cash in the bank – and you know I'm not rich or anything – but having just a little bit of money – it was a transition for me. I was like wow, I can actually afford stuff now.
If I want something now, I can buy it. When I pursued my music career, I had to move back in with my parents. I was living with my mother and father and driving a car that was 10 years old. It had 330,000 miles on it. And then it was like, wow, …now I can go to the lobby, and I can pretty much pick out whatever car I want. It was kind of strange for me you know?
But here was the thing about me – my friends used to call me cheap and frugal. I didn't even know how to be comfortable having nice things. It's almost like I took pride in appearing broke. One of my mentors came to visit me one time in Jacksonville. He saw the car that I was driving. He said, ‘Reece, why are you driving that car?’ I was like, ‘Well, I don’t have any bills. I mean, I'm good.’ He was just like, ‘Well, brother, you don't have to ride around in a broke down car.’
He broke something down to me. He said, ‘Man, with all the success that you have … I wouldn't even believe you if I saw this car.’ Something went off inside of me, and I understood, I don't have to be this frugal. I don't have to live in the hood. I don’t have to live in a dangerous area. I can move somewhere that’s nice. It was just kind of strange for me.
For a long time, God was increasing me, but I didn't increase with the increase. Prime example: I'm driving a car with no AC in it. I didn’t need to do that. But, I said to myself I‘m not fixing this AC – and I had the money to go get a brand – new car. It was little stuff like that. I mean it was bad man. It was bad. One of my mentors sent me a text and I flew out to Mississippi. I found me a nice vehicle. I’m not driving a BMW. But it's better than the 10-year old car.”
“The response was extremely overwhelming. I never planned on really making it for real. You know, people say that they want to make it, but I just never thought I would actually ever make it. I was just trying to get me a job and really just live the rest of my life out making music for fun. I always knew in my heart that I wanted to make music. I thought I was going to be a starving artist for the rest of my life, and I was cool with that. I thought I was just going to work a job and in my free time, just make music.
I think the thing that really surprised me was actually becoming successful. I don't think anybody's ready for this – when you actually make some money. You actually make income for yourself. You actually have people who begin to know you by your music. I think those are new experiences. I don't think anybody's ready for that. I had mentors around me, so I was a little bit more balanced. But I'll be real now. From being a starving artist to having a little bit of cash in the bank – and you know I'm not rich or anything – but having just a little bit of money – it was a transition for me. I was like wow, I can actually afford stuff now.
If I want something now, I can buy it. When I pursued my music career, I had to move back in with my parents. I was living with my mother and father and driving a car that was 10 years old. It had 330,000 miles on it. And then it was like, wow, …now I can go to the lobby, and I can pretty much pick out whatever car I want. It was kind of strange for me you know?
But here was the thing about me – my friends used to call me cheap and frugal. I didn't even know how to be comfortable having nice things. It's almost like I took pride in appearing broke. One of my mentors came to visit me one time in Jacksonville. He saw the car that I was driving. He said, ‘Reece, why are you driving that car?’ I was like, ‘Well, I don’t have any bills. I mean, I'm good.’ He was just like, ‘Well, brother, you don't have to ride around in a broke down car.’
He broke something down to me. He said, ‘Man, with all the success that you have … I wouldn't even believe you if I saw this car.’ Something went off inside of me, and I understood, I don't have to be this frugal. I don't have to live in the hood. I don’t have to live in a dangerous area. I can move somewhere that’s nice. It was just kind of strange for me.
For a long time, God was increasing me, but I didn't increase with the increase. Prime example: I'm driving a car with no AC in it. I didn’t need to do that. But, I said to myself I‘m not fixing this AC – and I had the money to go get a brand – new car. It was little stuff like that. I mean it was bad man. It was bad. One of my mentors sent me a text and I flew out to Mississippi. I found me a nice vehicle. I’m not driving a BMW. But it's better than the 10-year old car.”
“I’ve learned that God has the power to bless you. He has the power to teach you. He has the power to guide you. You don’t have to downgrade or compromise who you are to ever fit in anywhere because God’s got you.”
As he looked back over the course of his career, Uncle Reece expressed how, in some areas, he would have taken a different course.
“You know … I would have loved people more intensely. You know … when people don’t know you … it’s easy to love everybody. It’s easy to take chances on everybody. I think once I got a little bit more successful, I started to deal with jealousy. I started to deal with … there being more of a light on me. People just begin to show up out of the woodworks, saying: ‘Hey man, I can do this. I can do that.’ And man … you get hurt a couple of times. Then honestly, you just become kind of a recluse.
It was really my wife, as well as friends that were very close to me, who taught me how to take chances on people again. There was a period in my career – for about a year – where I felt like, ‘God, you know, I just don't want to be hurt anymore.’ During that time period of my life, I really was a little bit too careful. I was so careful, I wasn't even enjoying myself anymore. One of the things that makes me happy, is seeing people blessed by God and I really love serving people. There was a year out of my career where I just began to protect myself so much because I was so hurt by people. I was so hurt, that I just really stopped serving people.
On the other end of that, I learned about balance. You learn about your private life versus your public life. If I could have changed anything, I definitely would have found me a mentor to just show me how to have balance. When I first got money, I would meet someone that would be say, ‘Uncle Reece my family needs this. I'm just praying.’ I would clear out my bank account just for a stranger because I wasn't really ready for that. When you're all the way pure hearted and having been broke, you’re not really used to people taking advantage of you. You’ve been broke. You've been struggling for a long time … then once you get out the struggle … and the struggle was real for me … so, I’m meeting people who … ask, and then I've ended up saying, ‘Dang Bro, I just gave your family this, and brother, you went and bought some tennis shoes. I gave you this money for your family.’ There were little things like that. You don’t really know.”
“You know … I would have loved people more intensely. You know … when people don’t know you … it’s easy to love everybody. It’s easy to take chances on everybody. I think once I got a little bit more successful, I started to deal with jealousy. I started to deal with … there being more of a light on me. People just begin to show up out of the woodworks, saying: ‘Hey man, I can do this. I can do that.’ And man … you get hurt a couple of times. Then honestly, you just become kind of a recluse.
It was really my wife, as well as friends that were very close to me, who taught me how to take chances on people again. There was a period in my career – for about a year – where I felt like, ‘God, you know, I just don't want to be hurt anymore.’ During that time period of my life, I really was a little bit too careful. I was so careful, I wasn't even enjoying myself anymore. One of the things that makes me happy, is seeing people blessed by God and I really love serving people. There was a year out of my career where I just began to protect myself so much because I was so hurt by people. I was so hurt, that I just really stopped serving people.
On the other end of that, I learned about balance. You learn about your private life versus your public life. If I could have changed anything, I definitely would have found me a mentor to just show me how to have balance. When I first got money, I would meet someone that would be say, ‘Uncle Reece my family needs this. I'm just praying.’ I would clear out my bank account just for a stranger because I wasn't really ready for that. When you're all the way pure hearted and having been broke, you’re not really used to people taking advantage of you. You’ve been broke. You've been struggling for a long time … then once you get out the struggle … and the struggle was real for me … so, I’m meeting people who … ask, and then I've ended up saying, ‘Dang Bro, I just gave your family this, and brother, you went and bought some tennis shoes. I gave you this money for your family.’ There were little things like that. You don’t really know.”
Lessons he said he’s learned along his gospel trek:
“I’ve learned that God has the power to bless you. He has the power to teach you. He has the power to guide you. You don’t have to downgrade or compromise who you are to ever fit in anywhere because God’s got you.”
“I’ve learned that God has the power to bless you. He has the power to teach you. He has the power to guide you. You don’t have to downgrade or compromise who you are to ever fit in anywhere because God’s got you.”
“My music is ministry. Down to every song that I release, every email that I answer, every Instagram message, Facebook message that I answer, every person that I meet after the show, every person that I talk to about God after the show, before the show … even right now – I consider this ministry. I don’t consider this my job. I have an opportunity to have a voice. I am someone telling as many people as I can, that they can trust God."
Continuing forward, Uncle Reece mapped out what he’s done with his music and where he’s headed.
“I put out the “16 weeks of worship” because I made music. I made so much music that people were never going to hear and never get an opportunity to be blessed by. I just needed a way to put some of the music out there. I have some new music that I just put out. One of the songs is called, “Stir it Up”. It’s just a song about stirring up your faith. I put out eight singles and now I'm about to drop an album called Worship Like We Used To. It’s going to be powerful.
I’ll give you this. I have a song that’s about a time back when church was church. I remember not even being saved and still wanting to go to church from time to time because it was jumping so much. I didn't really grow up in church, but I remember having friends who would say, ‘Everybody come to my church – my church is having this event. My church is having a step show.’ I know you remember when Kirk Franklin came out. Well, for me, I wasn’t even a Christian, but I knew who Kirk Franklin was. Old boy, he was going so hard. I was like, dang … boy, they get down. They used to play, “Stomp” in the club. They used to play “Stomp” for the let out. I remember saying, ‘What is this?’ Someone said to me, ‘That’s Kirk Franklin.’ I said, ‘Hey buddy, that Christian’s going hard.’ So that's kind of the basis of this record. The first verse goes like this:
“I put out the “16 weeks of worship” because I made music. I made so much music that people were never going to hear and never get an opportunity to be blessed by. I just needed a way to put some of the music out there. I have some new music that I just put out. One of the songs is called, “Stir it Up”. It’s just a song about stirring up your faith. I put out eight singles and now I'm about to drop an album called Worship Like We Used To. It’s going to be powerful.
I’ll give you this. I have a song that’s about a time back when church was church. I remember not even being saved and still wanting to go to church from time to time because it was jumping so much. I didn't really grow up in church, but I remember having friends who would say, ‘Everybody come to my church – my church is having this event. My church is having a step show.’ I know you remember when Kirk Franklin came out. Well, for me, I wasn’t even a Christian, but I knew who Kirk Franklin was. Old boy, he was going so hard. I was like, dang … boy, they get down. They used to play, “Stomp” in the club. They used to play “Stomp” for the let out. I remember saying, ‘What is this?’ Someone said to me, ‘That’s Kirk Franklin.’ I said, ‘Hey buddy, that Christian’s going hard.’ So that's kind of the basis of this record. The first verse goes like this:
Do you remember Kirk Franklin started a revolution?
Why the Prince of Praise, Byron Cage, had the church groovin’,
John P. Kee, Isaac Caree, and Commissioned,
Changed the game so that the whole world has to listen.
Do you remember Creflo or Fred Price had the Sunday morning TV jumpin’ right?
Let’s worship how we used to be,
Like they used to in the old days, when we were all God’s property,
So come rock with me.
And let’s worship like we used to,
Back when church was church,
Grandma on the front row shouting hard puttin’ in word,
Let’s worship like we used to. Like we used to.
Let’s worship like we used to.
Why the Prince of Praise, Byron Cage, had the church groovin’,
John P. Kee, Isaac Caree, and Commissioned,
Changed the game so that the whole world has to listen.
Do you remember Creflo or Fred Price had the Sunday morning TV jumpin’ right?
Let’s worship how we used to be,
Like they used to in the old days, when we were all God’s property,
So come rock with me.
And let’s worship like we used to,
Back when church was church,
Grandma on the front row shouting hard puttin’ in word,
Let’s worship like we used to. Like we used to.
Let’s worship like we used to.
It's real melodic … Bruno Mars type vibe.”
Through it all, Uncle Reece sees his music career, and everything he does in connection to it, as ministry.
“My music is ministry. Down to every song that I release, every email that I answer, every Instagram message, Facebook message that I answer, every person that I meet after the show, every person that I talk to about God after the show, before the show … even right now – I consider this ministry. I don’t consider this my job. I have an opportunity to have a voice. I am someone telling as many people as I can, that they can trust God. I consider all of this my ministry.”
So, with diligence Uncle Reece aims to share the gospel and be a duplicate example of Jesus’ compassion through his expression of worship, no matter the setting, time and time again.
Through it all, Uncle Reece sees his music career, and everything he does in connection to it, as ministry.
“My music is ministry. Down to every song that I release, every email that I answer, every Instagram message, Facebook message that I answer, every person that I meet after the show, every person that I talk to about God after the show, before the show … even right now – I consider this ministry. I don’t consider this my job. I have an opportunity to have a voice. I am someone telling as many people as I can, that they can trust God. I consider all of this my ministry.”
So, with diligence Uncle Reece aims to share the gospel and be a duplicate example of Jesus’ compassion through his expression of worship, no matter the setting, time and time again.
Sources:
- “Uncle Reece Discography of CDs.” Uncle Reece Discography at CD Universe, www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/artist/Uncle+Reece/a/albums.htm.
Music Information & Discography
Album | Year: BOLD | 2014
Album | Year: BOLD | 2014
Link(s):
http://www.unclereece.com/
Wakeelah’s Picks:
Song: “Until I Pass Out” | Album: BOLD | Year: 2014
Song: “I Can’t Escape” | Album: N/A (Music featured on Uncle Reece website) | Year: 2017
Song: “Can’t Help Myself” |Album: BOLD | Year: 2014
http://www.unclereece.com/
Wakeelah’s Picks:
Song: “Until I Pass Out” | Album: BOLD | Year: 2014
Song: “I Can’t Escape” | Album: N/A (Music featured on Uncle Reece website) | Year: 2017
Song: “Can’t Help Myself” |Album: BOLD | Year: 2014
Wakeelah Cocroft-Aldridge is a Freelance Writer residing in Chicago, IL with her husband. Her writing includes academic writing and creative writing such as fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Wakeelah likes to laugh and cry about the sweet somethings of life, and find out about the unique stories of others. She loves comedy, animation, extended metaphors, quiet times, and she is an avid listener of gospel music. Oh … and she likes Peppermint Stick ice cream!
Wakeelah has joined us as a Columnist, forming Purposeful Gospel Profiles, a periodic column. She hopes, as she interviews each Gospel Artist, to portray their purpose for singing gospel music and what it means to those who provide a musical narrative for the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Wakeelah has joined us as a Columnist, forming Purposeful Gospel Profiles, a periodic column. She hopes, as she interviews each Gospel Artist, to portray their purpose for singing gospel music and what it means to those who provide a musical narrative for the Good News of Jesus Christ.
“Purpose is the essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.
Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Press on with purpose.” – Chadwick Boseman
Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Press on with purpose.” – Chadwick Boseman
Disclaimer: All claims or statements in Purposeful Gospel Profiles column were deemed truthful to the best knowledge of the Columnist at the time of publication. All views or opinions by persons featured in the column do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Columnist or Voice of One CNC Online Magazine. The Columnist reserves the right to make any changes to the column at any time.