Reek Daddy: Freak the Babbie Words and photos by Will Major Reek runs his life on the razor’s edge. Reek Daddy is a battle tested veteran of the Rap game and of these Northern California streets. Born and raised in the CountryClub/Crestside sub-division of Vallejo, California, Reek Daddy has kicked up the same dust and has traded sixteens with the likes of Mac Dre, Mac Mall, The Mac, Mike Robinson, J-Digg$, Dubee, Smoov-E and Polar Bear. But Reek Daddy runs his life like it was a 16 valve fuel injected dragster. He smashes on everything he touches...his goals, his passions, his work and his music. Reek’s latest album “Freak Da Babbie” is due for national release on April 11, 2005. It’s his third solo project. Reek had been featured on many Vallejo artists’ compliations such as “The Rompilation” and “Mac Dammit Man and Friends”. His first solo CD: “Wreak Havoc” was received to critical acclaim. “Wreak Havoc” was the sleeper of the summer of 2003, and really put Reek on the map. “Wreak Havoc” is still moving units, and is considered to be a collector’s item. Reek’s second album “25 to life on the streets” was another street sweeper. It’s commentary on the condition of life for the average Northern California hustla was as introspective as Robert Beck’s look at ghetto life in the novel “Iceberg Slim”. Released in 2004, “25 to life...” was a serious look into Reek Daddy’s lifestyle. The track “Ruthless Gangsta” was the track to watch out for. With club beats and “radio ready” content, “25 to life...” fast became a Bay Area classic and made Reek a featured performance artist. Advance singles from Reek’s latest album “Freak Da Babbie” have leaked out to the public through independent and underground radio, and the feedback on the streets has been very positive. Reek is currently working on an accompanying DVD titled “Freak Da Babbie - the series”. I spent a day with Reek Daddy, with his foot firmly seated on the accelerator of his existance, burnin’ his way through another video/studio session in preparation for his latest 16 track headbuster. W.M.: Reek, how did it begin with you? Reek: I was born and raised in Crestside. The Crest side is the best side, my ni**a.... yattata-mean? W.M.: Speak on the Crest Side...tell us about the early days in Vallejo? Reek: The beginning was like...I don’t really know. We was just out there rapping on the block and sh*t. You know, the niggas that I grew up with, A.T., Spooney G. from Oakland, Mac Dre, DJ Seize and Mike Robinson. That’s who I was fuckin’ with. But you know some of them ain’t around. Some of them is dead, but out there is out there. W.M.: Living it up on Kemper street? Reek: Growing up in the crest was rough, you know. All my idols that I l looked up to was dead, locked up, in the pen, or they was on d**e...strung out on some sh*t. Sh*t wasn’t no good, so when it was time for us to take over the hood, we went wild. We had nobody to look up to, and we still had to have our money. We’re just now coming back up, but all the good ones died. W.M.: Why did you start to rap? Reek: I used to rap because it’s fun...it’s the only thing to do, it’s how we got down...we made poverty “down”. We made our poor lives acceptable...and eventually admirable. It’s about the nobility of the struggle. A man who has no struggle has no real metal. He’s soft. W.M.: Do you think that your Northern California fame has helped you more or hurt you more? Reek: You got to die before you get famous or blow up round here. Look at Tupac, Mac Dre...all them other niggaz, its hella fucked up, Cougnutt, Rappin‘ Ron, RBL...dem niggaz...real niggaz don’t get their real props till they be gone. W.M.: Why do you think that national fame and industry recognition comes so hard to Northern California artists? Reek: The East Coast has like a conspiracy against us. It’s like that, but we still going to do it, and do it live. We’re trying to do this little west coast movement, have ten or eleven labels come together. But our main problem is that everybody want to be a star, and don’t want to share the spotlight. Mother Fuckers who should be backstage, or in the business office ...dem niggaz want to be onstage...with the mic, and dancin, and making the beats and sh*t. Mother fuckers are letting their greed get in the way, and they don’t want to let no one else eat. That sh*t is getting in the way of the Northern California movement. I don’t mind a ni**a wanting to be the C.E.O. of his own thing, but everybody needs to play their role. I’m rich right now and I’m loving life. I’m treating everybody around me, but I’m not just going to treat anybody. Thems that is my folks...I’m going to give them some of this food ‘cause God said it was cool to eat. W.M.: Tell us about your record label? Why did you name your record label like that? Reek: None of your business. “None of your business” records is ‘cause niggas always was asking when is my sh*t coming out, yattata-mean? I just said “None of your Mother Fuckin’ business”! W.M.: Do you find that your N.O.Y.B. attitude gets you any wider acceptance in the national marketplace? Reek: We going to f**k with some cats from Seattle, you know that they doing it real big, yattata-mean? The best thing that we got going on with them folks up north is that we’re going to bring out our stars up there. W.M.: The Northern California movement invades the Pacific Northwest? Reek: The Crest Side Music is the best side music, yattata-mean? But now it is a North Cal movement. You know...our making that money. (916) MAGAZINE