On September 16, 1983 world was given what one day come to be known as one of the greatest minds in the music industry.
Reign, born Tristan Dwayne Jones in Houston TX became a young musical prodigy at the age of nine by leading his church choir in numerous solos. He was a natural with crowd control, and his God given talent was more than a bonus. Turning to sports in school, Reign left music for the first time, but not for long.
" I remember in the locker room, and the lunch hall, flowing was the thing to do. At first I just sat back and chilled and watched. I'd go home and practice til I got my nerve up to jump in. All it took was that first, 'Man you go hard!' compliment and I knew I had something. I knew this was what I wanted."
It wasn't until after high school Reign recorded his first demo, and submitted it to his uncle, the late DJ Marco Polo, a well respected DJ in Houston at the time.
"He shot me down! Flat out! but he told me to stay with it and that's what I did. I tweaked my style and honed my skills for my first mixtape. He loved it!"
A few years later tragedy would strike when DJ Marco Polo would die in a fatal car crash.
"I took it hard man. Music was the last thing on my mind. I started down a long path in the wrong direction after that. Where I come from the real money came from sports, which I left behind in high school, music, and drugs."
So Reign then turned to the streets and the dangerous drug ring of his Acres Homes community. Though very into his endeavor he continued to write and would soon release two more mixtapes. The first entitled "RIP Marco Polo" a musical tribute to his uncle and mentor. The second "Fuck You Pay Me Vol.1", the first release of Reign's highly acclaimed mixtape series. After hearing the praise from the streets, Reign followed up with "Fuck You Pay Me Vol.2" which was once called one of the best mixtapes from the South since Lil Wayne's The Drought. Soon after he would be forced to leave the music scene yet again due to drug charges which landed him in the Texas prison system. Where most would have given up, Reign did the opposite. He elevated!
"In my younger days I used to boast and say, 'I'm a gangster...I'm a G!' but lately now I say I'm a grown ass man before anything. I feel better about the music I write now and the fact that I can create around my entire life's experiences...not just the negative.
Reign has returned to the music scene a greater force than ever imagined. He's uncomparable to anyone, and poised to take the world by storm. Long Live the Emperor....Reign!