Reuben Nero, better known by his stage name Papa Reu, is a
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...
-born
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
, singer,
producer, and songwriter from
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, Texas., United States. He is also a former member of hip-hop record label
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is an American record label founded in 1991 by brothers Ronald "Slim" Williams and Bryan "Birdman" Williams. Distributed by Republic, formerly known as Universal Republic, the label has been home to a roster of mostly hip ...
. He has established his own record label Reu Muzik, Inc. through which he has released three albums, namely ''Xcuse Me'', ''U Know Me'', and ''Certified''.
Biography
Music career
At the age of 16, Reu and his brother relocated to Houston, Texas, where he began affiliating himself within the local hip-hop scene and became a pioneer of Houston's popular underground rap movement.
With his island sound, southern street savvy, and a respect of music history,
8Ball & MJG
8Ball & MJG is an American hip hop duo from Memphis, Tennessee. They met at Ridgeway Middle School (Memphis, Tennessee) in 1984. In 1993, the duo released their debut album ''Comin' Out Hard''. They went on to release ''On the Outside Looking I ...
caught his act. The duo enlisted Reu for an appearance on their 1994 album ''
On the Outside Looking In''. A few independent singles hit the streets during the late 1990s, along with appearances on albums by Mr. Coop and
Field Mob
Field Mob is an American hip hop duo from Albany, Georgia, composed of artists Shawn Timothy "Shawn Jay" Johnson and Darion "Smoke" Crawford. Field Mob is currently signed to T-Pain's label Nappy Boy Entertainment and managed by La' Roc Managem ...
, but it wasn't until 2000 that Papa Reu broke out on his own with the full-length ''Xcuse Me!'' on his own Reu Muzik, then released ''U Know Me'' a year later, and while the album sold well regionally, it was his 2002 appearance on the
504 Boyz
504 Boyz were an American hip hop group from New Orleans, Louisiana named for the New Orleans area code.
The original 504 Boyz, Master P (as "Nino Brown"), Mystikal (as "G. Money"), Silkk The Shocker (as "Vito"), C-Murder, and Krazy, released ...
's hit single "Tight Whips" that would make him a Southern rap player.
Much of his early success came with Cash Money Records being featured on early multi-platinum recordings, such as the
Big Tymers
Big Tymers (stylized as Big Tymer$) was an American musical duo active from 1997 to 2005 and again in 2018-2018 from New Orleans, Louisiana consisting of Cash Money Records co-founder Baby and former Cash Money in-house producer Mannie Fresh.B ...
' "Lick Them Up Shots",
Juvenile's "Rich Ni**az" and
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
's "Not Like Me". He was featured in
H-Town track "Buss One",
Solange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles (; born June 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, performance artist, and actress. Expressing an interest in music from an early age, Knowles had several temporary stints as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, whi ...
in "Don't Fight the Feeling" in the original soundtrack of ''
The Fighting Temptations
''The Fighting Temptations'' is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, written by Elizabeth Hunter and Saladin K. Patterson, and distributed by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. The main plot revolves around Darrin Hill ( C ...
'' and in 504 Boyz' track "Tight Whips" also featuring Slay Sean, 5th Ward Weebie, Lil' Romeo and Little D. Other featured recordings include tracks with Changin' Lanes,
Z-Ro Tolerance and
Miss Mykie
Papa Reu has collaborated with a number of artists like YZ & Gemini in "Hold on" (2007), Billy Cook in "Bubble Eye" (2008), Lil Keke in "Diamond and Pearls" (2008) and
Rick Ross in "Put It in the Air" (2010).
Discography
Albums
* 2000: ''Xcuse Me''
* 2001: ''U Know Me''
* 2003: ''Certified''
CD Universe- Papa Reu Certified CD Album
/ref>
Mixtapes
*2013: ''Reu'D Boy''
Singles
*2010: "Put It in the Air" (feat. Rick Ross)
*2010: "Bumble Bee (What The Buzz About)"
References
External links
*
Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reu, Papa
Living people
Rappers from Houston
American rappers of Trinidad and Tobago descent
Date of birth missing (living people)
21st-century American rappers
1972 births