MAC REEM – Model of Success
Born and raised on Oakland, California’s roughest streets, Mac Reem is celebrating the independent release of his debut album, Successful Failure, on Mac Reem Music. Named Artist of the Month for March & April by top indie promo site, Register My Music, the first single, produced by Dewayne ‘The Rock’ Ramos (LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Jadakiss) is a catchy club-banger, titled “Zoom.”
After a series of mixtape features and guest star collaborations, the release of Successful Failure has been a long time in the making. Mac enlisted some of his close friends to appear with him on Successful Failure. There is Roscoe & Kurupt from the Dogg Pound on the single, “Quit Lying in Your Raps.” The song was recently featured on the Bay Area’s premier station, KMEL-FM, and received record-breaking numbers among listener requests.
R&B songstress (and frequent Kurupt collaborator) Joy-Luv joins Mac on the album’s future single “Midnight Music,” while Jakoria Marzette puts her mark on the song “Sophisticated Lady.” Rounding out the album’s list of talented producers are some of the West Coast’s finest: the previously-mentioned Dewayne ‘The Rock’ Ramos, J-Glaze, T-Rex and Clay Wilder.
Mac Reem’s musical influences range from rappers like KRS-One, Tupac, Run DMC, E-40, and Too Short, to Pop superstars such as Alanis Morrisette, Madonna, Creed, and Michael Jackson.
In 2009, he was a top 12 finalist in a New York City-battle rap competition of 50. His music has been featured on several of the X-Family mix tapes, and along with Scarface, Eddie Projex and Tony Montana, Mac was a featured artist on the album, Respect It, with the artist Kartel in 2009. It too was produced by J-Glaze and Clay Wilder. The T Rex Productions release made a big impression on the street, moving about 20,000 units underground. Mac Reem was the guest artist on “California’s Back,” an updated version of Mack 10’s “Backyard Boogie,” taken from J-Glaze’s Hazy Morning album. Mac Reem can also be viewed on various You Tube clips, like “Check out My Swag,” “Heroin & Crack” and on the West Oakland Anthem.
Mac Reem, a graduate of McClymonds High in West Oakland (alma mater to basketball stars Bill Russell and Paul Silas), continues to give back to his community. He’s worked closely with the city council and has been a sponsor in a number of community-based programs and events. Mac has hosted a number of talent shows for young artists and has plans to launch an independent radio station to expose even more young talent.
“I asked Bill Russell for his autograph when I was a teenager,” Mac recalls. “‘Of course I was disappointed when he said no; that he stopped giving autographs a long time ago. But Russell said, ‘I will tell you that throughout your life—stay humble, positive and don’t ever give up!’ That advice was worth more than any autograph. I’ve stuck by that philosophy ever since.”
