Lehlogonolo Ronald Mataboge, professionally known as A-Reece, was born on March 27th, 1997, and has quickly become a prominent figure in the South African music scene.
South Africa, known for producing outstanding talents in the entertainment industry, has witnessed the rise of A-Reece, a young and dynamic rapper making significant strides in the music business.
A-Reece, a native of Pretoria, is not only a rapper but also a skilled songwriter and record producer. His journey in the entertainment industry commenced in 2013, and over the past eight years, he has carved a niche for himself with his unique rhyming style.
Having nearly a decade of experience in the music industry, A-Reece's influence extends beyond the borders of South Africa. Starting his journey with songwriting during his early school days, he developed a profound interest in music that has propelled him to success in the industry. A-Reece continues to make waves with his talent and dedication to his craft.
Early Life
A-Reece, born on March 27th, 1997, hails from Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, where he was both born and raised. At the age of 24, he has achieved significant milestones in his burgeoning career as a young artist.
Adding a familial touch to his musical journey, A-Reece is the younger brother of Phologo Jody Mataboge, also known as P-Jay, a well-established musician in his own right. P-Jay gained recognition as a member of the hip-hop trio BenchMarQ.
The influence of his older brother played a crucial role in shaping A-Reece's career path. In his primary school days, he began writing song lyrics, inspired by the footsteps of his accomplished sibling. This early connection with music laid the foundation for A-Reece's journey as an artist, showcasing the impact of familial ties on his artistic development.
Career
A-Reece's musical journey commenced in primary school as he followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Phologo Jody Mataboge, also known as Jay Jody from the hip hop duo B3nchMarQ. Drawing inspiration from his star sign Aries, he adopted the stage name "A-Reece."
In 2014, A-Reece marked a significant step in his career with the release of the EP titled "Browniez EP." The following year, he signed with Ambitiouz Entertainment, unveiling his debut single "Couldn't" featuring Emtee under the label. On September 29, 2016, he dropped the EP "Cutaways," comprising songs that didn't make the final cut for his debut album, "Paradise." The album itself was released on October 21, 2016, swiftly claiming the No.1 spot on iTunes within 24 hours of its release.
In response to financial disagreements with Ambitiouz Entertainment, A-Reece, alongside artists like MashBeatz, FLVME, and B3nchMarQ, founded The Wrecking Crew (TWC) in 2017. The crew included a lineup of talented artists such as IMP THA DON, EX Global, Wordz, Ghoust, Ecco the Beast, Enkei, Louw, KRI$H, Tyga Bankz, Mellow Don Picasso, and Olu Cakata. A-Reece's single "Meanwhile in Honeydew" featuring 1000 Degreez made an early appearance in 2017. On October 21 of the same year, he released his second album, "From Me to You & Only You," featuring the track "Feelings" with FLVME.
In 2018, A-Reece collaborated with Ecco the Beast and Wordz to release the joint album "Long Lost Letters (L3)," featuring the lead single "Welcome To My Life." Additionally, he dropped two Extended Plays, "Gwan Big Up Urself 2" in March and his 5th EP, "And I'm Only 21," in October. During this time, FLVME, Ecco the Beast, and Mellow Don Picasso departed from The Wrecking Crew due to financial disputes.
In 2019, A-Reece addressed his dispute with FLVME through the single "Carele$$" and subsequently released the collaborative album "Reece Effect" with MashBeatz. The Wrecking Crew underwent a name change to Rvbberband Records.
The year 2020 brought a fallout between A-Reece and MashBeatz, leading to collaboration with his older brother Jay Jody. A-Reece also released several singles, including "$elfish [Exp.2]," paving the way for his highly anticipated mixtape, "Today's Tragedy, Tomorrow's Memory."
In 2021, A-Reece launched his second mixtape, "Today's Tragedy, Tomorrow's Memory," featuring 13 tracks. He also released his third collaborative album, "heaveN caN waiT: thE narroW dooR, vol.1," with Jay Jody. The album included "thE confrontationatioN," a track addressing his beef with former producer MashBeatz. In December 2022, A-Reece was featured in the African Cypher (Hennessy Cypher) held in Nigeria, alongside artists like Vector, M.I Abaga, M.anifest, and Octopizzo.
Personal Life
A-Reece found himself in the spotlight with claims of a romantic involvement with Natasha Thahane, the grand-daughter of Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu. These rumors surfaced when Natasha featured in one of A-Reece's music videos, leading the internet to coin the term #LoveGoals for the alleged couple. To add more weight to the speculation, A-Reece even dedicated a song to Natasha. However, during an interview at Massiv Metro, Natasha surprised many by stating that she considered herself a professional friendzoner and clarified that A-Reece was just a friend.
Amidst this personal drama, Ambitiouz Entertainment, the record label, faced intense scrutiny as artists Fifi Cooper, B3nchMarQ, A-Reece, and Flvme left the label in a highly publicized and contentious departure. The artists cited financial disagreements as the primary reason for parting ways with the label. Fifi Cooper revealed that despite being signed for over two years, she hadn't received any compensation from performances or royalties. The fallout resulted in Ambitiouz Entertainment removing all of A-Reece's music videos from their YouTube channel, and his Facebook page was deleted.
In response to leaving Ambitiouz Entertainment, A-Reece released "Loyal," where he addressed his reasons for the departure. The song also included criticisms of his former colleague Emtee for remaining with the record label. Seven months later, on his album "Manando," Emtee responded with a diss track titled "Crown," labeling A-Reece as whack and emotional on songs. The public exchange highlighted the complex and often tumultuous dynamics within the music industry.
Songs
Studio Albums
2016: Paradise
2017: From Me to You And Only You
2023: P2: THE BIG HEARTED BAD GUY
Extended Plays
2014: Browniez
2015: 1997/03/27 [The Best Things in Life are Free]
2016: CUTaways
2018: Gwan Big Up Urself 2 (You Should've Taken Me Seriously)
2018: And I'm only 21
2022: The Burning Tree
2022: DEADLINES: FREE P2
Awards
South African Hip Hop Awards:
Lyricist of the year, 2016
Best video, 2016
Best Collabo, 2016
Lyricist of the year, 2021
Mixtape of the year, 2021