Mastamind

{{Short description|American rapper}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Mastamind | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Gary Reed | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|12|28}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = {{flatlist| * Hip hop * horrorcore<ref name=Reed>Reed, Gary. "BHM Interviews Mastamind TheHellrazer of Natas." Online interview. 21 Feb. 2013.{{full citation needed|date=November 2019|reason=If it is an online interview, why can't I find it.}}</ref> }} | occupation = Rapper | instrument = | years_active = 1991–present | label = {{flatlist| * Toxsic * Reel Life * Krazi House Records * LSP }} | current_member_of = Natas | associated_acts = }}

'''Gary Reed''' (born December 28, 1972), also known as '''Mastamind''', is an American rapper from Detroit best known as a representative of the hip hop subgenre horrorcore.<ref name=Reed/> A founding member of Natas, he was formerly signed with Reel Life Productions before forming his own label, Toxsic Records.

==Biography==

While attending Osborn High School, Mastamind passed a three-song demo to fellow student, Esham, who had released the album ''Boomin' Words from Hell'' and multiple EPs on his Reel Life Productions label. Esham liked the demo, and decided to form a group with Mastamind and a friend, T-N-T.<ref name=BirchmeierMastamind>{{cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/artist/mastamind-p205769/biography |title=Mastamind |last=Birchmeier |first=Jason |date= |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=27 June 2011}}</ref> The trio named the group Natas, an acronym for "Nation Ahead of Time And Space".<ref name=BirchmeierMastamind/><ref name=BirchmeierNatas>{{cite web |url=http://www.allrovi.com/name/natas-mn0000375162 |title=Biography of Natas |accessdate=2008-08-12 |last=Birchmeier |first=Jason |publisher=Allrovi |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121206040456/http://www.allrovi.com/name/natas-mn0000375162 |archivedate=2012-12-06 }}</ref><ref name=Hess>{{cite book |last1=Hess |first1=Mickey |title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast |year=2009 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-34323-0 |pages=411–413 |chapter=Esham }}</ref>

In 1995, Mastamind released his debut solo EP, ''Lickkuidrano'', which featured guest appearances by Esham and Dice.<ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/album/lickkuidrano-r270555 |title=''Lickkuidrano'' - Mastamind |author=Birchmeier, Jason |date= |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=27 June 2011}}</ref> Allmusic reviewer Jason Birchmeier wrote, "[Bitcheshate] is obviously the EP's centerpiece, as the other five tracks are all rather brief -- still, they're impressive tracks even if they are short."<ref name=Allmusic/> In 2000, Mastamind released his debut album, ''Themindzi'', which received critical acclaim in the underground music scene; ''Murder Dog'' magazine named Mastamind as 2000's "most slept on" rapper.<ref name=BirchmeierMastamind/> Allmusic reviewer Jason Birchmeier wrote "Just being able to sit back and listen to Mastamind craft his own unique style with confidence is engaging enough to make this a worthwhile album."<ref name=Themindzi>{{cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/album/themindzi-r503783/review |title=''Themindzi'' - Mastamind |author=Birchmeier, Jason |date= |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=27 June 2011}}</ref> The album's release was followed by Mastamind's first national tour.<ref name=BirchmeierMastamind/> In 2010 and 2011, Mastamind performed at the 11th and 12th annual Gathering of the Juggalos.<ref>{{cite video |people=DJ Clay, Sugar Slam, Awesome Dre, and Corporal Robinson (Presenters) |date=17 July 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0xewi_Gdc8 |title=11th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos |medium=internet production |publisher=Psychopathic Records |accessdate=17 July 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite video |people=DJ Clay, Sugar Slam, Vanilla Ice, Mike E. Clark, and Corporal Robinson (Presenters) |date=2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gKE67L97SA |title=12th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos |medium=internet production |publisher=Psychopathic Records |accessdate=17 July 2011 }}</ref> Mastamind is planning to release a new album in 2012 called Mastapeice through Toxsic Records and distributed by Lyrikal Snuff Productions. In 2013 Mastamind is to re-release his EP Lickkuidrano in an LP form. The re release will include 6 remixes from the hell razor, and 6 new tracks. Also Mastamind is to re release his first greatest hits called the Collection Plate. In 2014, he wrote a verse alongside Detroit artists Bizarre and Jeremiah Ferguson for their song "Whats Right" <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.faygoluvers.net/v5/2014/08/jeremiah-ferguson-whats-right-ft-bizarre-mastamind/|title=Jeremiah Ferguson – "Whats Right" (Ft. Bizarre & Mastamind)|date=2014-08-10|author=Shiftzilla|website=Faygoluvers|access-date=2019-11-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Whats Right Ft. Bizarre of D12, Mastamind of Natas|date=May 27, 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C4M1gPVs1k&list=HL1401208489&feature=mh_lolz|access-date=2019-11-11|publisher=Jeremiah Ferguson|via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Style and influences== AllMusic writer Jason Birchmeier said that Mastamind's rapping "owes little to any conventional style".<ref name=Themindzi/>

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Themindzi'' (2000) * ''Street Valu'' (2003) * ''Hellrazer'' (2006) * ''Toxsic Avenger'' (2009) * ''Ntoxsication'' (2011) * ''The Mastapiece'' (2012) * ''Lickkuiddrano'' (Re-Issue) (2013) * ''The Ultimate Price'' (2015) * ''Uranium'' (2016) * ''House of Frankenstein'' Teddy Bass (2017) * ''The Ultimate Warrior'' (Double LP) (2021)

===Extended plays=== * ''Lickkuiddrano'' (1995) * ''The Orthus'' with Skitzo of Merk (2011) * ''The Ultimate Price'' (2013) * ''House of Frankenstein - Black Sunrise'' with Teddy Bass (2018) * ''Sleep Tight Sweet Dreamz'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faygoluvers.net/v5/2019/10/legendary-detroit-emcee-mastamind-natas-announces-new-lp-sleep-tight-sweet-dreamz-cd-release-party-with-ganxsta-nip-ghetto-e-project-born/ |title=Legendary Detroit Emcee Mastamind (Natas) Announces New EP "Sleep Tight Sweet Dreamz"; CD Release Party With Ganxsta Nip, Ghetto E, & Project Born|last=Carsten |first=Chad T.|date=2019-10-14|website=Faygoluvers|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>

===Mixtapes=== * ''Khemicalspill'' (2010) * ''Last+emptationOfChris+'' (2010) * ''Mastercard'' (2010) * ''Doublehead Everythang'' (2012) * ''The Orthus Reloaded'' with Skitzo of Merk (2012) * ''Devil Eyed Dog'' with Skitzo of Merk (2014)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.myspace.com/therealmastamind MySpace]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mastamind}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male rappers Category:20th-century American male rappers Category:20th-century American rappers Category:Horrorcore artists Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians Category:Reel Life Productions artists Category:Rappers from Detroit Category:Underground rappers Category:21st-century American rappers Category:1972 births Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:21st-century African-American male rappers

Mastamind

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