{{short description|American rapper}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Uncle Reece | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Maurice Hicks Jr. | alias = Uncle Reece | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|2|14|mf=y}} | birth_place = Savannah, Georgia, U.S. | origin = Jacksonville, Florida | instrument = vocals, singer-songwriter | genre = Christian hip hop, Christian R&B, urban contemporary gospel, Soul,<ref name="AHH"/> Reggae<ref name="AHH"/> | occupation = Singer, songwriter | years_active = 2012–present | label = Obed | website = {{URL|unclereece.com}} }}
'''Maurice Hicks Jr.''' (born February 14, 1984), who goes by the stage name '''Uncle Reece''', is an American Christian hip hop musician. He released his first album, 2014's ''Bold'', with Obed Music Group. This was a ''Billboard'' chart breakthrough release.
==Early life== Uncle Reece was born Maurice Hicks Jr. on February 14, 1984, in Savannah, Georgia,<ref name="PH">{{cite web|title=Introducing: Uncle Reece|url=http://www.praizhouse.com/2012/06/introducing-uncle-reece.html|first=Kayode|last=Martins-Olowo|publisher=PraizHouse|access-date=March 8, 2015|date=June 19, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> to a father who served in the military, Maurice Hicks Sr. and his mother Cecilia Anita Hicks. He loves music.<ref name="PH"/> He graduated from Florida State University with an Associate degree in Mathematics.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Future: Uncle Reece|url=http://www.theshadowleague.com/articles/the-future-uncle-reece|first=Kadeem|last=Lundy|publisher=The Shadow League|access-date=March 8, 2015|date=June 10, 2014}}</ref>
==Music career== His music career started in 2012, with the release of "Until I Pass Out" single on March 1 of that year,<ref name="NRTS">{{cite web|title=Until I Pass Out – Single by Uncle Reece |url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/albumdetail.php?album_id=11843|author=New Release Tuesday|publisher=New Release Tuesday|access-date=March 8, 2015|date=March 1, 2012}}</ref> and it charted at No. 15 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart by ''Billboard''.<ref name="AMA">{{cite web|title=Uncle Reece: Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/uncle-reece-mn0002537629/awards|author=Billboard|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=March 8, 2015}}</ref> His second single, "I Cant' Help Myself", would chart at No. 19 on that chart and at No. 48 on the Hot Christian Songs. His first album, ''Bold'', came out on June 3, 2014 on his own label Obed Music.<ref name="NRTA">{{cite web|title=Bold by Uncle Reece|url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/albumdetail.php?album_id=14080|author=New Release Tuesday|publisher=New Release Tuesday|access-date=March 8, 2015|date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> This would chart on two ''Billboard'' charts, on the Christian Albums at No. 30 and on the Top Gospel Albums at No. 9.<ref name="AMA"/> The album received a three and a half star out of five review by Dwayne Lacy of New Release Tuesday,<ref name="NRTR">{{cite web|title=An |url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=22388&user_id=43067|first=Dwayne|last=Lacy|publisher=New Release Tuesday|access-date=March 8, 2015|date=June 11, 2014}}</ref> and it comes "highly recommend[ed]" from Daniel Cody at Wade-O Radio.<ref name="WADEO">{{cite web|title=Album Review: Uncle Reece – 'Bold'|url=http://wadeoradio.com/album-review-uncle-reece-bold/|publisher=Wade-O Radio|first=Daniel|last=Cody|access-date=March 8, 2015|date=May 29, 2014|archive-date=March 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318015618/http://wadeoradio.com/album-review-uncle-reece-bold/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rea Melissa Davis, writes for AllHipHop, how "Uncle Reece is quite the musical melting pot. With ''BOLD'', Uncle Reece is not confined to the church, and there are no limits or boundaries to the way he can express his praise."<ref name="AHH">{{cite web|title=Uncle Reece Chooses to Be BOLD|url=http://allhiphop.com/2014/05/19/uncle-reece-chooses-to-be-bold/|publisher=AllHipHop|first=Rea Melissa|last=Davis|access-date=March 8, 2015|date=May 19, 2014}}</ref> He is nominated at the 30th Stellar Awards for the Rap Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year and New Artist of the Year.<ref name="STELLAR">{{cite web|title=2015 N0MINEES: 30th Stellar Awards|url=http://www.thestellarawards.com/nominees.html|author=Stellar Awards|publisher=Central City Productions|access-date=March 8, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015054243/http://www.thestellarawards.com/nominees.html|archive-date=October 15, 2012}}</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions<ref name="AMA"/> |- |- !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br/>Chr<ref name="Christian Albums">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/5881193/uncle-reece/chart?f=310|title=Uncle Reece – Chart History : Christian Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=March 8, 2015}}</ref> !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br/>Gos<ref name="Gospel Albums">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/5881193/uncle-reece/chart?f=323|title=Uncle Reece – Chart History : Gospel Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=March 8, 2015}}</ref> |- !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|''Bold'' | * Released: June 3, 2014 * {{nowrap|Label: Obed}} * CD, digital download | 30 | 9 |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Uncle Reece}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century African-American male rappers Category:21st-century American male rappers Category:20th-century American male rappers Category:20th-century American rappers Category:African-American Christians Category:Musicians from Jacksonville, Florida Category:Musicians from Savannah, Georgia Category:American performers of Christian hip-hop Category:Rappers from Florida Category:Rappers from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Songwriters from Florida Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:21st-century American rappers Category:African-American songwriters Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:American male songwriters