Uncle Reece

{{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

| origin = Jacksonville, Florida

| instrument = vocals, singer-songwriter

| genre = Christian hip hop, Christian R&B, urban contemporary gospel, Soul, Reggae

| occupation = Singer, songwriter

| years_active = 2012–present

| label = Obed

| associated_acts =

| 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,{{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}} to a father who served in the military, Maurice Hicks Sr. and his mother Cecilia Anita Hicks. He loves music. He graduated from Florida State University with an Associate degree in Mathematics.{{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}}

Music career

His music career started in 2012, with the release of "Until I Pass Out" single on March 1 of that year,{{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}} and it charted at No. 15 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart by Billboard.{{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}} 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.{{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}} This would chart on two Billboard charts, on the Christian Albums at No. 30 and on the Top Gospel Albums at No. 9. The album received a three and a half star out of five review by Dwayne Lacy of New Release Tuesday,{{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}} and it comes "highly recommend[ed]" from Daniel Cody at Wade-O Radio.{{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}} 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."{{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}} He is nominated at the 30th Stellar Awards for the Rap Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year and New Artist of the Year.{{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}}

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
style="width:3em; font-size:90%"\|US Chr{{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}} !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"\|US Gos{{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}}
style="width:3em; font-size:90%"\|Bold \| Released: June 3, 2014 {{nowrap\|Label: Obed}} CD, digital download \| 30 \| 9

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

style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US
Chr{{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}}

!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US
Gos{{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}}

style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|Bold