California Livin'
| Mac Dre | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andre Louis Hicks |
| Also known as | Mac Dre, Furly, Silky Slim, Mac Dreezy, Pill Clinton, Al Boo-Boo,Ronald Dregan, Thizzy Marley, Thizzelle Washington, Pio Freshbreeze |
| Born |
July 5, 1970 Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Vallejo, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 1, 2004 (aged 34) Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, Hyphy, West Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Record Producer, Screenwriter, Movie Director |
| Years active | 1984–2004 |
| Labels | Thizz Entertainment |
| Website | http://www.legendofthebay.com |
Andre Louis Hicks (July 5, 1970 – November 1, 2004), better known by his stage name Mac Dre, was an American rapper and record producer, founder of Thizz Entertainment record label, and Young Black Brotha records.
On November 1, 2004, Mac Dre was fatally shot and killed by an unknown assailant after a performance in Kansas City, Missouri.
Andre Louis Hicks was born in Oakland, California on July 5, 1970 and moved to Vallejo at a young age, growing up in the Country Club Crest neighborhood, also known as The Crest, and attended Hogan High School. When asked about his childhood, Hicks stated: "Situations came out for the better most of them, I went through the little trials and the shit that I went through." Hicks first adopted the stage name MC Dre in 1984, but altered it to Mac Dre the following year because he considered the name sounded "too East Coast-ish". Hicks recorded his first three EPs as Mac Dre between 1988 and 1992.
In 1992, Hicks was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, and was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison after he refused the deal which included informing law enforcement about his partners. At the time of his conviction, Hicks owned the record label Romp Productions. While imprisoned in Lompoc, Hicks obtained his G.E.D., stating that he "had nothing else to do, I had to go back and get mine". While awaiting trial, Hicks would record an album over the phone, and claimed that he taught rapper X-Raided how to record over the phone. Hicks was released from prison in 1997, having served five-years.
According to FBI Agent Michael Repucci, during the trial of Hicks and his two associates, the FBI and Vallejo Police Department’s informant, Cory DeAndre Dunn, was used by the three men to steal getaway cars used in the robberies. The FBI rented a car for Dunn to claim that he had stolen it, and used a “trustee” at the jail to make the car appear as if it had been stolen by altering the steering column. Dunn was then given the car, and was supposed to give it to Hicks and his two associates to use in a robbery in Fresno. According to Detective Becker of VPD, Dunn was “wired for sound,” and that during the drive from Vallejo to a hotel in Fresno, Hicks and his partners discussed the robbery, which was scheduled to take place March 26. According to FBI Agent Lindsay Gentry, who worked the surveillance on March 26, there were three people in the car, Hicks, Diggs, and Curtis, along with the informant. Gentry observed the car enter downtown Fresno where it made numerous circles, first going past the Bank of America, then the First Interstate Bank. According to Gentry, there were numerous vehicles and an airplane involved in the surveillance, which were necessary since the three engaged in counter surveillance techniques that consisted of rapid lane changes and erratic driving including excessive speeding, and slowing down unnecessarily. According to Fresno Police Department Detective Frank Rose, once the suspect felt safe enough, they went to the bank intending to rob it. However, once they arrived at the Bank of America, Diggs observed a news van, just as he was exiting the vehicle to commit the robbery. Diggs, not sure what was taking place, immediately got back into the car and sped off. All three men were arrested shortly there after. While awaiting trial, Hicks spent a year in the Fresno County Jail, where he recorded, via telephone, most of his album Back In Da Hood. Hicks also gave an interview via phone to 106 KMEL, a Bay Area based radio station, to inform people of the circumstances of his arrest. During the interview, Hicks mentioned that Dunn was an FBI informant. KMEL broadcast the entire interview, including the portion labeling Dunn a snitch. The next day the FBI showed up and spoke with the owners of the station, warning them of the consequences if the informant’s name was broadcast again. During his trial, Hicks explained his song, “Punk Police,” which was played during opening statements. According to Hicks, his song was a way for him to express how he was being treated by the VPD, and the criminal justice system. Hicks claimed that he was innocent in the song: “I’m not criminal minded, punk police. I’m a dope rhyme dealer, not a money stealer.” Hicks went on to make fun of the VPD’s efforts, as they were “steady accusing, but these cases you losin,” which Hicks said meant they were constantly filing charges but could prove nothing. Hicks even went so far to call out a specific member of the VPD, “Ima dedicate this to Detective McGraw,” because Hicks felt McGraw was the one pushing for his arrest and the arrest of his partners. Hicks felt the police brought a case against him because they had to accuse someone and because he was a black rap artist.
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