Gerrell Gaddis
| Rell | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Gerrell Gaddis |
| Born | July 22, 1976 |
| Origin | Bowman, South Carolina, United States |
| Genres | R&B, hip-hop, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, backing vocalist |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels |
Roc-a-Fella Records (1997-2005) Elektra Records (1998-2002) Def Jam Records (2001-2005) Atlantic Records (2004-2005) Dame Dash Music Group (2006) |
| Associated acts | Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Timbaland, Nicole Wray, Usher, Amil, Freeway, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Lord Finesse, Young Gunz |
Gerrell Gaddis (born July 22, 1976), better known by his stage name Rell, is an American R&B recording artist and songwriter from Bowman, South Carolina. He was the first male R&B singer to sign to New York City-based label Roc-A-Fella Records, where he recorded with artists such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, Consequence, and Young Gunz.
Rell grew up in Bowman, South Carolina, and is a former South Carolina State University pre-med student. He signed to Roc-A-Fella Records in 1997, and began work on his debut album which was tentatively titled, Medicine. Rell got his break in 1998, appearing in Jay-Z's rap cult flick Streets Is Watching and contributing the club banger "Love for Free" to the movie's soundtrack and would later be featured on his debut album. Within the latter part of 1998, Rell renamed his debut, The Remedy, and re-released, "Love for Free" as the lead single. In 1999, two other singles ("When Will U See" and "Darlin'") were released as radio buzz singles for the album, however, within the first quarter of that year, Remedy was shelved due to the failed charting of his album's singles. Still signed to the Roc, Rell went on to sing hooks for nearly every Roc-a-Fella MC since, including Jay-Z's "It's Obvious" and Freeway's "Victim of the Ghetto", and appearing on "The Message" featuring Mary J. Blige, from Dr. Dre's Chronic 2001.
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