Reese Badda

Reese Badda - Nah Lie (U a Mi Baby Riddim 2009) - Reese Badda

Reese Badda aka Darren Boothe was born in Port Antonio, Portland Jamaica on September 14, 1982. He was raised on Love Lane, a popular meeting ground for all in the city, which is located at the very heart of Port Antonio; the capitol of Portland. Reese was raised by his mother who ran a betting shop in downtown Port Antonio as well as his father while he lived in Canada, who was an x-soldier / police. Uncomfortable at times in Canada away from family, Reese moved to and from Jamaica several times during his youth; these shifting tides caused Reese to become very well at adapting to different environments.

While in Jamaica in his early teens Reese attended Titchfield High, where he excelled in athletics, training with Titchfield’s D-Cup side and played for Portland's Under-14 team Football. He developed his courage, determination, fearlessness and competitive spirit by being surrounded and encouraged by elder youths and adults on the lane.

Reese’s first true conscious introduction to dancehall music was through a Buju Banton mixed tape which he received from a record shop on his lane when he was 12 years old. From that moment on he fell in love with dancehall. Influence also came from his cousin who ran a nightclub in Central Port Antonio (Club Lexus), which Reese would frequent as a youth, allowing the music and lifestyle to sink even deeper into his roots. Just before entering third form he was once again sent to Canada to live with his father as it became increasingly difficult for his mother to manage him; she felt that his father, would stand a better chance.

Upon arriving in Canada to live with his father for the final time, the relationship between the two was quite hectic as Reese was accustomed to the freedom he was given by his mother, in contrast to his father who was very strict and controlling. This led to Reese leaving home at the age of 18 as he sought to regain his freedom. At that time he stayed with a friend of his, somewhat of a sister for a few months until renting a 3 bedroom apartment with her 2 twin brothers in Knightsbridge, Brampton. During this time Reese lost his full-time job, and after several months of searching for full-time work, Reese became frustrated with agency temp work and quickly grew very familiar with the streets, without the watchful eye of his mother who was miles away Reese began to live a life of crime to cover his monthly rent and other expenses. During this time he was heavily engraved in the dancehall scene, along with his close friends Q and DJ Rory who were building their sound system (Legacy Sound aka War Bug at the time) who would play out regular and leave the sound system in the apartment where Reese would practice Deejaying.

While dipping his hand in crime, Reese had his step-sister and step-mother who were closer to home that would check up on him, and kept him from straying too far; they also encouraged him to further his education by going to college. In his second year of college Reese got caught up with the law, which was the turning point in his life as he saw the effect that the situation had on his mother as well as step-sister and step-mother. Being alone in Canada Reese wasn't used to his actions affecting his family. After going through court, Reese realized which family members and friends were truly looking out for him, and started to rebuild.

During this time he bumped heads with Donovan Flash aka Shatta Popsy who he used to play Football (soccer) with on a local team a few summer’s before, Shatta and Reese shared the same passion for dancehall and Shatta invited Reese to work with him and his crew (Badda Squad) planning dances/events. Reese began by designing flyers for events and lending advice to Shatta. After several parties and problems with one of the leaders of the squad, Reese was voted in as the Dadz of Badda to manage and grow the movement using his skills learned in college, and go-getter attitude from the streets. Though Reese always enjoyed dancing, and was so good at it that people would consider him a dancer; he was never really interested in pursuing it as a career, he was much more interested in the hustle so while the rest of the squad consisted of dancers he remained behind the scenes and managed the events and finances.

 

His decision to pursue a career as a dancehall artist came after sealing himself into the dancehall scene in Toronto, keeping several dances with the squad, and gaining international awareness.

So now Reese’s mission is to supply dancehall with Badda's own flavor of dancehall with hit songs; giving the city the proper presence deserved within the dancehall industry while keeping his roots in full tact and representing Jamaica 100%.

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