Mac Dre

Andre Hicks was born on the 5th July, 1970, he is better known by his stage name, Mac Dre, Mac Dre was Bay Area-based gangsta rapper who was based in Vallejo, California.

He is considered one of the predecessors of the hyphy music movement. During his career in the rap world, he worked with artists like Yukmouth, Mac Mall, and Keak Da Sneak.

Mac Dre was born in Oakland, California and raised in Vallejo, California. His music gained popularity in the early to mid 1990s throughout the Bay Area, eventually receiving national recognition through his independent record labels Romp and Thizz Entertainment. During his music career, he released many hit singles, such as "Too Hard for the Fuckin' Radio", and most recently "Feelin' Myself". His music continues to be released posthumously. He was the creator of the "Thizzle Dance", a popular dance which holds no specific standard. Hardship and controversy were staples of Mac Dre's career.

After recording his first three albums between 1989 and 1991, Mac Dre was charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery. His record label, Romp Productions, and his many references to "Romper Room" in his songs, coincided with a Vallejo robbery gang of the time calling themselves the "Romper Room Gang" and responsible for the robberies of many area banks and pizza parlours. Hicks was alleged to be a member of the gang. The rapper was sentenced to five years in prison in 1992.