Reef the Lost Cauze facts for kids

Sharif Talib Lacey, known as Reef the Lost Cauze, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He became famous in the underground hip hop scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Reef gained recognition by winning many rap battles. People admired his amazing skills as an MC, which means a master of ceremonies or rapper.

Reef released his first album, The High Life, in 2001. He then teamed up with friends to release The Invisible Empire in 2003. This album was highly praised and helped him become well-known in the hip hop world. In 2005, he released Feast or Famine, which also received good reviews. Reef is also part of the rap supergroup Army of the Pharaohs and the group JuJu Mob.

Reef's Music Journey

Starting Out (1998-2000)

Sharif Lacey, born in West Philadelphia, grew up loving hip hop. He started rhyming at age eight. As a teenager, he became known as a strong battle-rap MC. He would join any rap cipher (a group of rappers taking turns freestyling) he found.

Reef went to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia on a film scholarship. This is when he started thinking about a serious music career. He worked on writing songs and making his live shows better. He won rap battles in many places, from schoolyards to professional contests. In 2000, at age 19, Reef decided to leave college. He wanted to focus completely on his music, realizing it was his true passion.

First Albums: The High Life and Invisible Empire (2001-2004)

In 2002, Reef worked with Philadelphia producer Sleep E to record his first solo album, The High Life. This 10-song album opened many doors for him. He began performing in clubs and received praise from fans and the media.

In February 2003, Reef released his second album, Invisible Empire. This 18-song album was sold by Reef himself during his national tours. He won the Mic Check Battle in Philadelphia in 2003. Then, he traveled to Oakland, California, and took second place in the Blaze Freestyle Battle. Reef felt he grew a lot during this time. He said, "I was comfortable with reaching beyond being simply an emcee and becoming a musician."

He also added, "I really wanted to take chances and play around with rhythm and flow. I lost all fear." Invisible Empire helped him become famous in Philadelphia's underground rap scene. His wins in rap battles also boosted his career. He later signed a record deal with Eastern Conference and Good Hands.

In 2004, Reef continued to win battles. He won the Riddle Records/Music & Strength Mic Control 3 battle, taking home $10,000. He also became the End Of The Weak Challenge Champion in 2004 and the EOW Grand Champion in 2005.

New Projects: Feast or Famine, JuJu Mob & Army of the Pharaohs (2005-2007)

Reef announced he was working on a new project. He said he put "a lot of life and business experiences into it." This project became his third album, Feast Or Famine, released in 2005. Reef felt this album showed him at his best. He said, "I know who I am as a person, but more importantly as an artist."

After his third album, Reef worked on many collaborations. He joined the Philadelphia group JuJu Mob, who released their album Black Candles in 2005. He also joined the underground super-group Army of the Pharaohs in 2006. This group is led by Jedi Mind Tricks frontman Vinnie Paz. Reef was featured on their albums The Torture Papers and Ritual of Battle.

Later Albums (2008-2013)

In 2008, Reef released his fifth album, The Stress Files. This album was fully produced by Stress the White Boy. He also returned to work with Army of the Pharaohs for their third album, The Unholy Terror, in 2010.

On October 25, 2011, Reef released Your Favorite MC. He worked with the production team Snowgoons on this album. It was released by Goon MuSick and iHipHop Distribution. The Snowgoons produced every song on the album.

Reef later announced he was remaking his first album, The High Life. The new version, called High Life 2013, was released on December 17, 2013. It was both a re-release and a sequel to his debut album.

Discography

Studio albums

• The High Life (2001)
• Invisible Empire (2003)
• Feast or Famine (2005)
• A Vicious Cycle (2008)
• High Life 2013 (2013)
• The Majestic (2018)
• Reef The Lost Cauze Iz Alive (2022)
• The Triumphant (2024)