FV recently e-sat down for an interview with this youtube legend. Whether you’re an old fan or an ignorant loser, read on to get the inside track and catch the videos.

A few months ago, T. McKeon tipped me off to Reh Dogg (website / youtube / myspace). The video for “Why Must I Cry” was hot as ballz on youtube:

But who was this emotive naked man? Twenty four year old Reh Dogg (born Ra’ Sean Y Blyden) grew up mostly in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands but also spent time with his father in Connecticut. Although the Virgin Islands have sweet beaches, there isn’t much to do outside tourist stuff so after high school Reh decided to stay in Connecticut. “Music was always in my blood,” Reh told me recently and by 1999 Reh Dogg was recording tracks in various “ripoff” studios. In a few years he had his own studio and was collaborating over the internet with various producers. Reh started making his own videos and posting them on youtube. This is when “Why Must I Cry” caught on fire.

Reh’s never been without controversy. First, there was the beef with OMG and then babymama drama with Tammie Starr. But Reh just wants to make music and hang with his kids (check out the twins). When I asked about record labels, Reh kept it real, “I really don’t like what I hear on the corporate radiostations. It’s all garbage. I like independent. I can be real and be myself.” So get your music (and future tour dates!) at rehdogg.com.

I had a chance to instant message Reh a little while ago. Here’s what he had to say:

FV: i wanna talk a little bit about “why must i cry”. this video has more than half a million hits… how much does that have to do with your shower scene?

REH: i believe the shower scenes have a lot to do with the sucess of why must i cry, i mean the song is not one of my best but it has a positive message

FV: well. i like the song alot but the video is really provocative… how did you come up with the concept?

REH: basically the shower scene didn’t have any meaning other than i thought it looked cool so i put it in there

FV: but you don’t consider the song itself your best work… what songs do you like most?

REH: i like don’t cry for me, blacken chinese man, the dark side

FV: ok.. listenin to blacken chinese man right now…. it’s more dancehall/raggae influenced. does that come from your roots in V.I?

REH: yes indeed it does. when i first started out dancehall was all i did. as i moved away i became more open to different types of music (alternative rock, alternative rap, hip-hop) and eventually i didnt like reggae anymore.

FV: not to dis ct… but how did you wind up leaving the beaches and nice weather?

REH: well job opportunity isnt that great down there. it’s tourism.

FV: i can see that… did you come straight to ct?

REH: yeah i did my father was there

FV: ok cool… what’re your thoughts on the music industry? are you trying to go major or stay independent?

REH: no not at all i really don’t like what i hear on the corporate radiostations it’s all garbage. I like independent i can be real and be myself

FV: i feel the same way… when i first saw the “why must i cry” video, i was like, ‘damn. this is some real shit…’

REH: thank you. appreciate that. in fact some producers from a upcoming show on BET contacted me and Why must I cry will appear on the show early 2008

FV: oh cool.. will that be your television debut?

REH: major debut i was also on public acess tv

FV: you had twins recently.. congrats on that too… how has being a father effected your work?

REH: well it rough because we are in two different states and the mother and i have been fighting but we recently started to speak and hopefully i’ll be going out there to see my sons very soon

FV: sorry man.. hope you get to hang soon.. what do you think the future is for reh dogg?

REH: i have no idea. i mean things are looking good now more sales of my music but fans wanna see me so in the future i gotta start making appearances and touring

FV: cool.. you ready for all that?

REH: well i don’t know if i’ll ever be ready completely but i gotta do it for my fans

FV: have you performed anywhere recently?

REH: recently the only things i’ve done was interviews and webcam live shows

FV: ok cool.. how was growin up in the virgin islands? when did you become reh dogg? do you reveal your birth name?

REH: I’m working on my bio i have one but i need to redo it, yeah i will reveal my birth name Ra’ Sean Y Blyden

FV: how long ago did you come up to ct?

REH: about 12 years

FV: oh cool.. how old were you then?

REH: i was still young then. 12. then i stayed for 2 years with dad. then back to vi.

FV: then back here again later?

REH: yeah after highschool

FV: is it like your dad’s up here and your mom’s down there?

REH: yeah

FV: cool.. what was it like coming up here? was it cool or hard to adjust or anything?

REH: it was very hard to adjust as far as driving goes. in the united states virgin islands we drive on the left hand side. i almost got killed driving up here. And the highways scared the hell out of me. I had to get used to people telling mother jokes because in the vi we fight when people talk about your moms

FV: ha… i know what you’re sayin.. i still remember the first time someone talked some shit on my mom… i was pissed…

REH: I remember a buddy travis from school invited me to his house party. We don’t have forty ounce beer in st thomas i drank it and it knocked me out cold

FV: lol.. welcome to america. have a 40…

REH: yeah. that was crazy.

FV: were your parents into music at all?

REH: my mom always backed me up until she became saved. she still supports me but wants me to use my talent for gospel music. my dad not really.

FV: i see.. ok.. i don’t want to keep you on here all night… any other stories or words or anything you wanna say?

REH: i just want to say to the fellas if you date online make sure you really know the woman and her true background

FV: no doubt.. thank you, man.. keep doing what you’re doing… have a good nite.. peace…

REH: thanks. peace out