Teez – R.E.N.O “Real Everything No Ops”

Birthed by the biggest little city, nurtured in the shadows of the Sierra Mountains, is a Tongan rap artist (Taholo Vainuku), who in honor of his people, goes by the stage name of Teez. He has just released his powerful debut album R.E.N.O via tastemaker label Mensch House Records!

Through childhood in a Reno project, music served as a safe haven for Teez, allowing him to ride into an escape on the beats and lyrics, often of the legends, Tupac and Bob Marley. It wasn’t until the age of 14 that he realized just how musically inclined he was, through his ability to write lyrics.

Since then, Teez has dived into the core of the rap and hip-hop genre, mentally cultivating his lyrical style, and ambitiously, yet quietly, focusing on the development of his craft: a craft to set him apart from the crowd. Teez has since released several mixtape songs on SoundCloud. In 2016, he revealed the first installment of the KILLSHIT mixtape series, hosted by the highly respected DJ Carisma.

Teez’ debut album R.E.N.O was recorded in Reno, NV in February 2018, after building a studio in his garage. “After about half a year of teaching myself how to use pro tools and reading about certain studio equipments that can give me a professional studio sound, I began to work on turning my garage into a studio,” says Teez.

The album features hard hitting tracks like Lit Bae, a bouncy song that will get listeners’ hips moving to the beat. Not Over features the smooth songstress Molia on the hypnotizing hook, a love song about making up after breaking up. Drop Interlude featuring Glasses Malone & Shaxe Oriah. The breezy track Murda, a positive song perfect for driving down the highway along the beach. Teez says,“Murda was mostly a freestyle record, my first verse took me on a feel like riding around with someone solid by your side. Bonnie and Clyde was too cliche so I compared the song to Nipsey Hussle & Lauren London. Then just vibed off my first verse for the second and third verse, kept it creative and made a story out of it. This song would be one of the highlighted records for me. We took an island feel, fused it with reggae, trap drums and a hip hop beat. It meshed together real well for me.”

Teez’s talent for songwriting, paired with a voice incomparable to other rappers makes Teez not only one to look out for, but one to vibe with for years to come. As he continues, Teez wishes to humbly use his platform to uplift his people, change the conversation, and above all, exemplify through actions, the necessity and significance of remaining true to yourself in all circumstances — the necessity and significance of keeping it real.

Tracklisting:
Mona Leesuh
Mood
Lit Bae
Hustle Up
Drop
Dog Filter
Not Over
Buggy
Murda
Outro