The Inferno

Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Music

Media Credit: Aaron Reid Before you're quick to judge the guy behind those expensive glasses, cool white hoodie and nonchalant facial expression, get to know Aaron Reid.

Being the son of two talented music entrepreneurs is hard, but being known for that and having a sweet sixteen party on MTV in which Kanye West performed is harder. Aaron Reid is the son of three-time Grammy award-winning music executive Antonio "L.A" Reid and then-wife Perri "Pebbles" Reid, a R&B artist that helped create the award-winning group, TLC. Aaron Reid was featured on MTV's "Sweet Sixteen" showing a snippet of his trials and tribulations of getting his 16th birthday party to be the best by having it at Jay-Z's 40/40 club and also having Kanye West perform. Now that his show is over, Aaron takes time out of his busy schedule to tell the Inferno how life really is in his position and why people should not judge him before they really get to know him.

Jelani Whitehorne: Aaron! What's up?

Aaron Reid: Nothing much but just doing this acting, man. I have a couple of projects I'm currently working on and just getting ready to move to Los Angeles.

JW: Wow man, you have a big thing ahead of you. Since "My Sweet Sixteen," how has life changed?

AR: Besides just becoming a lot more noticeable in the streets, life changed a lot because being famous comes with a lot. I had people stabbing me in the back, lots of haters, it was crazy. But with the negative, there were positives that helped me open up some more doors that will help me in the long run.

JW: That's great. Why did you choose Kanye West for your party entertainment?

AR: Kanye West is an amazing person. He is a genius, my favorite artist right now. He is a very smart artist, not just in music but he is like an art student, making beautiful art. Kanye West is an actual artist.

JW: Is it tough being the son of L.A. Reid?

AR: Man it's crazy. Being the son of two music geniuses is harder than people think, but I can't complain. I thank God for everything and every day because I have been truly blessed. I don't take advantage of anything, people assume that I do because my parents are who they are, but I don't. They are very protective of me. I am a compassionate person, thus breaking the bratty stereotype that people seem to associate with me.

JW: That's very good, I'm glad you aren't. So with the music business being so close to your family, do you have an artist that you can call a true friend?

AR: Well I can say that I'm close with Canadian signer Keisha Chante, Baby Face, Usher is like family and Kanye West. For me, these people I know them on more of a personal level. Some of these people have seen me grow from when I was still in diapers to now, so it's on a different level than just the music business part.

JW: Which artists do you think has the best personality behind the mic?

AR: Jay-Z has got to be the coolest dude in the world; I really look up to him and how he handles himself. Mariah Carey is the sweetest lady as well. Whether it be Christmas, Valentine's Day, any one of my family members' birthday, she never forgets us and brings us something special from her heart.

JW: Wow, that's impressive. How big of a role do you play at your school, being that you stand out a bit?

AR: I say popularity is very overrated. People know me and that. I'm just a regular kid, just a class clown, always messing things up. But I want people to also know that I want to be known for being a serious kid, too - not just silly.

JW: Do you get treated differently by girls?

AR: I really don't mess with girls. I mess with young women and older women because of the way I handle myself. I'm a grown man by the things I do in life and how I handle certain aspects in life.

JW: On the show, "My Super Sweet Sixteen," you stated that you just moved from Atlanta to New York; how was life for you there?

AR: Atlanta is my home, man, where I was born and raised. I actually could have lived in Los Angeles, but my parents didn't want me to live that life, they didn't want me to turn Hollywood and live a very humble life. My family is very close with Nicole Richie and we used to play Twister and stuff when we were little and just seeing the things she has been put through are crazy.

JW: So tell me, what is a typical day being Aaron Reid?

AR: I wake up and get ready to go to school like any regular student. After school I come home and relax for a little while, then I have some tutors come by the house and help with homework. After that, I have a meeting which is like my separate life that people don't know about me. I'm at my dad's office running around doing errands and getting advice from my father. I'm also always out just trying to network, whether it is music or anything just to create a name for myself.

JW: With all that stuff going on, what do you do for fun?

AR: I don't have free time (laughs). Well when I do have some downtime, I usually watch movies with some girls, go to and have some parties with friends and meet people to network with.

JW: If there was one thing that you wanted the public to know about you, what would it be?

AR: Kids in my position are not what they seem. I want to be known for me, not my parents. I want my own name. Stop judging me and kids in my position so quick; we aren't all brats.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools