Reconcile (rapper)

Reconcile
Birth name Ronnie Stephen Lillard
Also known as Reconcile
Born March 20, 1989
Fort Myers, Florida
Origin Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres Christian hip hop, urban contemporary gospel
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments vocals, singer-songwriter
Years active 2012–present
Labels Full Ride, Frontline Movement
Associated acts Corey Paul, Thi'sl, Lecrae, Street Symphony (Producer)

Ronnie Stephen Lillard, (born March 20, 1989),[1] who goes by the stage name Reconcile, is an American Christian hip hop musician.[2] His first album Abandoned Hope was released in 2012, with Full Ride Music, which is a label started by the Christian rapper Thi'sl.[2][3] The second album, Sacrifice, released in 2014, with Frontline Movement.[4][5] His second album, Sacrifice, was his Billboard chart debut album.[6]

Early life

Reconcile was born on March 20, 1989, as Ronald Stephen Lillard, Jr. in Fort Myers, Florida,[1] he was raised by his father Ronald Stephen Lillard, Sr., after his parents got divorced.[7] His father told him football would be his only ticket out of his current predicament in the 8th grade.[7] Reconcile played football at the linebacker position for Lehigh Senior High School on the east side of Fort Myers in Southwestern Florida. Ronnie "Reconcile"" Lillard was a three year starter at Lehigh Senior and finished his career with 268 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 interceptions and 6 forced fumbles. Reconcile and his father got into fistfights, and shared a strained relationship which culminated to him getting kicked out of his home during high school.[7] He is one of nine children in his family that has four brothers and four sisters.[1]

College

Reconcile was awarded a full scholarship to Rice University Rice to play the remainder of his collegiate days at linebacker staring in 2008.[1] While at Rice, Reconcile played a special teams role his freshman year, having three tackles in two or more games that he saw action. [1] He experienced his best game his sophomore year with the squad against East Carolina with five tackles and an interception.[1] Before his junior year, he sustained an injury that ended his football playing days.[1] Reconcile got his Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies, philosophy, and sociology.[7][1] Post collegiate football, he turned his focus over to making Christian hip hop music.[2]

Music career

The first album, Abandoned Hope, was released on March 23, 2012, with Full Ride Music that Thi'sl started.[2][3] His second album, Sacrifice, with Frontline Movement released on May 20, 2014.[4][5] This was his debut album on the Billboard charts, and it happened to land a placement on three of them.[6] Those charts were Christian Albums at No. 21, Top Gospel Albums at No. 7, and Top Rap Albums at No. 20.[6]

Personal life

Reconcile is married to LaDwaina "Dway" Lillard,[8] and is presently residing in Houston, Texas, with his wife and children.[7] His mentor is Patrick "P.T." Ngwolo, who is the current pastor of Resurrection Houston, where his family attends worship services.[7] Ronnie "Reconcile" Lillard is related to the NFL brothers Jaylen Watkins of the Philadelphia Eagles and Sammy Watkins of the Buffalo Bills, as well as Jeremy Ware formerly of the Oakland Raiders and Jordan Diggs of the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions[6]
US
Chr		 US
Gos		 US
Rap
Abandoned Hope – – –
Sacrifice 21 7 20

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Rice Owls football. "Ronnie Lillard Bio". Rice Owls football. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Sketch the Journalist (March 22, 2012). "Rice University linebacker making waves with free Christian rap album & Marvin Sapp remake". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Burkey, Josh (April 30, 2012). "Reconcile - Abandoned Hope". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 New Release Tuesday (May 20, 2014). "Sacrifice by Reconcile". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Galla, Joshua (May 24, 2014). "Reconcile - Sacrifice". Jam the Hype. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0]=ts_chart_artistname%3AReconcile&f[1]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=Reconcile
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Reconcile". Frontline Movement. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ ReconcileUs official twitter account (October 5, 2012). "Happy Birthday to my wife @ladwainalillard". Twitter. Retrieved February 22, 2015.