Reggie Sears

Reggie King Sears is not a blues artist. He’s not a retro act. He’s the new voice of real R&B — rooted in Southern Soul, raised on hip-hop, and the creator of a new genre: Ghetto Soul.

A Florida-born, self-taught singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Sears grew up in Tatertown — one of Fort Lauderdale’s toughest, most overlooked neighborhoods. He dropped out before finishing eighth grade, survived homelessness, and taught himself to write, sing, and produce from the ground up. Every note he plays comes from lived experience, not industry templates. His music is testimony.

At just 17, he was crowned “King” by soul legend Solomon Burke, who mentored him and declared, “Reggie Sears is the future… you don’t teach what’s in his voice — it’s a blessing.” He also received guidance from Marvin Sease, who treated him like family, and Hubert Sumlin, who taught him to make one note speak volumes. These aren’t casual co-signs — these legends helped raise him.

Sears built his name on the Chitlin’ Circuit, with a string of Southern Soul radio hits including the #1 songs “Dirty Dancer,” “Dip My Dipper,” and “You Betrayed Me.” Tracks like “U Caught Me With My Drawers Off” and “U Gotta Be a Freak” became underground anthems. His latest single “Luv Gangsta” is already a fan favorite and a centerpiece of his upcoming album, Crowned and Dangerous.

More than just a singer, Reggie is a masterful musician who plays guitar, bass, drums, keys, clarinet, accordion, vibraphone, bagpipes, and percussion. He records nearly everything himself — laying each track piece by piece with obsessive detail. His process starts with the keys and ends with layered harmonies and emotionally raw performances. His guitar playing has been compared to Eddie Hazel, George Benson, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, and Hendrix — but for Reggie, the guitar is not the focus. The music is the message.

His voice draws immediate comparisons to Gerald Levert, his biggest influence and favorite singer, with a delivery soaked in pain, heat, and masculine vulnerability. You also hear shades of Bobby Womack, Dave Hollister, K-Ci Hailey, Anthony Hamilton, and Leslie Wilson. But what defines him isn’t any one voice or style — it’s feeling.

Reggie calls his sound Ghetto Soul — a genre he created when no existing label fit. It blends:

It’s Southern. It’s spiritual. It’s street. It’s abstract. It’s real.

It’s the testimony of a life lived — raw, vulnerable, and proud.

Though deeply rooted in soul and gospel, hip-hop isn’t just an influence — it’s foundational. Reggie’s sound carries the weight of Three 6 Mafia’s tension, Boosie’s truth, and Playboi Carti’s edge, without compromising his roots. He’s worked with artists like Kurupt, Isaiah Rashad, Glasses Malone, and even the late Blowfly, bridging generations and genres with ease.

Reggie King Sears is building something bigger than a moment.

He’s not just redefining genres — he’s reclaiming the soul in Black music.