Tha Real Rel

“The Real Rel” or just “Rel”, born Darrell Anthony Byrd Robinson was conceived in San Bernardino, California in the Inland Empire on July 10th, 1984 to Regina Garrison and Darrell Steven Byrd.  He was
taken from his mother and his father as an infant and placed into foster care after the San Bernardino Police came crashing through the door putting a stop to the drug trafficking going on in their home. 
He spent his first three years of life moving from home to home through the United States Foster Care System, confused and innocent, until one day his grandmother and grandfather, Frances Lloyd Robinson and Hayward William Robinson adopted him. " I still remember the drive to Olive St where they lived, right in the heart of the projects" he said, " she had a cream colored Cadillac, pretty, real pretty, and told me you call me Momma now, alright, I’m your mother you understand".   

He had a few good childhood years until both his grandparents, Frances and Hayward Robinson died of cancer related illnesses by the time he was 13 years old, " when my grandfather died first, I still
had her, but when she died, I had no one, I was totally devastated", he says, "I had already felt so much pain in my life after my father was shot and killed when I was very young, her and him dyeing just added to it even more, I didn't even know what to think, it’s like I went numb in my brain".

Shortly after his grandmother’s death in Oct 98', Robert Buchanan, her first son who was at the time in his late twenties, took Rel into his care. Robert lived in Las Vegas, Nevada where Rel would attend high school at Desert Pines, "a great man truly, but at that time he was devastated as well, and had a hard time dealing with the death of his mother who he refers to as his best friend”, says Rel about his Uncle, " he taught me everything I know about life, and best of all, God".

Rel would earn accolades in sports over his time in Vegas, then in 2002, after he graduated from Desert Pines High School, he got a scholarship to go play at Idaho State University, " wow, me and my uncle were like, Idaho, Pocatello, where is that", he said as he chuckled, " but my uncle refused to let me turn down such a great opportunity”.   Moving to Idaho in 2002, He played football for the Idaho State University Bengals for 2 seasons before he moved to Boise, Idaho, "I wanted more from life, so I left the team to pursue my career in music, went up there and realized I was in for the biggest challenge of my life”.

Ever since, Rel has managed to work his way up the ladder,  performing many shows, opening for artist like Lil Wayne, Ying Yang Twins, Pit Bull, Lil Flip, Game, and Devin the Dude.  With all the talent in the world, a passion to succeed, and drive second to none, he most definitely will make it to the top of the music industry. His versatile style, intelligent lyrics, singing ability, and eloquent delivery have caught the
attention of many people.  In response one person said, " I definitely believe Rel's going to make it one day, no doubt, all he needs is the right person to listen and he's going straight to the top", another person said, “when I heard his recorded music I instantly became a fan for life”.

Undoubtedly, you will see him one day on your nearest television screen and hear him on your local radio station doing what he does best, music, music, and music!