Aspiring rapper and Mansfield native Reno Money performing on Nickelodeon tour
Reno Money has gotten a taste of the big time.
The 8-year-old second grader at Woodland Elementary School, whose real name is Terrence Davison Jr., is a hip-hop performer with big dreams in a small package.
Reno Money recently appeared on two dates of the Recess Is Over Tour, headlined by Nickelodeon star LayLay, who got her start by sharing photos and videos on Instagram in 2017.
The 14-year-old hip-hop artist has her own show on the network. She is also the youngest female rapper to sign a deal with Empire Records.
"I'll probably be like that by the time I'm 9," Reno Money said. His stage name comes from a visit to Reno, Nevada, the "biggest little city in the world."
Performances in Louisville, Dallas and Orlando
He performed on Nickelodeon stops in Louisville and Dallas. He also will appear on an upcoming show in Orlando.
Reno Money got the gigs after he and his father, Terrence Davison Sr., attended a LayLay concert "to check her out."
While at Shawnee State, Davison began promoting and booking events.
That was eight years ago. Davison later got involved with managing artists and started Gentlemen Making Good Financial Choices.
He spoke to LayLay's management and told them about his son. The managers liked what they saw of Reno Money on social media and invited him to join the end of the tour.
There are some remaining dates on the West Coast, but the family turned them down because they would interfere with school and Christmas.
"I like school," the 8-year-old said. "I get excited because I can tell my friends."
Mom got the feeling 'my son is a star'
Paige Glover, Reno Money's mother, said her son showed some nerves during the first tour date.
"The second show, he just mastered it," Glover said. "Everybody thought that he was somebody.
"It was the first time I ever got the feeling that my son is a star."
Reno Money energized the crowds with his signature backflip. He performed sets of 12 and seven minutes.
The 8-year-old said he enjoyed some of the trappings of touring, such as swimming in the hotel pools and flying.
"I like flying, but I don't like when my ears pop," he said.
The only negative of the experience "was we had to practice." Reno Money was not a fan of a cappella.
Well, there was another drawback. Because of the shows, he missed a basketball game at the Mansfield Area Y.
"Sacrifice," his dad said with a smile.
Learning from other performers
Davison has been watching the other performers, looking to incorporate some of what they do into Reno Money's shows. He would like to add dancers.
"I'm learning as I go, which is a good thing," Davison said. "You never want to stop learning, especially in this business."
He added the experience has been invaluable because of the networking opportunities he has gained.
"His dad has done a good job of getting him to where he is now," Glover added. "I think this (tour) was the start of something great."
Reno Money has enough songs for an EP, scheduled for release in the spring of 2022.
His social media handle on Instagram is reno_money1. His music can be downloaded and streamed on such platforms as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Google Music and YouTube.
"When the rookie gets drafted in the NBA, he's with the big dogs," the 8-year-old's father said. "He's just got to be rookie of the year now."
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield rapper making name for himself on Nickelodeon tour
