- Before being considered as a seminal rap artist who influenced hip-hop and gangsta rap, Clarence "Blowfly" Reid was a longtime R & B singer and songwriter ("Clean-Up Woman" for Betty Wright and "Rocking Chair" for Gwen McCrae are probably his best known songs). His lyrics were funny, direct and explicit; his onstage persona as "Blowfly," along with his antic live performances, was unforgettable.
- Earned the nickname Blowfly after his grandmother heard him singing raunchy versions of current hit songs and remarked, "You is no better than a blowfly!".
- Father of professional basketball player Tracy Reid.
- Signed up with Jello Biafra's record label Alternative Tentacles in 2005.
- Did his first tour of Australia in 2007 and toured Germany with the punk band Die Ärzte in 2008. Moreover, Reid performed as Blowfly at the Big Day Out musical festival held in Australia and New Zealand in 2010.
- Son of Dock Reid and Annie Collins.
- Chuck D admitted in a 2014 interview for the magazine Rolling Stone that Reid's song "Blowfly's Rapp" was a big influence on the landmark hit rap song "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy.
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