A charismatic and influential figure in the San Francisco Bay Area’s hip-hop scene, Andre Hicks was a rapper, songwriter, and independent record producer known professionally as Mac Dre. Born in Oakland, California, on July 5, 1970, he moved to Vallejo as a child and became deeply connected to the city's Country Club Crest neighborhood. He began his career while still in high school, releasing his first single in 1989 and quickly gaining a reputation for his fast, confident rhymes and unwillingness to compromise for mainstream appeal. Hicks was a key pioneer of the "hyphy" movement, a high-energy subgenre of hip-hop that emerged in the early 2000s. Through his own labels, Romp Records and later Thizz Entertainment, he released dozens of albums and created a platform for other local artists. His mother, Wanda Salvatto, remembered him as a creative individual who brought humor to his music and relief to neighborhoods in need.
In late October 2004, the 34-year-old male artist traveled to Missouri for a series of performances. After a show on Friday, October 29, in Kansas City, Kansas, he remained in the area for the weekend. In the early morning hours of Monday, November 1, 2004, Hicks was a passenger in a white van traveling on U.S. Highway 71 in Kansas City, Missouri. At approximately 3:30 a.m., another vehicle pulled alongside the van, and an occupant opened fire. More than 30 bullets struck the driver's side of the vehicle.
The van veered across the highway median, crossed the southbound lanes, and crashed down a steep embankment into a muddy ditch. Hicks was thrown from the vehicle during the crash. When police arrived at the poorly lit scene, they found him near a small tree. An autopsy later confirmed he died from a gunshot wound, not from injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the van was wounded but survived, crawling from the wreckage to seek help.
The Kansas City Police Department launched an extensive homicide investigation. Detectives interviewed dozens of witnesses and suspects over the years, but a motive for the shooting remained elusive. Police said witnesses did not report hearing any arguments before the shooting, and they did not believe it was a case of road rage. Theories circulated that the killing might have been connected to rap rivalries or gang affiliations, but no definitive link was ever established by law enforcement.
One person of interest identified by police was a Kansas City rapper named Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins. However, Watkins was never officially named a suspect or charged in connection with Hicks' murder. In May 2005, Watkins himself was found shot to death in Las Vegas, adding another layer of complexity to the case. The investigation into Hicks' death was led for many years by Detective Everett Babcock, who in a 2021 interview stated, "I remember everything about that case. I lived that case for I don’t know how many years."
Despite the high-profile nature of the murder and the exhaustive police work, the case grew cold. No arrests have ever been made, and no charges have ever been filed. Hicks' death sent shockwaves through the hip-hop community, particularly in the Bay Area, where he was considered a folk hero and an underground legend. His influence on West Coast rap continues to be recognized, and his music remains popular. In 2015, a documentary titled "Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay" premiered at the San Francisco Black Film Festival, featuring interviews with fellow artists like Too $hort and E-40 who spoke to his legacy.
As of May 2021, the Kansas City Police Department confirmed that Andre Hicks' murder remains an open and unsolved investigation. His family and fans continue to hope for a resolution. The violent end to his life stands in stark contrast to the humorous and celebratory nature of the music he created.
