RESPECT. Interview: TDE’s Newest Signee Reason Talks Music, His Inspiration & More

Photo Credit: Top Dawg Entertainment

Reason is a rising artist out of California that we suggest you get to know here and now. As the newest signee of TDE Records, Reason brings more of the authentic true-to-life stories that the label is well known for, fitting right in with the current star line-up. Recently, I had the chance to catch up with this talented artist while he was visiting New York City to discuss his latest project ”There You Have It” and to detail his inspiration behind the project. Get to know Reason below.

RESPECT.: How’s NYC treating you today?

Reason: New York is dope, it’s like one of the few places I can see myself living in outside of LA. I love all the chaos and how busy it is.

RESPECT.: So you’re fresh off the Big Redemption tour with Jay Rock. How did this tour come together, and what was it like for you as a new signee of TDE to be on this national tour?

Reason: We actually have five more dates added because we rearranged some things around, but the tour really came together because of the relationship me and Rock built in the beginnings of me being signed; I was actually around TDE for a year before they did the major announcement, and with our projects dropping so close together, Top [Dawg] just felt like it made sense. Overall, the tour has been a dope experience, I’ve learned so much and also grown as an artist, and my favorite tour stop outside of California? I would have to say it would definitely have to be a tie between Seattle and Boston because they both just had some dope high energy.

RESPECT.: Earlier this year, your debut project There You Have it was re-released under the TDE umbrella. What was the creative process like for you while doing this debut, and what would you say was your biggest change as an artist looking back on that whole creative process?

Reason: This project is a re-release from 2016 and it’s also the project that Top and TDE found me with. TDE really wanted to re-establish this album and let the world know why they decided to sign me. So during that time, my creative process was just coming from a place of hunger: I was broke and I was working a 7am to 6pm job and trying to balance that out with the studio so all of my motivation just came from the struggle that I was in and not having money like that, but staying focused on what I wanted my dream to be and seeing it in front of me. So I just used all of that as my motivation, so that’s why I feel that There You Have It came out so inspiring.

RESPECT.: So my favorite track is “Better Days” because the story, the beat and the video is perfect. Do you have a personal favorite on There You Have It? If so, why?

Reason: My favorite track from There You Have It seems to switch all the time, but one of my favorite tracks was actually a track we ended up cutting off of the re-release but was on the original, it’s called “Spring Diaries.” But as of now, my favorite track is “State We In,” it’s been the track I’ve been listening to the most and it’s the one that’s hitting home the most, just for where my life is at this moment.

RESPECT.: So I have to ask, how and why did you go with the name Reason? Let us know the story behind the name.

Reason: I feel like to reason with someone is to come to a middle ground and I feel like that’s what my music represents: being in the middle of things and on the middle ground of situations and I feel it’s the perfect place to reason.

RESPECT.: Your music contains subject matter that brings listeners closer to your actual life story, and who you are and the things that affect you as a person. Why did you choose to go this route instead of the dance-heavy route that is so popular in today’s Hip-Hop?

Reason: I just feel that the music connects better if it’s real. I make my music so you can listen to it 24/7, and not just on the weekend. I just really wanted to be able to connect with the people because I understand life is hard and I’ve gone through it and so I just hope when people listen to my music that it can inspire them to keep going and that they can come out on the other side…for me, it’s a therapeutic way to get my message out and to let people know they aren’t alone.

RESPECT.: Closing out 2018 on to 2019, what can we expect for you alongside the TDE family?

Reason: I want to finish up strong and release a couple of loose records and then try to follow-up with a small project at the beginning of the year before my official TDE debut and stay strong and finish up the tour.