Reason (American rapper)

Robert Lee Gill Jr., better known by his stage name Reason, is an American rapper and songwriter. He was formerly signed to hip hop record label Top Dawg Entertainment, where he started to gain recognition. His TDE debut, There You Have It, was released on September 28, 2018, a re-release of an album from 2017.^[1] His major label debut album New Beginnings was released on October 9, 2020.^[2]

Reason
Birth name	Robert Lee Gill Jr
Born	Carson, California, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper songwriter
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2015–present
Labels	Top Dawg (former) Caroline

Career

Reason released his first mixtape, In The Meantime, on January 1, 2015.^[3] On January 16, 2016, he released his next mixtape titled The Free Album, while releasing a compilation mixtape called The Proof on his SoundCloud later in 2016.^[4] On February 9, 2018, he was featured on the Top Dawg Entertainment produced film soundtrack for the Marvel Studios superhero film Black Panther (2018), titled Black Panther: The Album, on the song "Seasons".^[5]

On August 8, it was announced that he was signed to TDE. That same day, he released a single titled "The Soul", with a music video released the next week.^[6] On August 29, he released the second single titled "Better Dayz", a song that had already made an appearance on his first mixtape.^[7] On September 11, he released the third single titled "Summer Up", also accompanied by a music video.^[8] He was also featured on Los Angeles rapper JAG's album with Cozz on "Black Boy Rise". He is also scheduled to go on tour with Jay Rock on the "Big Redemption Tour". Reason released his mixtape, There You Have It, on September 28, 2018.^[9] The album was originally released on May 19, 2017, but upon signing with TDE, the label decided to re-release the album.^[10]

On January 6, 2019, it was announced that Reason was invited to the Dreamville recording sessions for the compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III.^[11] He later announced that he will be joining the first leg of JID's "Catch Me If You Can Tour".^[12]

On February 14, 2020, Reason announced the title of his album New Beginnings.^[13] On April 24, as part of Top Dawg Entertainment's Fan Appreciation Week, Reason released the song "Might Not Make It".^[14] On October 9, 2020, Reason released the album New Beginnings. He explained the album's delay: "I had to get rid of every fear, anxiety, doubt, and negative mindset to make this project".^[15]

Artistry

Influences

In an interview, Reason named Lil Wayne, J. Cole, Eminem, Fabolous, and Lupe Fiasco as his inspirations and favorite hip hop artists.^[16]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with album details

Title	Album details
New Beginnings	Released: October 9, 2020[15] Label: Top Dawg, Caroline Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Porches	Released: August 11, 2023[17] Label: Top Dawg, Caroline Format: Digital download, streaming

Mixtapes

Title	Album details
In the Meantime	Released: January 1, 2015 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download
The Free Album	Released: January 16, 2016 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download
The Proof	Released: August 19, 2016 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download
There You Have It	Released: May 19, 2017 Re-released: September 28, 2018 Label: Top Dawg Format: CD, digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Title	Year	Album
"Better Dayz"[7]	2018	There You Have It
"Summer Up"[8]
"Flick It Up"[18] (featuring Ab-Soul)	2019	New Beginnings
"Show Stop"[19]	2020
"Trapped In"[20] (featuring Boogie, Ab-Soul)		Non-album single
"Pop Shit"[15] (featuring Schoolboy Q)		New Beginnings
"Sauce"[15] (featuring Vince Staples)

As featured artist

List of singles as a featured artist, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Album
"LamboTruck" (Dreamville and Cozz featuring Reason and Childish Major)	2019	Revenge of the Dreamers III
"Still Up" (Dreamville and EarthGang featuring Reason)	2020	Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album
"Seasons"	2018	Mozzy, Sjava	Black Panther: The Album
"Black Boy Rise"[21]		JAG, Cozz	2700
"Revenge"[22]	2020	Lute, Omen, Ari Lennox, EarthGang, Childish Major	Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director's Cut
"Weighing Me Down"[23]		Deante' Hitchcock	Better

Tours

Supporting

• Big Redemption Tour (Jay Rock) (2018)
• Catch Me If You Can Tour (JID) (2019)

References

1. "Reason Signs to TDE, Shares "The Soul"". Exclaim!.
2. "Reason's "New Beginnings" Features Ab-Soul, J.I.D, Isaiah Rashad & More". Hotnewhiphop. October 5, 2020.
3. "In The Meantime – REASON". Genius.
4. "The Free Album". Datpiff.
5. Tiffany, Kaitlyn (January 4, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar produced the soundtrack for Black Panther". The Verge. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
6. "CALIFORNIA RAPPER REASON SIGNS TO TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT". XXL. August 8, 2018.
7. "TDE's New Signee REASON Drops "Better Dayz" Video". Hip Hop DX. August 29, 2018.
8. "Reason shares his latest track "Summer Up"". Revolt.
9. "Top Dawg Announces Release Date For Reason's TDE Debut "There You Have It"". Hotnewhiphop. September 21, 2018.
10. Phillips, Yoh (October 10, 2018). "A REASON to Believe: The Inspiring Story of TDE's Newest Signee Achieving His Dream". DJ Booth.
11. "These 106 Artists Are Working on Dreamville's New Compilation LP". XXL. January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
12. Findlay, Mitch (January 9, 2019). "Reason Will Join JID On "Catch Us If You Can" Tour". HotNewHopHop. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
13. @reasonTDE (February 14, 2020). "New Beginnings Coming Soon! Pre TDE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
14. Ingvaldsen, Torsten (April 24, 2020). "REASON Details His Doomsday Schedule on New Single "Might Not Make It"". Hypebeast. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
15. Findlay, Mitch (September 29, 2020). "Reason Announces "New Beginnings" Album Release Date". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
16. "Reason Describes His Journey From Hungry MC To TDE's Next Top Dawg (Video)". AmbrosiaForHeads.
17. Caraan, Sophie (August 11, 2023). "REASON Shares Sophomore Record 'Porches'". Hypebeast. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
18. "Ab-Soul Joins His TDE Cohort Reason on "Flick It Up"". Hypebeast. November 26, 2019.
19. "TDE's Reason Premieres New Visual for "Show Stop"". Hypebeast. January 29, 2020.
20. "Reason Recruits Ab-Soul & Boogie for New Single & Video "Trapped In"". Hypebeast. March 3, 2020.
21. "JAG Drops New Project "2700" Ft. Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz, Problem & More". HotNewHipHop. September 6, 2018.
22. "Dreamville Share "Revenge Of The Dreamers III Deluxe" Tracklist & Cover Art". HotNewHipHop. January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
23. "Deante' Hitchcock Releases Deluxe Version Of "Better" With New Features From Guapdad 4000, REASON, & More". Hotnewhiphop. October 28, 2020.