Hailing from Houston, Matthew Reid is a talented artist whose music occupies a unique space in the alternative hip hop sphere. Combining the reflective lyricism of 90s rap with the swagger of Houston hip hop, he’s spent years developing a sound that feels at once nostalgic and innovative while exploring themes of identity, adulthood and the ever-elusive pursuit of happiness.
Sharing his original sonic vision with the world for over a decade, he made his debut back in 2013 with his first record, Matthew Reid’s Dysfunctional Adulation. Since then, he’s dropped multiple well-received releases while linking with artists such as Gum$, Kooleidescope, NBbeats, The Jet Age of Tomorrow, Grown Man Flacco and D-Cogito on collaborative tracks along the way.
Now he brings us one of his recent releases with the single titled “So Just,” lifted from his latest album, You Are Happy, Right? an LP that frames the facets of adult happiness and the pressures that come with venturing through life’s crossroads. “So Just” offers the perfect showcase of Matthew Reid’s knack for pairing profound lyricism with laid-back beats, serving up a grooving alternative hip hop jam.
The track lays down a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be happy and whether it’s okay to settle into contentment without striving for more. Kicked off by a filtered beast and hazy instrumental textures, the arrangement jumps with dusty drums injecting a sooth rhythm as Matthew’s razor sharp rapped flows roll above.
Spinning memorable lyricism above the pulsing bass lines, shuffling beat and retro-tinged instrumentation, “So Just” finds a slick balance between mellow and energising, resulting in a superb slice of the artist’s highly original and thoroughly enjoyable sound. Wrapped in punchy production and capped by an engaging vocal performance throughout, it’s an epic outing that’s both instantly catchy and meaningful.
Putting his rap skills and lyrical flair on full display, “So Just” delivers the perfect taste of the latest chapter of Matthew Reid’s enduring musical adventure. As he continues to go from strength to strength with each move, we can’t wait to see what this exciting hip hop artist has in store for 2025 and beyond.
Listen to So Just below
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