This is the 5th mixtape from Carson, California rapper Reason. After releasing his first 4 tapes, Top Dawg Entertainment signed him in the middle of 2018 by reissuing the one that landed him the contract in the first place: There You Have It. However, his official full-length debut album New Beginnings received more mixed reception when it came out the fall where COVID had the whole world shut down & Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith’s son Moosa subsequently got into a heated exchange of words with Reason the week Porches dropped saying former employee & pgLang co-founder Dave Free regrets even signing him in the first place. Understandably, he left TDE & is returning to his independent roots by telling the game I Love You Again in light of starting his own label Do More Records.
“Fly Away” is this 1 minute drumless intro tackling the theme of escapism whereas “MY Own” featuring Junii takes the trap route instrumentally talking about keeping your head up whilst treading them waters. “Stuck on Moments” featuring Kota the Friend goes for a summery vibe to the beat taking a road different from the proper trail just before “Fleece” hooks up these pianos & hi-hats showing off his young ghetto n***a status.
The soul-trap hybrid on “Not What You Think” featuring Bas crosses the halfway mark of I Love You Again nicely turning all of their demons into meanings but after the “Do More with Thoughts & Ideas” interlude, Ben Reilly joins Reason for “100” going off the top together that is until “Hol’ That” featuring Coyote & Ransom reveals to be the most fun collab here. The final song “Cross the Waters” ahead of the “I Really Do Love You Memoir” outro wraps it up with him & Hit-Boy sharing a moment on the mic together over a Supah Mario instrumental.
After the “I Still Love You Memoir” interlude, “Count It Up” gets on a soulful trap note taking happiness over money & fame while “Tears Over Rose Petals” featuring Cozz cumbersomely talks about wanting people to feel the words they’re speaking instead of simply listening. “On Site NE” hooks up a vocal sample & some finger snaps saying he needs his paper pronto & after the “Spin the Block Memoir” interlude, “I Hate You. I Love You.” dustily breaks down his love/hate relationship with the game.
Once the final bonus track “Home to Me” featuring Chris Patrick excluding the “Support Ya Ppls” outro finishes the deluxe run with a pop rap joint feeling safe around the love of their lives, I wanted to take an opportunity to discuss both “The Dead Apple” & “New York Crash” since both of them were released in the midst of Ray Vaughn & Joey Bada$$’ series of friendly competition disses. The first is a 2-parter replying to a jab Joey threw during “The Finals” & the other finds himself tempted carrying a .40 on him at all times.
Sitting in the weight of reflection, contemplation & healing, one of the industry’s most compelling young voices renowned for his gift for narrative & storytelling prowess makes his highly anticipated return as he embarks on creating his own path & proves that his star is as bright as ever now that’s independent free to drop whenever he wants as opposed to a major label holding his creativity hostage.
Score: 3.5/5
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