“We are not the same, I am a martian” is one of Lil Wayne’s most famous quotes. It’s sort of weird to think of rappers as aliens, but when one delves deeper, the symbolism is befitting. In the last few years, despite plenty who love to dabble in “the same ol’ s###,” Hip Hop has been blessed with a multitude of emcees who think outside the box when it comes to straying away from tiresome tradition. Chance The Rapper and The Social Experiment’s recent Surf LP is a fantastic excursion through disparate sounds. A$AP Rocky’s A.L.L.A is a fuse of 60’s psychedelic tones and bombastic hip-hop. Of course, the entire world is fawning over intricate To Pimp A Butterfly, with professor Brian Mooney recently posting an article entitled “Why I Dropped Everything and Started Teaching Kendrick Lamar’s New Album.” In my honest estimation, the so-called “aliens” are the artists I constantly finding myself not only listening to but eagerly anticipating their new releases with an borderline psychotic enthusiasm. With the recent release of his experimental yet engaging EP Hardball, Reid is a on his own personal mission to guide the masses outside the orbit into foreign sonic territory.
But Reid is not from Area 51 or some far-off planet, but South Bend, Indiana in fact. His fondness for all things music-related can be directly attributed to his upbringings. While he bears no kinship to the late Michael Jackson, his father did play drums for Davy Jones of The Monkees. Years later, in 2010, Reid began attending the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. While there, his band Auburn Skies changed lineups and re-branded as Wolf, the Rabbit. In 2011, Reid left KU, dissolved Wolf, the Rabbit and began pursuing a solo career in the Hip Hop field. Reid’s first two singles as an independent hip hop artist— “Introduction” and “Work”—were released in March 2012, under the name Rabbiteater. Also at this time he began making live appearances in the Midwest area, including Lawrence, Denver and parts of Texas. A couple years later after honing his craft, Red was invited to perform at this year’s legendary SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.
With buzz exponentially increasing, Reid is ready to issue his mission statement on the five track EP Hardball. On “Truth Is,” Reid samples “The Thong Song” and turns it flips it into a lengthy vent about the problems of the mainstream scene and what sets him apart. “Me Vs. The Real World” showcases his extreme confidence in his vision without coming across as the hollow braggadocio lyrics we are used to hearing from rappers. The overarching constant in the music is a sort of “f### you if you don’t like it” approach, especially the EP’s self-titled track, “Hardball.” It is the same attitude that has acted as the impetus to many transcendental artists. Even though their styles are significantly different, Lil Wayne has built his career off the same philosophy.
You can stream the record here: https://soundcloud.com/reid_the_martian/sets/hardball
If you interested in Reid The Martian’s music, make sure to check his movements on the interwebs.
Websites:
Official: http://www.reidthemartian.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReidTheMartian?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/reidthemartian
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR4fwC7qmkjVZzoOOCYPt9g