Before Rap, Reason Was a Collegiate Athlete—Now He’s Bringing That Competitive Fire to His Music

Long before Reason found his rhythm in the booth, he was making plays on the court. The Porches creator spent his early years as a collegiate athlete, channeling discipline, teamwork and that ever-present hunger to win—qualities he now brings front and center to his music career. With every verse and bar, Reason reminds listeners that hip‑hop isn’t just art; it’s competition.

On Sunday, May 18, Reason unleashed a kerosene‑drenched message on social media: “Hip‑Hop is a sport. It’s never personal unless it is.” The tweet underscored his belief that, much like athletics, rap battles demand preparation, strategy and the will to outwork your opponent. That competitive fire, honed through years of training and game‑time pressure, informs everything he does in the studio.

Reason’s latest tracks are textbook examples of his no‑holds‑barred approach. In “The Dead Apple” and “New York Crash,” he directly addresses Joey Bada$$, answering the Brooklyn rapper’s Red Bull Spiral freestyle with precision and purpose. “The rhymes aren’t personal,” Reason asserts in “New York Crash,” “just an answer to your call to the West Coast.” But make no mistake—when the stakes are high, he’s ready to turn personal.

This two‑pack of diss tracks follows in the wake of TDE’s Ray Vaughn dropping his own salvo at Joey Bada$$, leading to Joey’s rebuttal on “The Finals.” As of this writing, Joey hasn’t publicly responded to Reason’s challenge, but the back‑and‑forth feels far from over. What began as a nostalgic call to revive ’90s East Coast vs. West Coast energy on Joey’s “The Ruler’s Back” has now morphed into full‑blown lyrical warfare.

2025 has already been a watershed year for Reason. In February, he released I Love You Again, his first project since parting ways with Top Dawg Entertainment. The 10‑track EP features collaborations with Kota The Friend, Hit‑Boy, Coyote and Ransom, and finds him reflecting on past struggles while plotting his next move. Now he’s following up that introspective effort with a bold declaration of competitive intent.

Though no longer signed to TDE, Reason has always maintained deep respect for his former labelmates. His last album with TDE, Porches, included guest spots from SiR, Ray Vaughn, Zacari and Doechii—proof of his loyalty even as he forges a new path. That same ethos permeates his social media, where he offers sharp commentary on hip‑hop culture and beyond, proving he’s just as comfortable leading a conversation as he is leading a team.

Pulling from his days as a student‑athlete, Reason approaches each release like game day. He studies opponents, plots his plays and delivers under pressure. His latest tweets and tracks aren’t simply about beef—they’re a reminder that hip‑hop, at its core, thrives on competition. And with his collegiate background fueling every verse, Reason is poised to take his music career to the championship level.