Jersey’s alternative hip-hop artist and self-proclaimed misfit REG MASON unveils his introspective new single ‘HANDSHAKES’,’ featuring fellow NJ rapper and long-time friend GINI. Surfacing as a stream of charismatic consciousness, Mason separate his childhood dreams of being a musician from being a member of the music business. Produced by CURT, the old-school hip-hop inspired production tickles a nostalgic spot in the brain, filled with soulful, horn-led instrumentals that perfectly lay the foundation for Mason’s ferociously catchy bars to take center stage. ‘HANDSHAKES’ is an ode to entering adulthood, as Mason step into this next phase of his artist career with his eyes set on the prize, all while embracing his newfound mantra of it’s not personal, it’s just business.
According to Mason, the energy between the two emcees in ‘HANDSHAKES’ recreates a snapshot of what it looked and felt like to be rapping as young teenagers growing up in Union, NJ. “We would walk up and down our main street outside of our high school on Burnett Avenue and rap for hours. “HANDSHAKES’” is a recreation of the excitement and creativity that fueled us to rap as kids. The beat reminded me of childhood bliss, so the lyrics practically crawled out of me and took on a life of their own. “HANDSHAKES’” allowed me to reflect on the years I’ve spent creating my own world within my music, including the growing pains and the pushback that came with it.”
The accompanying music video (co-directed by Mason and CURT) is set at Mason’s uncle’s house in Orange, New Jersey, where he spent most of his days as a kid and found his love for music. The scene captures the artist-producer duo creating the track with GINI, shining light on the spontaneous, gritty, no-nonsense Jersey chemistry that fills the room. The scene is interpolated with home-video footage from Mason’s father’s camcorder that was captured when he was a kid, resulting in a whirlwind of nostalgia that serves as a nod to the passage of time, furthering his message of “no matter how much life as a musician throws at me, we’re all just tending to our inner child.”
Alongside ‘HANDSHAKES’, Mason released his debut album TESTDRIVE, last Wednesday (2nd August). The single signifies Mason’s coming into himself as an artist more than ever, crafting a sound uniquely his own while solidifying himself as one to watch as he continues his run of self-reflective, experimental hip-hop…check out the video below…
