Ex-TDE Artist Reason Reveals He Began Updating His Resume When the Label Refused to Let Him Drop Music

At one point, Reason nearly walked away from music entirely—even while signed to Top Dawg Entertainment. Frustrated with label constraints, the Carson, California rapper considered returning to his old 9-to-5.

“I contemplated giving up music for a year and a half. I was updating my resume, ready to walk away,” he told Audiomack co-founder Brian Zisook. “At the time, it was a fair deal for a new artist with no name. But the length of the contract was tough [for me].”

“I contemplated giving up music for a year and a half. I was updating my resume, ready to walk away.”

I spoke with Reason (@_Reasonofficial) about his journey—from signing to TDE, nearly quitting, and how independence helped him fall back in love with music.

A thread: 🧵 pic.twitter.com/sIsrcfhMhJ

— Z (@BrianZisook) February 28, 2025

Reason’s contract included a multi-album commitment with a 50/50 revenue split after recoupment. Despite coming in with an album ready to go, delays stretched beyond a year.

“That’s when I realized the delays weren’t just about development—it was [how] the label operated,” he explained. “I couldn’t drop music when I wanted. I couldn’t feed my fans. I even updated my resume to go back to my old job [as a tech recruiter].”

After seven years with TDE, he exited in 2024. Now independent, Reason has full ownership of his masters and released his latest project through a one-album distribution deal.

“Independence let me fall back in love with music,” he shared. “Now, I own my work … and I have the freedom to move how I want.” He also refused an advance.

“I didn’t want to be in that position again. Now, I see royalties immediately instead of waiting to recoup debt.”

A strategic move helped expedite his departure. When Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud erupted, Reason publicly praised Drizzy’s diss track “Push Ups.”

“The only fans I really lost were fans that I shot myself in the foot in, but I had to do that to get out of the label deal,” he admitted on “Bootleg Kev” last night.

“When the Dot and Drake beef started, I felt like Top [Dawg] and them were kinda, like, dragging their feet a little bit … And I knew that if I kinda sparked a fire a little bit that they would be like, ‘We gotta separate from this.’ So I started tweeting shit on the side of Drake purposely. There are fans that hate me for that.”

TDE released him within a month.