mase j – what’s it to you? (2023)
On mase j’s Spotify he notes some inspirations such as Dragonball Z and cognac. Based on this, it’s needless to say the UK-based rapper is a tornado of sound with an underlying smoothness. Blasting onto the scene in 2021 with his debut EP, Hello World, mase j has received critical acclaim from blogs like The Pit London. In 2022, his double-single release Freedom saw mase j build a solid following and now he blasts into 2023 with pounding tunes. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘what’s it to you?’.
Following his track ‘head//heart’, ‘what’s it to you?’ is bold and brash but with an underlying sensitivity. As with ‘head//heart’, the new single is profound and thought-provoking exploring fragility and vulnerability with personal intimacy. mase j explains that “this song is really about people being reintroduced into my life, what I’ve been up to, how my life is going and how my current mentality is shrouded by a breakup…”
Just as a personal narrative exists, mase j inserts a philosophical perspective within the intimate theme. He further shares that “…the theme of the song is The Truman Show, how he’s in a fake world made for him. I often think about how artists create worlds for ourselves and others to live in. This can be a beautiful thing, however navigating through other people’s worlds can also prove to be difficult, especially if their message isn’t pure…”
The second single off his upcoming EP photodump//exit, ‘what’s it to you?’ is part of that peeling back layers of life to expose our inner core, and the melody perfectly captures the theme. Filled with a strong hip-hop flavour in the intriguing vocals and beats, mase j might be considered a rap artist; however, there is far more to this artist. Underlying the honest rap with his rich voice, a sliver of soul slips through the melody. It’s smooth and soothing but with an abrupt grittiness layering the surface. The traipsing of different genres highlights mase j’s versatility as an artist and I cannot wait for more!
For more from mase j, check out his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
