Known for his creative freestyles and dynamic live shows, Bronx rapper Randy Mason brings that same energy to his dope new project, Practical Rap for Everyday People, that’s produced entirely by NYCbased artist Deca. True to its title, this release focuses on topics we all think about on a daily basis, while also providing a bit of inspiration for those looking to conquer personal challenges.
“I rap about things that people experience, think about, and wrestle with everyday,” Randy explains, adding that he wanted the music and the message to be relatable. “That’s what made me think of ‘everyday people’ for the album title—like Sly & The Family Stone’s ‘Everyday People,’ or John Legend’s ‘Ordinary People.’”
Randy brings that concept to life throughout the eight tracks of Practical Rap, particularly on his favorite track, “I Did That.” He explains that he had his children in mind when writing it, because he wanted to synthesize his experiences as a father: facing fear and uncertainty while attempting difficult things. The resulting track is a head-nodding dose of motivational lyrics delivered with an evolving cadence over Deca’s soulful, woozy production.
In addition to providing his production talents, Deca flexes his gifts as an emcee on standout track “Just Rhyme” alongside Randy and Homeboy Sandman. The three embody the spirit of the hook—”Just rhyme/ And everything will be just fine”— with clever lyrics, distinct messages, and effortless vibes. Those qualities also make for endless replay value, much like the rest of Practical Rap. Its magic resides in Randy’s everyman essence, a quality that makes him immediately relatable and forever fascinating.
