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Meet daydream Masi, the Midwestern kid flipping the traditional sound of R&B on its head one song at a time. Raed Asi, aka Masi, hails from Northeastern Ohio. The youthful artist is creating music that exists in a realistic, dreamlike state.  

Though he pulls inspiration from hip-hop greats like Childish Gambino and Kayne West, Masi's take on R&B is a much more encompassing explorative feat. "Hot Mess," taken from his debut project,  the Slow Rage Project, is a prime example. Masi's rustic vocals croon over a melody comprised of a gritty bassline taken from rock, trippy electric riffs, and hip-hop-flavored production. Meanwhile,  "Nightlife" one of his first singles, floats. Masi sings of nightlife's thrills. The cozy track flirts with reggaeton and dances with psych-rock melodies all while staying true to Masi's lane within ambient R&B.  

There's no song of Masi's that lacks depth. He draws inspiration from heartbreak, impulsivity, and his own conflicting beliefs. His level of intentionality is remarkable in spite of his young age. Masi only started making his own music while he was a senior in high school. Now two years later, he's released several singles like "Lately" and "Stardust" as well as his debut project. 2019 was clearly a massive year for the R&B up-and-comer. And on tour, he even took to the stage at Smokin' Grooves to play his first-ever festival.  

However, Masi's humility is abundant. He admittedly has much to discover about both his sound and himself as a young man in this grandiose world. And undoubtedly we're right alongside him.