We were lucky to catch up with Matthew Reid recently and have shared our conversation below.

Matthew, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’ve been studying hip hop since I was about 15. The first time I saw “Kick, Push” by Lupe Fiasco, I was drawn in — the glasses, swagger, skateboarding, etc. Curioisty of the genre led me into discovering artists suh as, A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie, Outkast. I learned how they told their stories, then started putting my own spin on it, figuring out how to make my voice stand out.

With art, it started from watching a ton of cartoons and anime. Shows like Yu Yu Hakusho, King of the Hill, and Rocket Power shaped how I saw expression, humor, and character design. I’d just start doodling out of boredom, trying to bring those kinds of characters to life. Over time, that turned into a real passion — something I wanted to keep refining.

Matthew, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Art and music have always been deeply intertwined in my life. I grew up surrounded by jazz through my dad, and that early exposure sparked a lasting curiosity for rhythm and melody. Over time, that foundation guided me toward alternative hip hop — a space where I could merge Houston’s signature sound with my own introspective style. My introduction to Houston rap in high school opened the door to exploring how lyricism, sound, and visual art could all connect.

Over time, those creative habits turned into something real. My brand, Cheapsketch_HTX, is an extension of that same energy — a way to bring my doodles and ideas to life through prints, designs, and pieces people can connect with. On the music side, my album You Are Happy, Right? dives into what it means to chase happiness as an adult — when everything looks good on paper, but you’re still sorting through what that really means.

What makes my work different is that I exist in both spaces. I’m as much a rapper as I am a cartoonist, and I take pride in being able to tell stories through both sound and image. I’ve opened for other artists, built everything independently, and learned by doing.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I had a show back in September that really tested me. I put everything into it — time, money, energy — and it just didn’t go how I imagined. The crowd didn’t show, and it felt like all that effort went nowhere. Honestly, it had me questioning if I should even keep going.

But then in October, I had another show — and that one hit. Tickets sold, the crowd showed love, the energy was right, and everything just came together. That moment reminded me why I do this in the first place.

I’m proud I didn’t give up after that first show. It would’ve been easy to walk away, but instead, I used it as fuel. I figured out what I needed to change and kept grinding. More than anything, I’m thankful for the people around me — the ones who kept me grounded, motivated, and reminded me that one setback doesn’t define the journey. Sometimes you just have to take that loss, learn from it, and come back harder.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

It’s tough right now because honestly, it feels like everyone’s being pulled in every direction. People don’t always have much to give — time, money, attention — and I get that. But the biggest form of support for artists isn’t always financial; it’s acknowledgment. Even a simple like, repost, or comment can go a long way. That small validation can really keep an artist’s momentum going.

At the same time, I think artists have to be willing to expand past their immediate circle. You can’t just depend on your friends to show up — you’ve got to step out of your comfort zone, go to new events, meet new people, and tell your story to an audience that doesn’t know you yet. That kind of hustle is what earns respect.

When that effort gets noticed — even in small ways — it builds community. I think that’s how we create a stronger ecosystem here in Houston

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cheapsketchtx.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reidsraps
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@REIDSRAPS
• Other: https://linktr.ee/youarehappyright