Philadelphia rapper Verse Mega makes a major opening statement with his debut project, the powerful You Are? EP. The seven tracks on here (and bonus remix) demonstrate his stellar pen game, agile vocal delivery, and beyond-dope ear for production. As he explores the various ways in which we expand and change the way we think, he does so over phenomenal production from heavy-hitters like Nottz and Black Milk as well as Nthebeats, Cuzzo Beats, and Donwill.
You get an immediate sense of Mega’s mindset straight from the jump with opener “Who Do You Think You Are?”, a Nottz-produced head-nodder that drives home the great narrative of the EP. And from there, the emcee deftly runs through varying subject matter with the same passion. There’s the harrowing Black Milk-produced “Scared of the Dark” that tackles police brutality and racism, and then there’s the more upbeat and straight-up fun “Mascots” produced by Cuzzo Beats, which is accompanied with a visual directed by L. Biggs.
“Each song is special to me for different reasons,” Mega explains. “The content of ‘Scared of the Dark’ and ‘Good and Gangsta’ are my favorite, and ‘Mascots’ is the most fun.” But when it comes to a bar-for-bar look at them all, he admits that “R.S.V.P.” is his favorite. With good reason, because it boasts banging Nottz production and a hype guest feature from Lil Fame (of M.O.P.)—Mega admits to “losing his mind” when he heard Fame’s famous adlib on the track for the first time.
That anecdote really sums up how the Philly artist is able to make such an instant impact with You Are? There’s a sense of humility that bleeds through his rhymes that gives his music a relatable, down-to-earth quality. And it’s because of that very feeling that he’s capable of delivering such potent material, particularly “Scared of the Dark.”
You Are? is available now through all major digital retailers and streaming platforms via DSTRCT9 Records.
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