Opening up the album with a track titled G.O.A.R.N, Chicago-based rapper Mero exudes a timeless sound while really only just getting into his musical rhythm on the project, spitting the bars:
“If it’s get rich or die trying,
then I am,
The ghost of a real nigga”
Opting for an old-school type feel for the entire project, the opening track sets the mood perfectly with a trunk-rattling instrumental. His lyrics hit home and one can relate on several different levels. Providing several layers of meaning throughout the opening track, he draws the listeners into his album and entices them with a story-like song.
Sliding into the next section of the project, he spits the track Can’t Not (feat. James Lee), a smooth and clean instrumental with a boom-bap style beat he raps the bars:
“But, when I was an infant I pissed acid,
Who would’ve known that I’d live to spit rapping”
His flows mirror the relaxed, flute-like instrumental, while at the same coming across hard and almost gritty. Followed up by a perfectly placed feature from James Lee, the two keep the vibes going and make for a perfect transition as the album continues. Too Long, the third track on the project, the intro almost feels wobbly and off-the-wall:
“I need to get my dollars up”
He raps about his aspirations in the industry and praises his hustle. Putting his all into every track that he jumps onto, Mero can’t wait for the day that people are complaining that his chain is “too long,” metaphorically speaking of the days where money is not an issue whatsoever.
Crisp horns and a violent introduction start the fourth song off of the project as a savage and almost angry he explodes into his verse. After rapping savage bars and adding in several clever lines throughout, he goes in for the hook:
“She say I’m a asshole, I just nod my head,
She say I’m so bashful off the shit I’ve said.
I ain’t gon’ say that I’m misread
These speakers motivate just to get you ahead.”
The horn-laced instrumental syncs perfectly with MERO’s seemingly old-school New York-inspired verses and incredibly catchy hook. Striving to have his sound be a desired sound in the industry, he is carving his own lane out of the always growing Underground. Adding his own style and influence into the melting pot, he stays true to himself when in the booth and bares his raw thoughts on the beat.
Moving through the underground providing lyrical doses of bars and word play, MERO breaks up one of the high points of the ALBUM into two parts. Stunt, Pt. 1 (feat. Jordan Caeser & Legxnd) begins with the infectious hook
“I’m just on my BMX stuntin’ on these hoes,
I’m just on my BMX stuntin’ on these hoes”
Creating and carrying an incredible energy over the entire track, he recruits two features to add their styles to the mix. Providing outside influences to aid in sending his energy and vibrations over the track, the features fit in the track list perfectly.
Carrying that same energy into the second part, Stunt, Pt. 2, he switches the hook to:
“They thoughts I was done,
But it’s Stunt part two”
Admittedly, while MERO really does create a cool two-part song that fits well enough on the ALBUM, is does get a tad repetitive. In my opinion the energy in the song became stale towards the end of Stunt Pt. 1, although not enough to make it a bad song at all. But the very fact that he carries the same energy and momentum into a second track becomes a bit much. The breath of fresh air is the track the follows the two part effort Rap Life.
“I just wanna live like a fucking rapper,
I just wanna live like I’m famous,
I just want a brainless
bitch to give me brain like ‘aye, bitch'”
Often creating a clear vision of his goals and aspirations when in the booth, MERO dedicates an entire track to that very idea. Rapping over a clean, yet almost clunky instrumental, he changes his flow often on this track, entertaining from start to finish.
With three tracks remaining on the project, he puts his story telling abilities on display, detailing a love story on the song Scattered Ashes.
“I wonder who burned the house down,
I wonder who burned our bridges.
And when I look across
I don’t see you in the distance.
Emotions gone missing.”
Changing the mood of the project on a dime with the following song Quick Solution (feat. O.G), the chorus stays in your head long after the song and project come to a close. Although the mood of the track is happy and upbeat, Mero raps his way through the song touching on many things but focusing on how he chooses to cope with emotional grief, potentially from a past relationship.
Ending the entire project with the hardest, most truck-rattling instrumental paired with his most savage lyrics. He goes out with the best cut on the project, Hoes Ain’t Shit caps off the Ghost project perfectly. After getting his heart ripped out he is over that and now is ready to murder every rapper opposing. Clearing his head of emotions and with a heart full of ice, he ignites the booth and is here to claim what is his. Returning back to his roots, reciting a lesson (that hoes ain’t shit) that he learned as a child from his older brother.
Mero has produced a great piece of work with his newest effort Ghost. Aside from a few monotonous bars and belaboring the energy on the two-part Stunt track, there are a lot of great moments on this thing. Truly creating a flow evolved from the old-school boom-bap style, he adds a new-school flare at the same time that produces a great combination. Conceptual, clever, and full of great bars and word play, do not sleep on Ghost by Mero. Check it out below, available on all streaming platforms!
