There’s something to be said for people who can set out with a plan for a project or even a whole career and fully follow through. Marvel Mike completes his project with his final album V. From the end of high school in 2005 to a new father in 2025, each of his works sought to “deliver intricate rhymes and an eclectic array of beats that almost anyone could appreciate”.
Marvel Mike starts the album off with “Dub to Speed” as an experimental track exploring his love and appreciation for the reggae and dub genres. Through snippets of the most important songs from prior projects, he shows his musical journey and growth.
The second song continues to bring listeners up to speed in his life, explaining that he works by himself to perfect his music which results in a longer time between releases. It’s a huge flex to craft a project on your own to create the sound you’re looking for, and I’m sure listeners agree it’s “Worth the Wait”.
Life is a journey, presenting different challenges for every individual every day. Marvel Mike uses sports analogies in “This Game” to portray his view of the world and the various ways people get through it. One standout bar reads “Some got what it takes, others take what you got”, to say that some people have it easier than others, but we all play the game regardless.
The next track, “Now & Then”, fits well following observations of life and the difficulties it presents. On both an individual level as well as the large scope of the world, things have changed drastically over the past few years. He goes through the past — very fitting for someone who also teaches History — and reflects on how it shaped the world today.
The fifth and final song serves as an homage to all the travelling across the world he’s done largely because of being able to teach internationally. The beat utilizes sounds reminiscent of overseas musical ideas, seen most prominently through the percussive elements.
“Globetrotter” is a wholly enjoyable finale to the album and to his catalogue. While V references the album’s fifth spot in his library, he says “V also signifies as a peace sign, as if to say ‘peace, I’m out’.” It’s very admirable to be able to say your project from start to finish has been entirely written and produced by you, and V is a fantastic fulfillment of that idea.
