Maeko is reinventing cool, and he doesn’t care if you don’t vibe with his new definition. When the Boston rapper crafted his new album, there was only one tastemaker whose opinion he cared about: A younger version of himself, shelved away somewhere in the back of his mind.
That inner child grew into new his consultant for a seven-track record named Cool, which 28-year-old Maeko dropped earlier this month (June 15). Tonight, both versions of the artist come out to play at Crystal Ballroom for Maeko’s album release party, which also features performances from Sleeping Bela, Dev Soter, and Timi O.
“There are many moments where I’ll have an idea and get extremely excited. What usually comes next is my ego swooping in to put out that fire,” Maeko tells Vanyaland. “It comes in the form of a voice telling me that the idea is not realistic, or too vulnerable, goofy, corny. I believe that the first rush of excitement and inspiration is our higher self, inner child. The second one is the ego trying to protect me in a misguided way. The best way for me to get in touch with the inner child is to gently dismiss the part that’s trying to protect me. We have to first quiet that voice that judges.”
In a teaser for the record, Maeko does just that: He dozes, slumped against a tree, as a friend (played by produced DePhrase) rambles on about the effortless cool of Miles Davis and Jay-Z. He’s in his own world, likely summoning Lil’ Maeko (or at least a smidge of soothing white noise). The clip comes from a forthcoming short film that Maeko will drop in July.
“Cool the short film gave me a chance to share parts of my story in a more abstract way through the lens of a character,” he explains. “I think a 20 minute film was me balancing the scales and really choosing to do something for art’s sake. Opting for a format that isn’t terribly popular in music right now is a way of doubling down on the belief in the journey of becoming an artist, rather than a brand, content creator, etc.”
It affirms Maeko’s status as a storyteller, too. His 2020 EP Good Grief grappled with bereavement, a breakup, and major life shifts, so it feels natural that what followed is “the first step in [Maeko’s] rebirth,” circling back to his inner child.
And when he steps on stage tonight, it’ll be a leap towards Maeko 2.0.
MAEKO COOL RELEASE SHOW:: Thursday, June 30 at Crystal Ballroom, in Somerville, MA :: 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, all ages, $18:: tickets
