VEGAS The 28 year-old Chicago MC, Vegas, is not necessarily “new” to the rap scene by any means (writing his first song at the age of sixteen). He is, however, very familiar with infusing soul and R&B-inspired sounds into various hip-hop bags on standby for any upcoming track— mastering his ‘ear’ when curating the next hottest hook for his fan base to bop to. If you have ‘Progress’ on repeat, it is because you understand what it takes for everything ‘good’ to be in season, to be a process. If the title track, “S.A.G.E.”, from Vegas’s 2022 full-length project, makes you feel like anything is possible, it is because... it is. “I put my blood, sweat, tears, all in this shit / I guess my drip different”, Vegas states as the track opens up with a suspenseful, drama-filled piano arrangement. Vegas feels somewhat familiar. You become a new listener because you get the feeling you have heard of him before, but cannot quite place a finger on what it is. In terms of delivering cadence, or heart, or rap; the best odds may be to bet on Vegas. All in.