Machai, the Northern California-bred artist now based in Los Angeles, has been a master of confident self-expression for as long as he can remember. On fire tracks like “Games,” and “Let’s Break Up,” Machai gives it to us straight, flexing his relaxed, sensitive delivery and peppering it with moments of frenetic, hyped energy and clever rapping cadences. Already a master of the emotive rap-grunt, he mixes that with moments of sing-song precision to create a powerful contrast. From its familiar celebrations of and frustrations with girls, family, the industry, and society to deeper moments of pain and angst like the powerful “Leave Me Alone,” MEGA reveals a talent who can hit on all cylinders and diverse levels. The cool, confident self-expression of Machai prevails throughout his records and shine, leaving us with a true sense of connection and all the feels.