His new single, “Tap It,” and its accompanying video explores narcissistic consumerism and generational wealth in the form of a powerful parable. Never at home in just one world, Maverick also directed the video, which features a young woman shirking off her responsibilities at home while draining credit cards and chasing a lifestyle she can’t afford.

The track—a delicate fusion of conscious hip-hop, soca and club-ready electro—is supported by Oozeela, whose droning “tap, tap, tap it” serves as a hypnotic command before launching into a heavy-hitting chorus. 

RANGE caught up with Maverick ahead of his premiere for “Tap It” to chat about learning composition in church, songwriting as therapy, and get some clues about his upcoming Soul Merchant EP, out July 9. 

How would you describe your sound and approach to songwriting? 

I think stylistically my sound is balanced in the sensibilities of golden-era and modern day hip-hop. My lyrics can be dense at times and very layered, but I play with a lot of melody, which has come to define so much of hip-hop. My approach to songwriting varies. Sometimes a song will come about from a conversation with a random stranger whose perspective I feel needs to be heard.  Sometimes I use music as therapy to constructively channel my thoughts and emotions.  And more often than not, I’m acting as a journalist speaking for those who don’t have a voice.

I want my catalogue to one day be compared to the likes of 2Pac and Nas. Both MCs were well rounded and touched on so many subjects. I’ve talked about everything from Black women’s experience in the workplace to the importance of teaching your children how to be entrepreneurs. To me, hip-hop is too powerful of a culture to only rap about having fun.  

How did you get into writing and recording music? 

My introduction to songwriting happened in church when I saw my pastor’s daughter writing a rap song. Her name was Debbie Carpenter. She was older than me and I looked up to her and her brothers. They were up on the latest songs, slang, and fashion. They were the epitome of cool.  So here I was as this nine-year-old who had never written a song, but I was witnessing Debbie’s process as she wrote lines, crossed out ideas, pondered on what would be a better line and wrote again. It was the first time I’d ever seen someone compose a song – rap or otherwise. That essentially began my journey. I would spend hours locked up in my room listening to hip-hop music and trying to emulate artists that I liked.  

What kind of music did you grow up listening to?

My household was quite diverse. My grandmother listened to gospel music. My aunt and uncle listened to funk, pop, soca, calypso, reggae, R&B, and soul. My older cousin Donavon listened to reggae, soul, and hip-hop. He’s actually the reason I got into hip-hop. Once I was able to listen to my own music I gravitated to hip-hop, soul, reggae, and R&B.